Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

The Break by Katherena Vermette

11 reviews

a_islandcriptid's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is an amazing book, it tells a very powerful and pogniant story of community, family, history, and trauma. It is a rough read and deals very well with so many difficult and emotional things, and is stunningly written 

Warning that it is a very heavy, dark, emotional story so take care of yourself and be cautious of triggers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Self harm, Child abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Police brutality

egcam's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Sexual violence, Medical content, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Dementia, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death

camwise1's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I didn’t want this beautiful book to end. So painful and raw, but beautiful all the same. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

bnelson13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Interesting story, really well written, incredibly heavy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Blood, and Violence

dallyowally's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Child abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Grief

annemaries_shelves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

I’ve been meaning to read The Break since it released and I’m so glad I did. The themes covered can be hard to read (see the trigger warnings in this review and in the cover page of the book itself) and I couldn’t handle more than a few chapters per sitting because of where I was mentally at the time. However, Vermette did a great job exploring these topics and how they impact the family and surrounding characters. We have multiple POVs, many from the same matriarchal family (including mothers, aunties, grandmothers, and teen girls), along with the POV of a homeless teenager running away from the Centre, and a young Indigenous police offer (side note: he was the only male POV and the chapter where he talks with his mother about growing up mixed was a perfect encapsulation of how identity impacts lives and relationships).

I really felt like I got to know all of the characters (even those without a POV, like Hannah – Scott’s well-meaning but ignorant white girlfriend) because all of the characters were so fully human in their interactions, rationale for behaviours, and personalities (especially interactions among the Traverse family). I've seen other reviews saying that the large cast was confusing and hard to connect with but that wasn't my personal experience - the family tree was useful but my takeaway was that specific relationship titles were less important that the support and familial bonds they shared. 

Spoiler for discussing some character actions.

Even though Phoenix was the perpetrator of Emily’s rape (alongside her friends), we learn about how difficult her life is and (at least I did) feel sympathy for how lonely and hardened she’s become. It doesn’t excuse her actions (and some of the characters don’t care to know her backstory because it doesn’t change what she did) but Vermette’s choices makes the reader better understand how some people do horrible things when they don’t have support in life. As another character says, “people who get messed up, mess up others.” Also – the fact that she was pregnant the whole time was extra heartbreaking, though it’s not explicitly revealed until the end. Stella is another interesting character – she’s Emily’s aunt (the victim), and actually witnesses the attack, but is paralyzed and terrified by what she sees and doesn’t stop it or check on the person (not knowing who it was) afterwards. She’s a sympathetic character because of her backstory and her family treats her with kid gloves – as if it’s expected that she wouldn’t be able to help Emily or anyone else out. However, other characters criticize her behaviour, which I think helps show how differently people can be perceived by others and how families can enable/support people beyond what they may ‘truly’ need.

I also appreciated the double meaning of the Break – it’s both the name of the land where the assault happens, and a representation of a break in the timeline/reality for Emily and her family – the Before and After because of this event. People break away from others, break away from their bad habits (or fail to), and break hearts. 

I think my favourite thing I take away from this novel is how well the women in this family support each other. Despite hardships and traumas they’ve faced in their pasts, and various difficulties they have with each other, they love and support their family. 

One question I do have is why all the POVs are limited third person except for Lou (the aunt and social worker), who’s in first person. I’m not sure why Vermette made that choice. It didn’t detract from the novel as a whole but, in my limited view, I don’t know what it added.

The writing is also fairly straightforward - it's easy to read (in contrast to the subject matter) but Vermette knows how to make an impact with some powerful statements throughout the text. For those who prefer more flowery or overly descriptive language, this won't be the writing style for you.

Overall, I thought The Break was a fantastic novel and I can’t wait to read the companion follow-up, The Strangers.

Trigger/Content warnings: on-page rape/sexual assault with an object, physical assault, vicarious trauma, slurs and outdated language used on Indigenous people. Domestic violence, alcoholism, child death, drug addictions, and references to gangs are also mentioned in the text. However, there’s also lots of wonderful healing discussions and reliance on family and traditions to support each other through these events. As the book says, it’s about recovering and healing from violence and trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Sexual assault, Grief, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse, Pregnancy, and Child death

elerosemac's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Drug abuse

rosiecockshutt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Drug abuse

Minor: Drug use

carolinereynolds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.75

Challenging subject matter but also I believe an important read. I enjoyed the use of many character‘s perspectives as you were able to feel immersed in the community but also at times found it hard to follow who was who.
Please be aware that the plot centres around a sexual assault and abuse, so take caution before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse

cptnstphy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy