Review of The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams

My Rating: 3.75

Disclaimer: I received a free e-galley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: racism, parental favoritism, some blood mentioned but accidental (character cuts hand on accident, etc), near miscarriage (partially on page, partially off, kind of fade-to-black but it's obvious what happened), near-death experiences.

So, I think it says A LOT about a book when I want to throw something at the wall.

It means that the book evoked that much in me.

I understand Tess' dilemma, her husband's not perfect, but he tries. And no matter how he acts, it doesn't justify how she acts. I know she marooned in a white community that doesn't represent her. And she's reminded of the position she is in by her mixed twins (one who presents as Black and one as White). But it's obvious to the kids even who she prefers. And it honestly kills me. 

I don't see a lot of character growth, but I think that's the point. It's so much more realistic. The family's Golden Child remains as such, and this book is a really good example of how it isn't malicious, but just because it's not doesn't mean it doesn't cause pain. 

Fiona Williams' writing is gorgeous, effortlessly so. The way she constructs her narratives, split into seasons and the four POVs from there, and that Richard is the only one who doesn't get First-Person POV, is masterful. The varying lengths of those POVs, with Max getting shorter chapters, is also a masterful choice.

Really good book, my heart rips into pieces for both of the twins. Their closeness was adorable, and their relationship felt so real. What they go through is hard to read, in a good way.

I just didn't feel the same from Richard's chapters, Tess' anxiety and suffering were there and it was all real, but I didn't connect to her like I connected to the boys. But that could be my own hang-up. 

I was incredibly confused by the ending though. Did Sonny die? Did Tess stay?