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jlaz's review against another edition
3.0
**Received from NetGalley**
This is one of the better short stories that I have read in a long time. This short story is a precursor to The Silent Sister. I was hoping to read the short story before I read The Silent Sister, which I am glad I was able to. This short story briefly introduces Riley, the main character, and describes her relationship with her brother Daniel, mainly, but also describes the relationship with her mother and father as well. I doubt you have to read this before The Silent Sister, but I would recommend doing so.
This is one of the better short stories that I have read in a long time. This short story is a precursor to The Silent Sister. I was hoping to read the short story before I read The Silent Sister, which I am glad I was able to. This short story briefly introduces Riley, the main character, and describes her relationship with her brother Daniel, mainly, but also describes the relationship with her mother and father as well. I doubt you have to read this before The Silent Sister, but I would recommend doing so.
cheric1107's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
Diane Chamberlain’s intriguing THE BROKEN STRING, an e-short story novella and prequel to her exciting drama of family secrets in her upcoming book, THE SILENT SISTER.(Oct).
As seventeen year old Riley MacPherson travels by plane alone, to visit her older brother, Danny who has suffered injuries in Iraq, she flashes back with fond memories of her childhood, a time when her brother had always been there for her to protect her from life’s messiness.
Her mom, is sad and haunted. Her dad, distant and obsessed with collections and things, leaving two children without a warm and caring family atmosphere. Due to a suicide tragedy by their child prodigy and famous violinist daughter, Lisa, when she was seventeen. No one talks about her-- where secrets are dark and voices, silent.
Riley has no recollection of her older sister as she was only a baby. She recalls a time, when she was just a little girl, when she longed for her mom's smile, trying desperately to share in the happy place where memories were pure and happy, but she lacked the key to this door and had no clue where to look. An old photograph with the girl and the violin--her mom looked happy.
Riley always looked up to her older brother, who was always there to protect her, and she thought that his strength and confidence was a good thing. However, she has no idea it is the beginning of a defiance that would later rule him.
Her memories are a long string of events that bound her brother to her. Somehow though, that string had been broken –the anger that had been a part of him took over, finally pushing her away, as well as their parents. She longs to be there for him, as he has been for her, when they were children.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity of reading an ARC of THE SILENT SISTER (5 stars), by the publisher, and Diane once again delivers a riveting and suspense page turner. She skillfully crafts a complex family drama mystery, with multi-generational rich characters.
I wanted to go back and read the novella, rewinding to a time earlier to hear from Riley, before the setting of THE SILENT SISTER where we connect with Riley and Danny, years later after their parent’s death, when the secrets begin to unravel.
Highly recommend both THE BROKEN STRING and THE SILENT SISTER a moving story of a family tragedy, and the desperate attempt to pick up the pieces.
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.com/#!The-Broken-String-/cmoa/8ED67B37-4ECE-4858-8133-759EB9D44790
As seventeen year old Riley MacPherson travels by plane alone, to visit her older brother, Danny who has suffered injuries in Iraq, she flashes back with fond memories of her childhood, a time when her brother had always been there for her to protect her from life’s messiness.
Her mom, is sad and haunted. Her dad, distant and obsessed with collections and things, leaving two children without a warm and caring family atmosphere. Due to a suicide tragedy by their child prodigy and famous violinist daughter, Lisa, when she was seventeen. No one talks about her-- where secrets are dark and voices, silent.
Riley has no recollection of her older sister as she was only a baby. She recalls a time, when she was just a little girl, when she longed for her mom's smile, trying desperately to share in the happy place where memories were pure and happy, but she lacked the key to this door and had no clue where to look. An old photograph with the girl and the violin--her mom looked happy.
Riley always looked up to her older brother, who was always there to protect her, and she thought that his strength and confidence was a good thing. However, she has no idea it is the beginning of a defiance that would later rule him.
Her memories are a long string of events that bound her brother to her. Somehow though, that string had been broken –the anger that had been a part of him took over, finally pushing her away, as well as their parents. She longs to be there for him, as he has been for her, when they were children.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity of reading an ARC of THE SILENT SISTER (5 stars), by the publisher, and Diane once again delivers a riveting and suspense page turner. She skillfully crafts a complex family drama mystery, with multi-generational rich characters.
I wanted to go back and read the novella, rewinding to a time earlier to hear from Riley, before the setting of THE SILENT SISTER where we connect with Riley and Danny, years later after their parent’s death, when the secrets begin to unravel.
Highly recommend both THE BROKEN STRING and THE SILENT SISTER a moving story of a family tragedy, and the desperate attempt to pick up the pieces.
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.com/#!The-Broken-String-/cmoa/8ED67B37-4ECE-4858-8133-759EB9D44790
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A prequel to the book I am reviewing tomorrow The Silent Sister. The Broken String centers around seventeen-year-old Riley MacPherson as she is on a plane headed to be by the side of her brother who is injured in Iraq. While on the plane she is thinking about their childhood and the ups and downs within their family. This novella is a collection of those thoughts.
A prequel to the book I am reviewing tomorrow The Silent Sister. The Broken String centers around seventeen-year-old Riley MacPherson as she is on a plane headed to be by the side of her brother who is injured in Iraq. While on the plane she is thinking about their childhood and the ups and downs within their family. This novella is a collection of those thoughts.
lucycatten's review against another edition
4.0
I have enjoyed many of Diane Chamberlain’s full length novels so huge thanks to St Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this short story in exchange for an honest review.
This story acts as an introduction to Chamberlain’s new novel, the Silent Sister. As it opens we meet Riley, who is flying to be with her brother Danny, who we learn has been injured in Iraq.
What the blurb says:
Some secrets need to be told . . . As a child, Riley always suspected there was a secret her parents and brother protected her from, a secret that ruined the bond between her and her brother and threatened to tear her family apart. Now seventeen years old, Riley is flying out to visit her brother Danny who has been wounded whilst fighting in Iraq. And she's is determined to find out what this secret is. But will uncovering the truth bring her and her brother together again and give her the answers she craves, or will it simply lead to more questions . . .
Chamberlain is a master of creating tension and intrigue. There are so many elements in this story that pique the reader’s interest that you just HAVE to keep reading: ‘“Yes, we’re close,” I said, although it wasn’t the truth. Somehow my brother and I had lost our closeness. I felt as though I didn’t know him’. You just have to find out why. And why aren’t Riley’s parents on this flight?
The story is interspersed with flashbacks to Riley’s childhood which help fill in the blanks. We learn that family life has been far from perfect with a cold, materialistic father and an often mentally absent mother: ‘She was in her own world, a place where the memories were happy and pure. I tried hard to get in there with her’. As the story unfolds we start to learn why.
Riley seeks (and finds) solace in her big brother: ‘He was so brave! I couldn’t imagine watching those streaks of lightning on purpose’. But the road ahead is far from smooth – why did their relationship break down? As she travels to meet him she resolves to mend their rift: ‘He would never let me fall. I wanted to be that net of safety for him now. For always’.
Chamberlain perfectly captures the innocence of childhood in this story and I actually found myself quite choked reading the descriptions of neglect. The story packs a punch – particularly considering it is less than 50 pages in length. I will definitely be reading The Silent Sister as I need to know more...
This story acts as an introduction to Chamberlain’s new novel, the Silent Sister. As it opens we meet Riley, who is flying to be with her brother Danny, who we learn has been injured in Iraq.
What the blurb says:
Some secrets need to be told . . . As a child, Riley always suspected there was a secret her parents and brother protected her from, a secret that ruined the bond between her and her brother and threatened to tear her family apart. Now seventeen years old, Riley is flying out to visit her brother Danny who has been wounded whilst fighting in Iraq. And she's is determined to find out what this secret is. But will uncovering the truth bring her and her brother together again and give her the answers she craves, or will it simply lead to more questions . . .
Chamberlain is a master of creating tension and intrigue. There are so many elements in this story that pique the reader’s interest that you just HAVE to keep reading: ‘“Yes, we’re close,” I said, although it wasn’t the truth. Somehow my brother and I had lost our closeness. I felt as though I didn’t know him’. You just have to find out why. And why aren’t Riley’s parents on this flight?
The story is interspersed with flashbacks to Riley’s childhood which help fill in the blanks. We learn that family life has been far from perfect with a cold, materialistic father and an often mentally absent mother: ‘She was in her own world, a place where the memories were happy and pure. I tried hard to get in there with her’. As the story unfolds we start to learn why.
Riley seeks (and finds) solace in her big brother: ‘He was so brave! I couldn’t imagine watching those streaks of lightning on purpose’. But the road ahead is far from smooth – why did their relationship break down? As she travels to meet him she resolves to mend their rift: ‘He would never let me fall. I wanted to be that net of safety for him now. For always’.
Chamberlain perfectly captures the innocence of childhood in this story and I actually found myself quite choked reading the descriptions of neglect. The story packs a punch – particularly considering it is less than 50 pages in length. I will definitely be reading The Silent Sister as I need to know more...
jenn_kidd's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t realize this was a short story and a prequel to The Silent Sister. I enjoyed the story, but now feel like I need to reread The Silent Sister!!
leslico's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting prologue to The Silent Sister. It's not absolutely necessary to read it first, but it gives you more insight into Riley and Danny's relationship.
thegeekybibliophile's review
3.0
This is a very brief short story that introduces you to the characters of Riley Macpherson and her brother, Danny, from the novel The Silent Sister. At least, it does if you read it first... I wasn't aware this short story existed before I read The Silent Sister. If I had, I would have read it first.
My favorite part of the tale is when Riley is thinking back to when she and Danny were children. There is a sweet memory of Danny comforting her when she is afraid of a storm, and another when he saves her from what could have been a painful injury, which serve to illustrate how close Riley and Danny were when they were children. One childhood memory in particular is not such a happy one, and is something that (to my memory) is never referenced in The Silent Sister, so I won't mention it in this review other than to say it quite interesting.
I'm giving this one three stars. I'm glad I read it, and I enjoyed it, but even for a short story, it was a wee bit too short for my liking.
My favorite part of the tale is when Riley is thinking back to when she and Danny were children. There is a sweet memory of Danny comforting her when she is afraid of a storm, and another when he saves her from what could have been a painful injury, which serve to illustrate how close Riley and Danny were when they were children. One childhood memory in particular is not such a happy one, and is something that (to my memory) is never referenced in The Silent Sister, so I won't mention it in this review other than to say it quite interesting.
I'm giving this one three stars. I'm glad I read it, and I enjoyed it, but even for a short story, it was a wee bit too short for my liking.
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
Felt like this substantial backstory had been cut from the final novel by the editor, the author pushed back, and the compromise was to release it as a short story prequel.
I liked the childhood scenes between the characters.
I liked the childhood scenes between the characters.
juliaspence422's review
3.0
I recommend to read before The Silent Sister - adds a little background to the family.