House of Anansi Press The Break Paperback – Big Book, 6 March 2018

This was a challenging read in the best possible ways: raw, intense, horrifying, brutal, genuine, and ultimately poignant and beautiful, even hopeful. And like all the best books, it leaves you with an ache of absence after you turn the last page.Vermette looks unflinchingly at violence, intergenerational trauma, and the particular challenges faced by Indigenous women. That makes for an emotionally fraught and incredibly powerful read. While there is appalling violence and brutality in the narrative, Vermette is never gratuitous in her descriptions; she tells her characters' stories with dignity, grace, respect, and love. Her "victims" are complex, nuanced people with lives before and after their trauma, and because of that, i found reading this book to be a healing experience. I can't recommend it highly enough. I stayed up late to finish it and immediately ordered "The Strangers" because I'm not ready to say goodbye to the characters yet.

This is a beautifully written book told from the perspectives of several different indigenous women that creates the sense of a pervasive and wide-spread trauma within Aboriginal communities.The narrative may come across as confusing for some readers because it is not told chronologically nor from the same perspective--the story is voiced by different women from the same family. However, the narrative's disjointed, yet connected, structure does a fantastic job at creating a sense of community, interconnectedness, and also fracture within indigenous societies and families. In short, the narrative echoes the effects of intergenerational trauma.Furthermore, the violent crime at the novel's centre, which ripples outwards across many lives, mirrors the systemic violence that has been acted upon -- and continues to be acted upon -- indigenous groups today.The story feels cold and depressing due to its winter setting and the events that take place in the narrative. However, while The Break is at times difficult to read due to its heartbreaking content, Vermette does an exquisite job with her narrative structure and her prose, which is beautifully crafted. The author creates a vivid image of life among present-day indigenous communities: the good, the bad, and the inspirational. Despite its bleakness, The Break offers a sliver of hope: hope for both cultural and individual healing for indigenous individuals within the parameters of modern, westernised society. I highly recommend this book.

We don’t have anywhere in our area to buy books and this one came quickly and at a good price it’s second hand but in great condition very good adult reading

This novel is amazing. From its stark setting to its exploration of complex female relationships, this novel demands careful reading.It is clear early on that the author is a poet; the language is breathtaking.The issues faced by the indigenous culture are examined objectively and with empathy. The crime that acts as both threat and impetus to the plot is the glue that hold the novel’s elements. Read and peel the layers of meaning with wide eyes

a not to unpredictable ending but a good "read" into the lives of those in deprived or single parent situation and the struggles within that...not only first nations but perhaps the struggles in general of low income homes/families. insightful but at times a little drawn out and I found disjoint.