oh this book felt so important. and so needs a place on many a books shelf around the country. i think this would help any generation. and be a comfort and a tear created all at the same time. i did have a few unshed tears at certain points.
its a story of 3 woman. and 3 generations. it has relatable and then teachable moments. we learn of how the same we all are but also and most importantly how different we are and more importantly how differently we are treated. and how unfair life can be for the most menial and ridiculous and scandalous things. i had rage, i had fear, i had so much love all woven through the book. both coming off the pages and from my chest.
and although this was a story that told a timeline of these 3 woman. id also like to add that there was a very real and very loved 4th character. the brother,son,grandson that they all shared and that shaped and featured in all their lives. and is where this book is often centered around. the ripples of loss of a loved one can literally shape us and how we decide upon our futures. and never did this feel more apt to these woman.
we have the sister of the lost young man who doesnt feel like she holds a place. she has a white and black parents and so feel not in one race or the other and not accepted by either. she finds herself pregnant and cant help feeling its not ok to bring a child into this world. her world.
Evelyn is the young mans mother. she came to this country seeking safety from her own when it was a troubled place to be. she never ever saw this being the place that would then take her son. she came here for safety and it gave her harm and hurt. she struggles with how to act now. especially towards trying to keep and protect her daughter. she must keep her safe at all costs,right? but at the same time doesnt or isnt able to properly give her whole heart and love to her daughter. how can she face a loss of that again if anything should happen.
then we have grandma. she moved in with the family when they lost her grandson. she has issues of her own. and when all things start to spill out into the open will it harm it heal these three woman more.
i think this book is just superb. i cant say more than that. and i felt it. felt it with all my heart. and just wanted to hug my mum after so many of the chapters.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr almost ripped my heart apart but it was worth every tear shed. Described as a multi-generational story about motherhood, race and secrets this is a book that will take you on an emotional roller coaster.
Kareela is a young woman who is still trying to come to terms with the tragic death of her older brother at the hands of the police when she was a child. As the daughter of a White mother and a Black father she is not quite sure where she fits, neither culture seems to be fully accepting. When she discovers that she is pregnant she is not sure what she wants, what version of the future feels right. Can she bring a child into the world with so much violence and danger.
Evelyn, Kareela's mother returned home to Canada with her Jamaican husband and young son in the 1980s when the political climate in Jamaica was unstable and increasing violence made her feel unsafe. She never imagined that years later her son would be killed while attending a peaceful protest. In her reaction to that tragedy she both pulled Kareela closer and pushed her further away, keeping her on a tight rein with limited freedoms while maintaining an emotional distance that threatens to destroy her relationship with her daughter completely.
Violet, Evelyn's mother in law moved in with them in the wake of her Grandson's death and in many ways is the only maternal figure that Kareela knows, but in her attempts to help the family get through their grief she makes some choices that have lasting repercussions.
This is a complex, character driven story filled with tragedy and secrets. It is slow moving and readers who like action packed dramatic stories will probably struggle. I however really loved seeing the stories of these three women unfold, and seeing how once the secrets of the past were revealed the way forward for them all seemed so much clearer. The author tackles some very difficult and complex issues including intergenerational trauma, police brutally, racism and reproductive freedom but through the all too human characters she created she makes them understandable to the reader.
This was far from an easy read but it is certainly a memorable and thought provoking one.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own

A moving tale captured through three distinct perspective across generations that holds such a unique space in the lit fiction category. I really enjoyed how the themes of race and single parenthood were looked at in a way that felt real rather than just an observation of them.

Evelyn and Kingsley had such a heartwarming relationship and Evelyn was definitely my fave female that we meet. I loved how generous parents they were to Antony. There is a lot of tragedy in their timeline but there was also warmth and such a strong sense of community which I liked. I found the momentum and pacing overall a little too slow for my liking. Also it felt a bit difficult to initially get into the book whilst all the storylines were being set up.

I did find this book eye opening and gave such a fresh perspective, but the pacing let this one down for me.