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A review by marthaos
Breaking Point by Edel Coffey
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
This was a disturbing but thought-provoking read, a story well told that had my attention from the start.
Susannah Rice, a high-profile paediatric doctor with media presence has two young children. When one day, the unthinkable happens, and she forgets her baby in the back seat of the car while she attends to a medical emergency in the hospital, all sorts of questions are asked. Is this top doctor incapable of being a mother, is she guilty of the death of her infant? And so begins a gruelling trial where every aspect of her personal life is brought to light.
There is another narrative involving Adelaide, a chief reporter put on this case, who has her own backstory that relates to the main story that she is covering. As the case moves on, Adelaide finds her emotions, which she so far kept in check, rising to the surface, and she finally has to confront them in order to move on with her life.
I found the book really gripping but so disturbing. What does it mean to be a mother in this fast-paced world we live in? Are we expected to keep up with the endless rush or can we take a step back and live at a slightly slower pace? Any mother will relate to the questions brought up in this book. It is a book about choices, pressure, crises, near-misses and forgiveness. It raises some very important questions and while it doesn’t answer them explicitly, it leaves a very strong impression, forcing the reader to consider these questions for themselves.
I found some of the characters a little one-dimensional, but the main characters were well-realised. There were some very touching moments in the book and what is really staying with me is the privilege of getting to engage in the everyday simple things. The beautiful moments that each day holds can be so easily overlooked, taken for granted in the busy rush that we call life.
A very good read, and I would definitely be encouraged to seek out more by this author.
Susannah Rice, a high-profile paediatric doctor with media presence has two young children. When one day, the unthinkable happens, and she forgets her baby in the back seat of the car while she attends to a medical emergency in the hospital, all sorts of questions are asked. Is this top doctor incapable of being a mother, is she guilty of the death of her infant? And so begins a gruelling trial where every aspect of her personal life is brought to light.
There is another narrative involving Adelaide, a chief reporter put on this case, who has her own backstory that relates to the main story that she is covering. As the case moves on, Adelaide finds her emotions, which she so far kept in check, rising to the surface, and she finally has to confront them in order to move on with her life.
I found the book really gripping but so disturbing. What does it mean to be a mother in this fast-paced world we live in? Are we expected to keep up with the endless rush or can we take a step back and live at a slightly slower pace? Any mother will relate to the questions brought up in this book. It is a book about choices, pressure, crises, near-misses and forgiveness. It raises some very important questions and while it doesn’t answer them explicitly, it leaves a very strong impression, forcing the reader to consider these questions for themselves.
I found some of the characters a little one-dimensional, but the main characters were well-realised. There were some very touching moments in the book and what is really staying with me is the privilege of getting to engage in the everyday simple things. The beautiful moments that each day holds can be so easily overlooked, taken for granted in the busy rush that we call life.
A very good read, and I would definitely be encouraged to seek out more by this author.