Review of Breaking the Chain
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Sally Haley Thurman
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Review of Breaking the Chain
[Following is a volunteer review of "Breaking the Chain" by Patricia Rossi.]
Breaking the Chain by Patricia Rossi is about a woman named Bernadette in 1992 England who finds herself in a mental hospital and doesn't know how or why she is there. She doesn't remember her family, but in her mind keeps seeing children in a garden which makes her wonder if something suspicious is going on. With the aid of a compassionate counselor, Mark, she delves into her past through a series of therapy sessions. Bernadette, who prefers to be called Bernie, begins to have memories of a mother and father who abused her and her one brother and two sisters. Her mother was able to flee Castlebar, Ireland, and her drunken husband and go to Liverpool. It was not easy with 4 young children. Times are difficult as it is a continuous struggle for her mother to keep them fed and a place to sleep. Unfortunately, Bernie's father manages to find them and comes home drunk. He picks Bernie up out of a dead sleep and places her outside in the freezing cold and locks the door. Her mother made her work in a bar at age 13. She tells Mark at a counseling session as her memory is returning. While at the mental hospital Bernie meets other female patients who she tries to befriend. She is shaken and disturbed when one patient, Shirley, undergoes electroconvulsive therapy, and one commits suicide.
I really like the way the author weaves the story between past and present and shows us just how much our past can influence who we become in later life. The author does leave some room where you can form your own conclusions. The story kept me interested and looking forward to each chapter. There are essentially two stories alternating from chapter to chapter. I love Bernadette's kind heart that she didn't realize she had. She spent her whole childhood taking care of her family and living in such poverty and abuse. Even in the mental hospital she is trying to help some of the patients who are more ill than she is.
What I didn't like about the book was the abrupt ending, and that the author didn't tell us much about Bernadette's adult years. I found myself reading parts of the book again to try and get a clearer understanding. I also felt at certain times that the time in the book wasn't quite clear especially during the childhood years. It would have been helpful to know Bernadette's age at different times. I would have liked to see the characters developed a little more, especially the mother and Bernadette's husband. We only met him briefly when he came to visit Bernadette in the hospital.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because overall the book was very good. The book was professionally edited and I enjoyed it very much.
I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves a good storyteller and wants to read a book that will leave them thinking and wondering long after it's over.
******
Breaking the Chain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Breaking the Chain by Patricia Rossi is about a woman named Bernadette in 1992 England who finds herself in a mental hospital and doesn't know how or why she is there. She doesn't remember her family, but in her mind keeps seeing children in a garden which makes her wonder if something suspicious is going on. With the aid of a compassionate counselor, Mark, she delves into her past through a series of therapy sessions. Bernadette, who prefers to be called Bernie, begins to have memories of a mother and father who abused her and her one brother and two sisters. Her mother was able to flee Castlebar, Ireland, and her drunken husband and go to Liverpool. It was not easy with 4 young children. Times are difficult as it is a continuous struggle for her mother to keep them fed and a place to sleep. Unfortunately, Bernie's father manages to find them and comes home drunk. He picks Bernie up out of a dead sleep and places her outside in the freezing cold and locks the door. Her mother made her work in a bar at age 13. She tells Mark at a counseling session as her memory is returning. While at the mental hospital Bernie meets other female patients who she tries to befriend. She is shaken and disturbed when one patient, Shirley, undergoes electroconvulsive therapy, and one commits suicide.
I really like the way the author weaves the story between past and present and shows us just how much our past can influence who we become in later life. The author does leave some room where you can form your own conclusions. The story kept me interested and looking forward to each chapter. There are essentially two stories alternating from chapter to chapter. I love Bernadette's kind heart that she didn't realize she had. She spent her whole childhood taking care of her family and living in such poverty and abuse. Even in the mental hospital she is trying to help some of the patients who are more ill than she is.
What I didn't like about the book was the abrupt ending, and that the author didn't tell us much about Bernadette's adult years. I found myself reading parts of the book again to try and get a clearer understanding. I also felt at certain times that the time in the book wasn't quite clear especially during the childhood years. It would have been helpful to know Bernadette's age at different times. I would have liked to see the characters developed a little more, especially the mother and Bernadette's husband. We only met him briefly when he came to visit Bernadette in the hospital.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because overall the book was very good. The book was professionally edited and I enjoyed it very much.
I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves a good storyteller and wants to read a book that will leave them thinking and wondering long after it's over.
******
Breaking the Chain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Date Farm by Jack Winnick
