The Break

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 book was complex. There were a few storylines to follow and I had to keep reminding myself of that.

A triggering page-turner. A triumphant journey to the dark side of real life. I was left with a heavy heart.

Fantastic story. A young mother sees something terrible happen to a young girl in the open field next to her house in Winnipeg's North End, and calls the police. The story then unfolds in the multiple voices of members of the community and both the perpetrator and victim's families. The dark, compelling narrative and the multiple viewpoints reminded me of Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings. I grew up not far from this area and appreciated the authenticity of Vermette's portrait of life in this troubled community, as well as her compassion for the various characters and their situations.My only quibble is that while the alternating voices are very distinct, some of the chapters are very short and there were times when I would have liked to spend more time with one of the POV characters. Still, that is a minor point that does not stop me from recommending this book without hesitation.

This is a difficult tale but one laced with the strength of women being there for each other. These Native women have all been through their own pain and know that pain will continue to come to them and their loved ones, but they will endure and keep going with the strength and support of their family and friends.

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

This book was well written and the story line filled with the truth about how Indigenous people have survived the terrible treatment they received over hundreds of years. The story in its rawest form depicts the result of years of attempted assimilation and stigma associated with being Indigenous in this country. This book carefully tells the story of an Indigenous family living off reserve and trying to navigate the world of non-Indigenous people. An excellent book.

The book is very well written and very enlightening to those outside of the Metis culture. Family unity and love and acceptance are evident. It is also heartbreaking. It is also, sadly, a modern coming of age story.

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.

Oh my goodness, this was a harrowing and emotional read. Vermette is a Métis writer from Canada who delivers an unflinching and gripping account about a group of Métis women whose voices are all clearly differentiated and the text flowed beautifully between them, bringing together a kaleidoscope of people with past traumas, strong cultural bonds and how both these can be passed down through generations. The author broaches many different and difficult subjects, but the main I think is the horrific violence women and girls are capable of carrying out against other women and girls.

I can honestly say that this is my favourite book ever. I read on average 3 books a month but I have read this 3 times and every time I enjoy it more.

I’m reading more indigenous authors now, but I have to space them out because the subject matter is often so dark and disturbing. This novel is a perfect example, because it concerns sexual and physical assault, multigenerational trauma, and racism against Métis people in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is the heartland of the Métis Nation in Canada. The author doesn’t go into the history, but I couldn’t help wondering (as a Métis person myself) how much of their suffering could have been avoided if they had been treated fairly in the first place, beginning way back in the 1800s.Anyway, the bright spot in this novel was the strength of the characters, especially the women; how they supported each other; the close bonds of family (I loved it that after Emily was hurt, so many people showed up to sit around her hospital bed for days, just radiating their healing thoughts toward her and each other); and the way some of them would escape to “the bush” (read Mother Nature) when urban civilization got too much for them.I’m deducting one star only because it was difficult to keep all the characters straight, and trying to figure out who was telling the story detracted from my reading enjoyment…not enjoyment, because it wasn’t exactly an enjoyable read…but rather my focus.

Wasn't sure at first that I would enjoy this book but as I got to know characters found I wanted to learn more about them. Beautifully written about group of women within same family.