Scan barcode
rideauriverreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
serenedancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Racism, and Alcohol
egcam's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Child death
tjmitrovic's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is phenomenal for a debut novel - the combination of pain, violence and neglect as well as the love, kindness and care between all the characters is amazing. I was really hooked into this story and all the women we are following as they try and piece their lives together after a terrible violent act.
This book focuses on the lives of Métis women living in Winnipeg in Canada, and looks at the danger and intergenerational trauma lived by so many young girls and women in such societies where they are looked down upon, are abused and assaulted on regular basis and let down by any type of government authority that should be caring for them. I feel like Phoenix's story reflects this the most - the anger, and confusion she feels throughout the novel, despite at times presenting as a young, scared child who just wants to be cared for. And in parts we learn what her mother Elsie went through as a teenager and piece together what Phoenix's life must have been like because of this.
And Cheryl, Lou, Emily and Paul - along with Rita and Ziggy - are in such a community of love and kindness with one another, it feels like another world but that doesn't mean these women weren't hurt from abusive husbands to heartbreak, to witnessing terrible things and knowing at all times the danger they are in as women in their world.
But while this book is centered around a horrible act of sexual violence, the deeper story in it is about the love and hope between all these women, and how they hold on to each other throughout it all and never let anyone fade away.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Child death
schaarzy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
amvera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
One of the best books I've read this year. Beautifully written, though it deals with tough and sensitive subjects, so beware of all the trigger warnings. That said, I feel like it's a must read!parasolcrafter's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Racism, Dementia, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation
kkbray's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Rape
Minor: Child death, Racism, and Death of parent
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
- 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 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.
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.
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, and Pregnancy