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Original poster

The Break - Marian Keyes possible spoilers.

18 replies

Frouby · 10/09/2017 16:27

Anyone read it yet? I finished it last night and really enjoyed it. BUT not as much as some of her other stuff.

I found the main characters a bit difficult to like. But loved the 3 daughters. Am suspecting the whole family could be the new Walsh family and am hoping that I am right.

I did enjoy it. But got a little bit lost in the first half as it was switching backwards and forwards. But it was a good, chic lic read and pure escapism.

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 11/09/2017 18:52

Yes, I really enjoyed it although it hasn't displaced my favourites of hers (Rachel's Holiday and Watermelon).

I hope she writes more about the Walsh family!

Original poster
Frouby · 11/09/2017 20:49

I have just started rereading Rachels Holiday, love all the Walsh books. Sadly for Rachel there is a new Vera book out too so it will be on the backburner for a day or two.

But I think I am going to reread all the Walsh ones. It's been a long time since I read them.

I do think we will see more books about this family though. It has the sisters and brothers as peripheral characters with their own 'stories' to build on. The gay brother with Baby Maisie, scary Maura and Derry was it who seems to have had quite a few relationships as well as an affair and she travels quite bit too.

Would enjoy another family 'saga' type set of books. I cant remember family connections like this in other recent books of hers.

If you are listening Marion please write another soon!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 12/09/2017 06:53

Yes, maybe. However last week I went to see Marian speak and she said that The Break was originally meant to be about Claire and Adam, but she changed her mind because she couldn't do it to them. I think she had already written stuff about the family so when she changed the lead characters she had to give them a large family too.

She also said she hasn't ruled out another Walsh family book (maybe Kate) although no plans at the moment.

CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal · 13/09/2017 08:27

I've just started this and I already want to punch Hugh squarely in the mush and tell him to grow the fuck up (disclaimer: I'm not advocating domestic violence but I reckon as he's a fictional character, I'm going to go with it). I'm hoping when he comes back in 6 months, Amy tells him to do one. I doubt it though.

Good thing is though, I reckon Marian is back on form. Her last couple of books were a bit...meh.

Original poster
Frouby · 13/09/2017 08:47

That makes sense Chessie. It's probably why I thought it was similar in style to the Walsh family.

OP posts:
sleepymama81 · 13/09/2017 14:58

I'm a third of the way through so haven't RTFT. Promising start, better than her last few. I haven't loved any of hers since the time of 'This Charming Man' (horrible!) And 'The Brightest Star in the Sky'. It was really clear that Marian was poorly again when she wrote those, they we're very dark/ different and a departure from her usual style. The Walsh sisters ones and 'The Other Side if the Story' are my favourites.

The last one was ok though, about the woman who couldn't speak. This one is showing signs of being a good one, so I hope it is!

CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal · 13/09/2017 15:02

It was really clear that Marian was poorly again when she wrote those, they we're very dark/ different and a departure from her usual style. The Walsh sisters ones and 'The Other Side if the Story' are my favourites.

Yes, I agree but the Helen Walsh book was awful. It was obviously Marian's 'story' but to put it in the mouth of Helen was just wrong. I'd been so looking forward to Helen's book as well.

sleepymama81 · 13/09/2017 15:08

Yes @CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal, Helen's story was my least favourite of the Walsh ones. Rachel's Holiday was brilliant I've re-read it several times.

ChessieFL · 13/09/2017 18:18

I agree re the Helen Walsh book - good story but would have worked better with a new character, I think. However, the Helen and Anna books were always going to be harder than the other three as we had already seen so much of them in earlier books so already had defined ideas of their personalities/actions. While I enjoyed both books (in my opinion even an off-form Marian is way better than lots of other books out there), it does feel to me like in both cases Marian came up with the story first and decided then to give it to a Walsh, rather than starting with the character of Anna/Helen and thinking about where their lives may have led and coming up with a story that way.

sleepymama81 · 14/09/2017 22:24

Well, just finished it. It was good! Not her best, but I enjoyed it.

lemony7 · 15/09/2017 20:39

I'm loving this book so far! Another vote for another Walsh family collection.

ReadingIsFundamental · 24/09/2017 18:11

I've just finished it and I loved it. I was wary because I didn't enjoy either The Mystery of Mercy Close nor The Woman Who Stole my Life (I loved all the others though.) I think Keyes is back on top form with this one, though.

It really wish her books were taken more seriously though. She deals with incredibly serious subjects, but because there's lots of humour and a happy resolution her work is dismissed as unimportant. Yet, I have no doubt that the abortion sub-plot in this book will be the first time hundreds of thousands of readers realise exactly what the reality of pregnancy termination is for many Irish women. (And Northern Irish women. Yes, there are women in the UK, with British passports etc, who have to endure the journey she describes even in cases of FFA.)

existentialmoment · 28/09/2017 03:29

I just read this. Really enjoyed it once I got into it, but the names really annoyed me and it took me longer to get hold of the story because of it. Why were they all spelled so stupidly?

uokhunni · 28/09/2017 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlbusPercival · 16/05/2018 10:09

Ok I fell asleep through a bit of the audio book, what do the public criticise Niamh gor?

Loonoon · 30/05/2018 09:06

I have been an MK fan since Lucy Sullivan. Even when we were skint and all wearing charity shop clothes she was one of the three authors whose books I bought in hardback because I just couldn't wait. The Break is the only book of hers that I have been disappointed in. My DDs, who inherited my love of MK agreed. I didn't find the characters rounded or convincing at all. After reading this I will give it another go - perhaps I missed something the first time round.

OTH I absolutely loved This Charming Man and The Brightest Star in the Sky. Deep, complex, funny, moving. So much so I kept forcing my copy of TCM on other people and having to rebuy it. Luckily I have it on Kindle now.

IrenetheQuaint · 30/05/2018 20:11

I thought the termination story worked really well - not sure of the timelines, did MK know the referendum was coming? MK is one of Ireland's most read authors (if not THE most read) so great to address this head on.

Otherwise, a fun read but I felt she wimped out at various points. Neeve is supposed to be really difficult but was actually lovely most of the time, and the resolution of the subplot about her and her father was really weak. Lots of repetitive sex scenes, masses of dull chat about brands, and a weird epilogue set in about 2023. But hey, MK's writing is always clever, funny and very readable.

jamaisjedors · 30/05/2018 20:16

I really liked it, I think it spoke to me about marriage at a time when I was struggling at home too.
Also loved this charming man, much better than some of the lighter ones I thought.

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