Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Break by Katherena Vermette

26 reviews

lilcoppertop's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Pregnancy

spaghettireads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve been meaning to read this for a long time. I’m so glad that I finally made time to read it.

The storytelling is great in this book, Vermette puts together a multi perspective novel so well. There are so many complex and interesting characters, and you leave the book caring about all of them. This is the type of book that you need to trust that it’s all going to come together, and it does. This was a great book club pick too, since there was a lot to discuss and reflect on!

I would highly recommend reading this if you haven’t already! This will likely be one of my favourite fiction reads of the year. I am really looking forward for The Strangers, which comes out next month and follows some of the same characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault

sarahasyouwish's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sad and haunting multi-generational tale focusing on a number of Mate women in the Manitoba area. This book deals with a very difficult subject, sexual trauma, but does it in a respectful and not overly graphic way. The audiobook was beautifully narrated though I may have done slightly better following all of the different characters if I had read this one physically. At times, I did feel a little confused about whose perspective the book had shifted to and who that person was in relation to the other characters, but overall I could follow the story and themes without trouble. While I did not feel a strong attachment to any specific character, I was engaged by their stories and moved by the pain they had each experienced and the various ways they supported one another. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism

lizgo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcoholism

ldandridge's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Violence and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism and Racial slurs

alexture's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Racism and Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism and Dementia