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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fantastically written but fucking hell it's tough
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is Katherena Vermette's debut novel, an absolutely incredible feat in storytelling, writing skill and sensitivity. I was wanting to read more from Indigenous authors in Canada, and she is one of the most recognisable names for good reason.
'The Break' represents a place between two rows of houses, and here also the scene of an assault, witnessed by Stella. But she is not quite sure what or whom she saw. What follows is a breakdown of these events, their lead up and aftermath, and how it shakes up this small community of Metis and White people in Manitoba.
From each chapter we understand these developments from the happenings of a different character as we are slowly building a picture as to how they are connected. Some are family, close or estranged, some are friends, other foes. There are gangs and there is police. And if you're having trouble keeping up with who's who, there is a helpful family tree at the beginning of the book. Though I see a lot of reviews mention that they kept having to consult it, I never did. One of my main points of praise is actually how well Katherena Vermette has constructed her characters: they all have a recognisable identity. They have their own voice, concerns and passions. They observe and focus on different things. So it's a lot beyond their relationship that sets them apart, it's how they carry themselves, their vocabulary, expression and personality. I never lost sense of who we were with or why they were part of this story at any given time.
I also appreciated the gentleness that she had towards all of them. This absolutely horrific event does unleash a sense of panic and desperation, and a pain bordering the physical. She knows exactly how much to say to evoke this, what to include, what to leave out and where in the story to place it. Because even though you suspect fairly soon who gets assaulted and why, the exact sequence of events builds up little by little, perhaps even in line with how they are processed by those impacted. It's graphic enough to provoke empathy, but not to push any readers away. Though I will say, trigger warning for violence. If you know you don't have the stomach for atrocious acts on the page, maybe leave this book for someone else, or at least another time.
And apart from this core element, there is a lot of heartbreak in the lives of these people. Most of the ones we follow are women, and it becomes abundantly obvious how much a difficult past has shaped them. Some continue to inflict cruelty upon around them. Others are mothers who notice that their daughters are having similar experiences with men. And these defining moments do fragment lives in the Before and After.
I learned a lot also about Indigenous culture, specifically the Metis and their interaction with White people. One character in particular, Tommy, the young police officer, reflects on how he is neither Native nor White, how his partner sees him as better than other Natives that he has met. He talks about the advantage that disclosing his identity as Metis gave him in obtaining this job, but also the day to day jokes that he has to bear as a result of it. While they might not be meant as offensive, they are thrown around without any thought, making him realise that as a Pink person he is of neither group. Sure, passing might be considered a plus, but for him it brings confusion and isolation, even not quite knowing who he is himself.
Part mystery, part literary fiction, this is such an accomplished piece of work.
'The Break' represents a place between two rows of houses, and here also the scene of an assault, witnessed by Stella. But she is not quite sure what or whom she saw. What follows is a breakdown of these events, their lead up and aftermath, and how it shakes up this small community of Metis and White people in Manitoba.
From each chapter we understand these developments from the happenings of a different character as we are slowly building a picture as to how they are connected. Some are family, close or estranged, some are friends, other foes. There are gangs and there is police. And if you're having trouble keeping up with who's who, there is a helpful family tree at the beginning of the book. Though I see a lot of reviews mention that they kept having to consult it, I never did. One of my main points of praise is actually how well Katherena Vermette has constructed her characters: they all have a recognisable identity. They have their own voice, concerns and passions. They observe and focus on different things. So it's a lot beyond their relationship that sets them apart, it's how they carry themselves, their vocabulary, expression and personality. I never lost sense of who we were with or why they were part of this story at any given time.
I also appreciated the gentleness that she had towards all of them. This absolutely horrific event does unleash a sense of panic and desperation, and a pain bordering the physical. She knows exactly how much to say to evoke this, what to include, what to leave out and where in the story to place it. Because even though you suspect fairly soon who gets assaulted and why, the exact sequence of events builds up little by little, perhaps even in line with how they are processed by those impacted. It's graphic enough to provoke empathy, but not to push any readers away. Though I will say, trigger warning for violence. If you know you don't have the stomach for atrocious acts on the page, maybe leave this book for someone else, or at least another time.
And apart from this core element, there is a lot of heartbreak in the lives of these people. Most of the ones we follow are women, and it becomes abundantly obvious how much a difficult past has shaped them. Some continue to inflict cruelty upon around them. Others are mothers who notice that their daughters are having similar experiences with men. And these defining moments do fragment lives in the Before and After.
I learned a lot also about Indigenous culture, specifically the Metis and their interaction with White people. One character in particular, Tommy, the young police officer, reflects on how he is neither Native nor White, how his partner sees him as better than other Natives that he has met. He talks about the advantage that disclosing his identity as Metis gave him in obtaining this job, but also the day to day jokes that he has to bear as a result of it. While they might not be meant as offensive, they are thrown around without any thought, making him realise that as a Pink person he is of neither group. Sure, passing might be considered a plus, but for him it brings confusion and isolation, even not quite knowing who he is himself.
Part mystery, part literary fiction, this is such an accomplished piece of work.
i hated reading this book so much. hit wayyy to close to home. that said, it's brilliant.
The cover of this book is full of references, medals, and icons for a huge number of awards and distinctions, and after reading it, it’s not hard to see why. This book is a testament to the legacy of family, womanhood, trauma, love, violence, and Indigenous identity. I loved the intergenerational cast of characters, all women, who were tied together by an act of violence, but whose shared memory, history, and love help them process through the sadness. This was a difficult read with content warning for sexual and physical violence, but such a beautiful story and so well written that I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
One of the most difficult books I've ever read.
There are trigger warnings provided by the author at the beginning of the book, and they should be taken seriously. These trigger topics were very, very heavy. They were written in such a heart wrenching realistic way that I had to take several breaks. These topics do not always cause me great pause in general, but these were written so sincerely that I started to think about my daughters and my sisters and the other women in my life. And I felt sick and shaken and worried and emotional.
This is mostly the story of a Canadian multigenerational indigenous family, with much emphasis on the women in that family. There is a family tree provided. You will want to use it! Often! Between a cast that almost rivals a Game of Thrones book and shifting narration each chapter, it can get a bit confusing. However, the characters and how they relate to one another will start to click. Be patient. It's worth it.
There are other characters as well but most of their role is tied to their interaction with our main characters. At least a couple of the characters (with both major and minor roles in this) will have major roles in Vermette's second book, [b:The Strangers|57497282|The Strangers|Katherena Vermette|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1621988042l/57497282._SY75_.jpg|90030350], which I accidentally started first, got 55 pages in, and realized I wanted to read this one before diving into that one. You can read the second one as a stand-alone, but I think it's a good idea to read this one first, as the role of Phoenix in this book is pretty crucial (it will also give you a better idea of why the f-word is used over a hundred times in Phoenix's first chapter alone in The Strangers).
This book seriously ripped my heart out. I loved these tough yet vulnerable women. I loved the family dynamics. I loved how the writing was sensitive but also raw. Just...I cannot emphasize enough how raw this was. And so well written. Just wow. The fact that this was a debut is double wow.
This is slow-paced. If you are looking for a breakneck speed thriller, this is not it. And while a lot happens, not a lot happens. There are a lot of memories and day-to-day processing of life and feelings. These aren't things that usually move fast. But if you are looking for a family to get a little invested in, this is a good one.
4.5 Rounded up to 5 Stars
There are trigger warnings provided by the author at the beginning of the book, and they should be taken seriously. These trigger topics were very, very heavy. They were written in such a heart wrenching realistic way that I had to take several breaks. These topics do not always cause me great pause in general, but these were written so sincerely that I started to think about my daughters and my sisters and the other women in my life. And I felt sick and shaken and worried and emotional.
This is mostly the story of a Canadian multigenerational indigenous family, with much emphasis on the women in that family. There is a family tree provided. You will want to use it! Often! Between a cast that almost rivals a Game of Thrones book and shifting narration each chapter, it can get a bit confusing. However, the characters and how they relate to one another will start to click. Be patient. It's worth it.
There are other characters as well but most of their role is tied to their interaction with our main characters. At least a couple of the characters (with both major and minor roles in this) will have major roles in Vermette's second book, [b:The Strangers|57497282|The Strangers|Katherena Vermette|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1621988042l/57497282._SY75_.jpg|90030350], which I accidentally started first, got 55 pages in, and realized I wanted to read this one before diving into that one. You can read the second one as a stand-alone, but I think it's a good idea to read this one first, as the role of Phoenix in this book is pretty crucial (it will also give you a better idea of why the f-word is used over a hundred times in Phoenix's first chapter alone in The Strangers).
This book seriously ripped my heart out. I loved these tough yet vulnerable women. I loved the family dynamics. I loved how the writing was sensitive but also raw. Just...I cannot emphasize enough how raw this was. And so well written. Just wow. The fact that this was a debut is double wow.
This is slow-paced. If you are looking for a breakneck speed thriller, this is not it. And while a lot happens, not a lot happens. There are a lot of memories and day-to-day processing of life and feelings. These aren't things that usually move fast. But if you are looking for a family to get a little invested in, this is a good one.
4.5 Rounded up to 5 Stars