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A review by janina_reads
Split by Swati Avasthi
4.0
It has been a while since I read this book (okay, about a month and a half, but I tend to be very forgetful), but I really don't want it to go un-reviewed.
Yes, this is a book about domestic abuse, a topic I normally shy away from. I can't even tell you why, as I do "enjoy" reading so called issue-books, but (together with teenage pregnancy) domestic abuse is not something I am drawn towards in books. It is hard for me to not be frustrated by victims accepting their situation, not reporting their abuser to the police, partly blaming themselves. I know I am in no position to judge as I have never been in a similar position myself, have never suffered under anything comparable, but it is hard to shut out my brain. And I think here lays the most significant strength of Avasthi's storytelling: It made me understand. There are as many different reactions to abuse as there are personalities. Everyone reacts in the way that helps him cope, by running away, by shutting it out, by accepting one’s fate, sometimes even by violence. While I did wish for the ending to go further, I still think Split is a fantastic portrayal of domestic abuse and how it affects not only a family but also friends and partners.
On a whole, I especially loved the two brothers Jace and Christian, and the dynamic in both their relationships to Mirriam, but did not care so much for the romantic aspect focusing on Dakota and Lauren.
Jace is a difficult character, but one I simply had to love. He is torn between wanting to be free of his father’s dominance, wanting to rescue his mother and fighting hard to contain the rage and violence that he himself possesses. I could really relate to his struggles; how awful it was for him to be so much like his father – especially in physical appearance but sometimes also in behaviour – and that he had to work hard to become his own person, to not be labelled by his past and to eventually move on.
For me, this was a book that really made me re-think my viewpoint, with a message that still lingers weeks after reading it. Definitely recommended!
Yes, this is a book about domestic abuse, a topic I normally shy away from. I can't even tell you why, as I do "enjoy" reading so called issue-books, but (together with teenage pregnancy) domestic abuse is not something I am drawn towards in books. It is hard for me to not be frustrated by victims accepting their situation, not reporting their abuser to the police, partly blaming themselves. I know I am in no position to judge as I have never been in a similar position myself, have never suffered under anything comparable, but it is hard to shut out my brain. And I think here lays the most significant strength of Avasthi's storytelling: It made me understand. There are as many different reactions to abuse as there are personalities. Everyone reacts in the way that helps him cope, by running away, by shutting it out, by accepting one’s fate, sometimes even by violence. While I did wish for the ending to go further, I still think Split is a fantastic portrayal of domestic abuse and how it affects not only a family but also friends and partners.
On a whole, I especially loved the two brothers Jace and Christian, and the dynamic in both their relationships to Mirriam, but did not care so much for the romantic aspect focusing on Dakota and Lauren.
Jace is a difficult character, but one I simply had to love. He is torn between wanting to be free of his father’s dominance, wanting to rescue his mother and fighting hard to contain the rage and violence that he himself possesses. I could really relate to his struggles; how awful it was for him to be so much like his father – especially in physical appearance but sometimes also in behaviour – and that he had to work hard to become his own person, to not be labelled by his past and to eventually move on.
For me, this was a book that really made me re-think my viewpoint, with a message that still lingers weeks after reading it. Definitely recommended!