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rocomama's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lsparrow's review against another edition
5.0
Like most amazing books this is not for the faint hearted. This book deals with many difficult and challenging and real issues. It does not excuse or explain the harms that are done to people, nor puts people into the role of mere victims. A true book about resilience and family.
kristenesantos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
discendos's review against another edition
5.0
This was the book that should have won Canada reads, my apologies to André Alexis, but this was the book that could help to heal Canada.
Unfortunately it was eliminated, in a shockingly fast and something not unlike the violence against indigenous women, it was swept under the rug very quickly, to be pushed aside.
This book is not an easy read, because it is not an easy subject. But it is one that has to be read and shared time after time. This book should be on reading lists all over Canada. The message is strong, the characters are it's backbone, and it's setting is too real to escape.
There is a strong tone of colonialisation that needs to be spoken about, it destroys communities and then shames them for it, much like the community (in this case the generational matriarchs) in this book.
There is a sense of sad hopefulness that accompanies the end, but it's hopefulness can only be felt through activism, spread this book, feel it's pain, help a nation heal.
Unfortunately it was eliminated, in a shockingly fast and something not unlike the violence against indigenous women, it was swept under the rug very quickly, to be pushed aside.
This book is not an easy read, because it is not an easy subject. But it is one that has to be read and shared time after time. This book should be on reading lists all over Canada. The message is strong, the characters are it's backbone, and it's setting is too real to escape.
There is a strong tone of colonialisation that needs to be spoken about, it destroys communities and then shames them for it, much like the community (in this case the generational matriarchs) in this book.
There is a sense of sad hopefulness that accompanies the end, but it's hopefulness can only be felt through activism, spread this book, feel it's pain, help a nation heal.
unusualspring's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
doritobabe's review against another edition
5.0
The Break is a book that has simultaneously broken my heart and helped to put a few healing staples back in. Vermette's first novel is worthy of its award and it's run in the CBC Reads competition.
A novel about family and healing, resilience, specifically the power of women, and time; it's all about time.
TL;DR:
Writing: 4.5/5 (Simple text that is encapsulating and inspiring for the mind. Characters, events, and locations that the imagination can grow and shape and relate to.)
Plot: 5/5 (This plot is painful. It rips the soul out of the reader. But then, you feel okay. You can grow. You heal and adjust alongside each of these characters. You learn about life and tragedy through sharing this experience with them.)
Characters: 4/5 (One could argue that having so many characters makes things a bit hard to follow. This feeling was similar to the one instilled by the web of characters in [b:One Hundred Years of Solitude|320|One Hundred Years of Solitude|Gabriel García Márquez|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327881361s/320.jpg|3295655] or [b:Wuthering Heights|6185|Wuthering Heights|Emily Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388212715s/6185.jpg|1565818] -- where it is a dizzying array of personal realities and histories that make up one complex story.)
First things first: Vermette included a trigger warning. THANKS FOR THAT. Seriously. Probably saved her and some readers a lot more problems and shock. I know that I braced myself, but it wasn't enough for what was to come.
The Break centers around a heartbreakingly violent event that affects several generations of one family. This book is about violence that people inflict on each other because of violence previously done unto themselves, their family, their peoples.
Vermette takes the reader through several women's perspectives and lives to show the affects of such a brutal action on different minds. Specifically, how one's personal and cultural identity and ties with family can help with healing. Themes of strong familial relationships and how these affect cultural and personal identity are central to this novel. Other readers may argue for the overarching themes of racism and colonialism pervade this novel --which I do not deny-- but I prefer to take a more loving, optimistic stance towards this novel. It personally helped me get through the painful colonialist and violent reality of these pages.
I think this is one of my favorite reads of 2017 and has affected me as much as [b:Monkey Beach|940388|Monkey Beach|Eden Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320465113s/940388.jpg|314881] did.
A novel about family and healing, resilience, specifically the power of women, and time; it's all about time.
TL;DR:
Writing: 4.5/5 (Simple text that is encapsulating and inspiring for the mind. Characters, events, and locations that the imagination can grow and shape and relate to.)
Plot: 5/5 (This plot is painful. It rips the soul out of the reader. But then, you feel okay. You can grow. You heal and adjust alongside each of these characters. You learn about life and tragedy through sharing this experience with them.)
Characters: 4/5 (One could argue that having so many characters makes things a bit hard to follow. This feeling was similar to the one instilled by the web of characters in [b:One Hundred Years of Solitude|320|One Hundred Years of Solitude|Gabriel García Márquez|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327881361s/320.jpg|3295655] or [b:Wuthering Heights|6185|Wuthering Heights|Emily Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388212715s/6185.jpg|1565818] -- where it is a dizzying array of personal realities and histories that make up one complex story.)
First things first: Vermette included a trigger warning. THANKS FOR THAT. Seriously. Probably saved her and some readers a lot more problems and shock. I know that I braced myself, but it wasn't enough for what was to come.
The Break centers around a heartbreakingly violent event that affects several generations of one family. This book is about violence that people inflict on each other because of violence previously done unto themselves, their family, their peoples.
Vermette takes the reader through several women's perspectives and lives to show the affects of such a brutal action on different minds. Specifically, how one's personal and cultural identity and ties with family can help with healing. Themes of strong familial relationships and how these affect cultural and personal identity are central to this novel. Other readers may argue for the overarching themes of racism and colonialism pervade this novel --which I do not deny-- but I prefer to take a more loving, optimistic stance towards this novel. It personally helped me get through the painful colonialist and violent reality of these pages.
I think this is one of my favorite reads of 2017 and has affected me as much as [b:Monkey Beach|940388|Monkey Beach|Eden Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320465113s/940388.jpg|314881] did.
auroren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
li_gao's review against another edition
3.0
Incredibly moving story and narrative perspectives. I was very touched by the characters experiences and strength they drew from each other. The novel highlights many themes around belonging, violence against women (indigenous women and girls), racism, substance abuse, family, and intergenerational trauma.
I did find the writing style hard to follow with the different time or memory jumps. Sometimes the switch was made with larger text indicating the change. I would also love a character chart to map all of the relationships.
I did find the writing style hard to follow with the different time or memory jumps. Sometimes the switch was made with larger text indicating the change. I would also love a character chart to map all of the relationships.