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Broken Light
A bold and timely novel that explores how women can feel invisible as they grow older—and what happens when they decide to take back control.
Bernie Moon's ambitions and dreams have been forgotten by everyone, even Bernie herself. At nineteen she was full of promise, but now, facing fifty and going through the menopause, she's a fading light.
Until the murder of a woman in a local park unlocks a series of childhood memories, and with them, a talent that she has hidden all her adult life.
What happens when the frustrations and power of an older woman are finally given their chance to be revealed?
Filled with growth and redemption, revenge and visibility, friendship and self-discovery, Broken Light is an explosive new thriller that challenges our notions of womanhood and power.
Bernie Moon's ambitions and dreams have been forgotten by everyone, even Bernie herself. At nineteen she was full of promise, but now, facing fifty and going through the menopause, she's a fading light.
Until the murder of a woman in a local park unlocks a series of childhood memories, and with them, a talent that she has hidden all her adult life.
What happens when the frustrations and power of an older woman are finally given their chance to be revealed?
Filled with growth and redemption, revenge and visibility, friendship and self-discovery, Broken Light is an explosive new thriller that challenges our notions of womanhood and power.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2023
526 people are currently reading
2576 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Harris
124 books6,272 followersJoanne Harris is also known as Joanne M. Harris
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 535 reviews
March 26, 2023
4.5 rounded up
‘Little girl. Make them look’. As a child Bernie Moon is seen as different, strange and is an outsider. By 16, she’s transformed, they sure see her now and it seems her world is full of possibilities. Now, she’s approaching 50, menopausal and invisible. However, when a young female jogger is murdered it wakes Bernie up. It sparks memories and much, much more, including a talent she hasn’t used for many years which could potentially be destructive. Bernie transforms, she’s now visible but what will be the outcome?
Joanne Harris can do no wrong for me as she always takes a storyline down an intriguing route. This one is very creative, it’s takes a different approach in order to explore relevant and concerning issues such as the menopause (thanks for the memories 😬) feminism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, gender wars and gender bombing. All the themes are carefully, cleverly, magically woven around the orbit of BernieMoon making it an immersive reading experience. Wow, has JH ever created a character here! You feel her uniqueness, her uncomfortable memories, her magic, her power especially as she realises it’s possibilities. She really does awake and is seen one way or another. This is the real Bernie, the one she submerged, the one she lost and abracadabra, she’s back. I love the use that is made of the menopause particularly via an Influencer but also the way it’s used to explore the effects of fugues and sleep with the boundaries between dreams/magic and reality. This takes the storyline in a very scary direction - many of the authors books take a magical realism direction so be prepared! This leads the storytelling into a gender war direction which has unexpected and unpredictable results. The power that is unleashed is wonderfully described with broken lights, light, reflections, mirrors and tables being turned. The author makes you feel it too (well, she does me!), it’s a sensory adventure and she makes you buy into things that may or may not be possible.
The novel builds inexorably via some dramatic scenes and terribly damaging lies with huge consequences. The ending is powerfully unpredictable but yes, Bernie they can see you now but as for the truth, we’ll, that’s a broken light!
If you think this sounds heavy, it does look at some topical subjects but there’s also well placed humour and some really wonderful characters in amongst those that are ticking time bombs, which forms a good contrast.
My only negative concerns what happens to one character (Jim Wood) post intervention. I’ll say no more! Also why are we calling hot flushes, hot flashes please??? Flushes is what we call the blooming nuisances here! Grrrrrrr!!!!
Overall, despite the minor reservations I think this is outstanding whilst appreciating it won’t fit everyone’s bill. She is one of my favourite authors so enough said!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
‘Little girl. Make them look’. As a child Bernie Moon is seen as different, strange and is an outsider. By 16, she’s transformed, they sure see her now and it seems her world is full of possibilities. Now, she’s approaching 50, menopausal and invisible. However, when a young female jogger is murdered it wakes Bernie up. It sparks memories and much, much more, including a talent she hasn’t used for many years which could potentially be destructive. Bernie transforms, she’s now visible but what will be the outcome?
Joanne Harris can do no wrong for me as she always takes a storyline down an intriguing route. This one is very creative, it’s takes a different approach in order to explore relevant and concerning issues such as the menopause (thanks for the memories 😬) feminism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, gender wars and gender bombing. All the themes are carefully, cleverly, magically woven around the orbit of BernieMoon making it an immersive reading experience. Wow, has JH ever created a character here! You feel her uniqueness, her uncomfortable memories, her magic, her power especially as she realises it’s possibilities. She really does awake and is seen one way or another. This is the real Bernie, the one she submerged, the one she lost and abracadabra, she’s back. I love the use that is made of the menopause particularly via an Influencer but also the way it’s used to explore the effects of fugues and sleep with the boundaries between dreams/magic and reality. This takes the storyline in a very scary direction - many of the authors books take a magical realism direction so be prepared! This leads the storytelling into a gender war direction which has unexpected and unpredictable results. The power that is unleashed is wonderfully described with broken lights, light, reflections, mirrors and tables being turned. The author makes you feel it too (well, she does me!), it’s a sensory adventure and she makes you buy into things that may or may not be possible.
The novel builds inexorably via some dramatic scenes and terribly damaging lies with huge consequences. The ending is powerfully unpredictable but yes, Bernie they can see you now but as for the truth, we’ll, that’s a broken light!
If you think this sounds heavy, it does look at some topical subjects but there’s also well placed humour and some really wonderful characters in amongst those that are ticking time bombs, which forms a good contrast.
My only negative concerns what happens to one character (Jim Wood) post intervention. I’ll say no more! Also why are we calling hot flushes, hot flashes please??? Flushes is what we call the blooming nuisances here! Grrrrrrr!!!!
Overall, despite the minor reservations I think this is outstanding whilst appreciating it won’t fit everyone’s bill. She is one of my favourite authors so enough said!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 12, 2023
DNF. I’m a big fan of Joanne Harris but the premise of this book is just too silly for me. I’m sure, and I hope, that others will love it but it’s not for me.
To add to my frustration, the main character has hot flashes. It is set in England. The characters are English and they speak in English vernacular. She is therefore having hot flushes (I emphathise!) so why the Americanism? Aaaaaaagh!
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a review copy.
To add to my frustration, the main character has hot flashes. It is set in England. The characters are English and they speak in English vernacular. She is therefore having hot flushes (I emphathise!) so why the Americanism? Aaaaaaagh!
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for a review copy.
October 2, 2023
”Memory is a curious thing. Nothing is really forgotten.”
Bernadette “Bernie” Moon is different. She has a gift. One she’s had since being a child, and which she’s tried to ignore for most of her adult life. But now, approaching 50, feeling the effects of menopause and that she’s mainly invisible to the world at large, she no longer ignores this ability to see things that she shouldn’t.
The trigger for this is the murder of a female jogger at the park near her home. Bernie thinks she knows who was responsible. She can see it.
”What if it hadn’t been a fugue? What if I was actually right?”
You see, Bernie Moon has the uncanny ability to see deep into the recesses of people’s minds. Each of which are referred to as “houses”. Some are messy, some are neat. Some are filled with sunlight, while others have locked doors that are out of bounds. This is what made her “other” at school. ”Weird Bernie", always on the fringes of friendship groups. Until she gave her gift away for many years. Only to resurface now, as her body is again going through a new life cycle.
How many of us ignore our inner voice? Particularly women, thinking that we’re being overemotional, or overreacting to a situation? When often the opposite is true. Not wanting to appear rude, not wanting to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings.
This book is about aging and how we (seem to) lose our relevance as we become older. Particularly women. That it’s so easy to be taken for granted and feel like you're just going through the motions and existing rather than living.
I kept thinking repeatedly of the sad and appalling case of the murder of Sarah Everard in the UK, where an off duty policeman abused his use of power. On looking at Joanne Harris’ website after completing this book, it turns out that it was indeed written as a response to current world events where women’s rights and what it means to be a woman have been turned on its head and become a political hot potato. The gender wars where there are no winners. The difficulties of the recent change in people’s social situations due to the Covid, and the long term mental and social effects this has left behind.
The link to her discussion to the background of this book can be found here. It’s an absolutely fascinating interview:
http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/broken...
It could be said that this book borders on misandry and has oversimplified the woman good/man bad trope. To me, it simply repeatedly brings home the point about what a scary world it can be out there. Sadly most of the crimes committed against women are by men, and usually these are by intimate partners (or those who wish to become intimate partners). The use of Rohypnol is not a joke. Date rape is not a joke. A woman murdered while out jogging is not a joke. Unfortunately, these sorts of crimes occur far too often for anyone to be comfortable with. And each of these are talked about in the book.
”What if I was right? Isn’t a question I ask myself very often. Most of my left has been spent hearing men dismissing my instincts and feelings as wrong. Men are the keepers of common sense, of reason and balance. Women, on the other hand, are over-emotional, hormonal.”
A Pandora’s Box of genderwars unfolds, as some of the menfolk in the community start their own counter #metoo movement. Conspiracy theories abound that a new drug MK2 is being used by women to spike men’s food. A Twitter war ensues.
Safe spaces, toxic masculinity and toxic feminism feature here. Tit for tat. The story delves into all the darker parts of our current world.
And the more Bernie Moon blooms with new friendships and re-discovering herself and her power, the more strange events begin to occur. There’s definitely a ”Carrie" feel to the story, which culminates in a crescendo which I did not see coming.
Told in alternating chapters via journal entries of Bernie and her estranged best friend from school Katie, secrets and lies tell the story of little Bernie Moon morphing into powerful, proud Bernie Ingram. It's quite a metamorphosis, and all the sadder for it being so.
Bernie Moon is an intriguing character. Joanne Harris has created someone that has been taken for granted for too long, and that wants to be seen. I felt great empathy for her. The pain of being ignored as a child and adult, then wonder that in midlife she finally began to appreciate who was. And wanted others to as well, particularly her husband.
”Made You Look."
This is definitely a departure from the work that Joanne Harris is best known for, with her Vianne Rocher Chocolat series. This book is much darker, and one that is sure to pull on all sorts of nerves. It’s edgy, and creepy and will really make you think.
A small gripe I have is the use of the term “hot flashes" rather than “hot flushes." It’s most definitely a “hot flush" for UK and Aussie readers. This really stood out to me. I felt myself breaking out in a “hot flush" each time I read “hot flash." But the use of the preferred spelling is given in the above Q&A link. As the story continued, I became accustomed to it, and realised the logic behind it.
And the title "Broken Light?” It’s mentioned a few times across the chapters. We all emit a kind of light, some brighter, some less so, which is reflected on others. This may or may not make sense to people. But it’s like the phrase about the beating of butterfly wings having a knock-on effect of potentially creating a storm. People’s vibe can create joy or alternately chaos. We are all reflections of each other.
”Look. Now. Look at yourself.”
This is a complex story. I was absolutely fascinated by all the questions it puts out there.
What-a-story. Boom 💥 Brava Joanne Harris.
Bernadette “Bernie” Moon is different. She has a gift. One she’s had since being a child, and which she’s tried to ignore for most of her adult life. But now, approaching 50, feeling the effects of menopause and that she’s mainly invisible to the world at large, she no longer ignores this ability to see things that she shouldn’t.
The trigger for this is the murder of a female jogger at the park near her home. Bernie thinks she knows who was responsible. She can see it.
”What if it hadn’t been a fugue? What if I was actually right?”
You see, Bernie Moon has the uncanny ability to see deep into the recesses of people’s minds. Each of which are referred to as “houses”. Some are messy, some are neat. Some are filled with sunlight, while others have locked doors that are out of bounds. This is what made her “other” at school. ”Weird Bernie", always on the fringes of friendship groups. Until she gave her gift away for many years. Only to resurface now, as her body is again going through a new life cycle.
How many of us ignore our inner voice? Particularly women, thinking that we’re being overemotional, or overreacting to a situation? When often the opposite is true. Not wanting to appear rude, not wanting to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings.
This book is about aging and how we (seem to) lose our relevance as we become older. Particularly women. That it’s so easy to be taken for granted and feel like you're just going through the motions and existing rather than living.
I kept thinking repeatedly of the sad and appalling case of the murder of Sarah Everard in the UK, where an off duty policeman abused his use of power. On looking at Joanne Harris’ website after completing this book, it turns out that it was indeed written as a response to current world events where women’s rights and what it means to be a woman have been turned on its head and become a political hot potato. The gender wars where there are no winners. The difficulties of the recent change in people’s social situations due to the Covid, and the long term mental and social effects this has left behind.
The link to her discussion to the background of this book can be found here. It’s an absolutely fascinating interview:
http://www.joanne-harris.co.uk/broken...
It could be said that this book borders on misandry and has oversimplified the woman good/man bad trope. To me, it simply repeatedly brings home the point about what a scary world it can be out there. Sadly most of the crimes committed against women are by men, and usually these are by intimate partners (or those who wish to become intimate partners). The use of Rohypnol is not a joke. Date rape is not a joke. A woman murdered while out jogging is not a joke. Unfortunately, these sorts of crimes occur far too often for anyone to be comfortable with. And each of these are talked about in the book.
”What if I was right? Isn’t a question I ask myself very often. Most of my left has been spent hearing men dismissing my instincts and feelings as wrong. Men are the keepers of common sense, of reason and balance. Women, on the other hand, are over-emotional, hormonal.”
A Pandora’s Box of genderwars unfolds, as some of the menfolk in the community start their own counter #metoo movement. Conspiracy theories abound that a new drug MK2 is being used by women to spike men’s food. A Twitter war ensues.
Safe spaces, toxic masculinity and toxic feminism feature here. Tit for tat. The story delves into all the darker parts of our current world.
And the more Bernie Moon blooms with new friendships and re-discovering herself and her power, the more strange events begin to occur. There’s definitely a ”Carrie" feel to the story, which culminates in a crescendo which I did not see coming.
Told in alternating chapters via journal entries of Bernie and her estranged best friend from school Katie, secrets and lies tell the story of little Bernie Moon morphing into powerful, proud Bernie Ingram. It's quite a metamorphosis, and all the sadder for it being so.
Bernie Moon is an intriguing character. Joanne Harris has created someone that has been taken for granted for too long, and that wants to be seen. I felt great empathy for her. The pain of being ignored as a child and adult, then wonder that in midlife she finally began to appreciate who was. And wanted others to as well, particularly her husband.
”Made You Look."
This is definitely a departure from the work that Joanne Harris is best known for, with her Vianne Rocher Chocolat series. This book is much darker, and one that is sure to pull on all sorts of nerves. It’s edgy, and creepy and will really make you think.
A small gripe I have is the use of the term “hot flashes" rather than “hot flushes." It’s most definitely a “hot flush" for UK and Aussie readers. This really stood out to me. I felt myself breaking out in a “hot flush" each time I read “hot flash." But the use of the preferred spelling is given in the above Q&A link. As the story continued, I became accustomed to it, and realised the logic behind it.
And the title "Broken Light?” It’s mentioned a few times across the chapters. We all emit a kind of light, some brighter, some less so, which is reflected on others. This may or may not make sense to people. But it’s like the phrase about the beating of butterfly wings having a knock-on effect of potentially creating a storm. People’s vibe can create joy or alternately chaos. We are all reflections of each other.
”Look. Now. Look at yourself.”
This is a complex story. I was absolutely fascinated by all the questions it puts out there.
What-a-story. Boom 💥 Brava Joanne Harris.
June 9, 2023
Well, that was a weird one! To be honest I’m not sure what exactly to make of this latest offering from Joanne Harris. As always, her writing is mesmerising, and both the narrative and protagonist compelling, but I’m left feeling totally disoriented, like I’ve been tripping on some kind of hallucinogenic.
Broken Light is the story of Bernie Moon, a menopausal woman, for whom life has never been very kind. She is friendless, stuck in a boring marriage, and pretty much estranged from both her mother and son. Her only real pleasure is her job in a local indy bookstore.
But Bernie has a superpower: she can see inside other people’s minds — their ‘houses’ as she calls them. She can wander through their ‘rooms’, delve into their pasts, and read their innermost thoughts. It’s a gift that has lain dormant since childhood, but triggered by hormones and Bernie’s altered emotional state, it’s back, and more powerful than ever before.
As premises go, you have to admit this is pretty wild, veering into magical realism territory. Now, that’s not something that would normally unsettle me, but …
What follows is a bizarre story with multiple threads and layers that didn’t quite gel for me. Much of it is revenge based, a pitting of the sexes: men hating women, women hating men. Social media whipping up a vicious fury. Bernie in the middle, wielding her ever-strengthening power.
Away from all this, there’s Bernie’s quiet transformation. From a timid, unhappy, invisible woman into someone with new-found self-belief and optimism and a circle of feisty female friends. As a fellow ‘invisible’, post-menopausal woman, I felt thoroughly invested in this thread.
What I wasn’t a fan of was the stereotyping of so many of the secondary characters. The predatory, misogynistic male; the brash, opinionated, Gen-Z; the gay, the bi, the trans. It all felt too much like box ticking. And what the heck are hot flashes? In the UK, we call them hot FLUSHES. Why the Americanism? Oh, and it’s very, very long.
I readily accept that Harris’ intentions may have flown right over my head and that other readers may well garner more from this than I. If nothing else, it would make an excellent book club read. It just wasn’t for me.
Broken Light is the story of Bernie Moon, a menopausal woman, for whom life has never been very kind. She is friendless, stuck in a boring marriage, and pretty much estranged from both her mother and son. Her only real pleasure is her job in a local indy bookstore.
But Bernie has a superpower: she can see inside other people’s minds — their ‘houses’ as she calls them. She can wander through their ‘rooms’, delve into their pasts, and read their innermost thoughts. It’s a gift that has lain dormant since childhood, but triggered by hormones and Bernie’s altered emotional state, it’s back, and more powerful than ever before.
As premises go, you have to admit this is pretty wild, veering into magical realism territory. Now, that’s not something that would normally unsettle me, but …
What follows is a bizarre story with multiple threads and layers that didn’t quite gel for me. Much of it is revenge based, a pitting of the sexes: men hating women, women hating men. Social media whipping up a vicious fury. Bernie in the middle, wielding her ever-strengthening power.
Away from all this, there’s Bernie’s quiet transformation. From a timid, unhappy, invisible woman into someone with new-found self-belief and optimism and a circle of feisty female friends. As a fellow ‘invisible’, post-menopausal woman, I felt thoroughly invested in this thread.
What I wasn’t a fan of was the stereotyping of so many of the secondary characters. The predatory, misogynistic male; the brash, opinionated, Gen-Z; the gay, the bi, the trans. It all felt too much like box ticking. And what the heck are hot flashes? In the UK, we call them hot FLUSHES. Why the Americanism? Oh, and it’s very, very long.
I readily accept that Harris’ intentions may have flown right over my head and that other readers may well garner more from this than I. If nothing else, it would make an excellent book club read. It just wasn’t for me.
May 21, 2023
3 Stars
May 10, 2025
Whether it be through the magic of Vianne Rocher and her world of chocolate or the Machiavellian world of St Oswald’s school, Joanne Harris is a consummate storyteller. Broken Light is a very different type of story; in some ways it could be described as being an amalgam of her two successful series- magical realism combined with a crime drama.
Bernie Moon is a unique literary creation who has a power - she can enter the thoughts and minds of others and when desired change their attitudes, mindset, actions. Told through the current world of gender politics and identity, the world of social media, influencers and conspiracy theories this is a novel that is going to divide fans and open up many questions.
Based around the events of childhood years and leading up to a graduation prom , the story explores Bernie’s sense of isolation from society and how she was treated by others diminishing her self worth.. but as her menopause continues it triggers a series of events linked to her unique skills that have lain dormant for years - following the murder of a murder of a young mother, Bernie finds herself taking retribution on men who abuse women and her sense of self empowerment to show her true strengths at a school reunion event. This is a novel of our times and commentary on the divisions within society. It is unflinching and angry but throughout the desire for Bernie to be recognised and succeed is palpable.
There is a slight feeling that there is a nod to the 1970s horror movie Carrie as the plot proceeds and retribution . This is a darker read than many of Joanne Harris’ other novels but is rewarding and is certainly memorable- intriguing , beguiling and thought provoking
Bernie Moon is a unique literary creation who has a power - she can enter the thoughts and minds of others and when desired change their attitudes, mindset, actions. Told through the current world of gender politics and identity, the world of social media, influencers and conspiracy theories this is a novel that is going to divide fans and open up many questions.
Based around the events of childhood years and leading up to a graduation prom , the story explores Bernie’s sense of isolation from society and how she was treated by others diminishing her self worth.. but as her menopause continues it triggers a series of events linked to her unique skills that have lain dormant for years - following the murder of a murder of a young mother, Bernie finds herself taking retribution on men who abuse women and her sense of self empowerment to show her true strengths at a school reunion event. This is a novel of our times and commentary on the divisions within society. It is unflinching and angry but throughout the desire for Bernie to be recognised and succeed is palpable.
There is a slight feeling that there is a nod to the 1970s horror movie Carrie as the plot proceeds and retribution . This is a darker read than many of Joanne Harris’ other novels but is rewarding and is certainly memorable- intriguing , beguiling and thought provoking
February 26, 2024
Bernie, a middle aged perimenopausal woman, rediscovers a childhood talent she'd all but forgotten, one that helps her to finally take control of her life.
I liked the premise of this, I found it engaging, and I liked the slight Carrie vibe it had going on, however I also disliked quite a lot too 😬.
The secondary characters were all stereotypes, as if there was a long list of boxes and they all needed to be ticked, likewise every social issue you can think of was levered in with absolutely no subtlety at all, again a very long list.
The women vs men dynamic was very black and white, I consider myself a feminist, but newsflash - not all women are wonderful, and likewise not all men are arseholes, though to me, this book seemed to come across that way, I saw another reviewer say that the important subject matter in this story deserves better, and I'd have to agree.
The overuse of the phrase "hot flashes" drove me bonkers (the story is set in the UK, we say hot flushes), nit picky maybe but Bernie was having one on every other page.
Weirdly I had no trouble buying into the supernatural elements of the story, but I did have trouble understanding why Bernie was such an absolute doormat in every way possible.
I'm giving 3 stars though, as even though I was irritated, I was also intrigued and engaged all the way through.
I liked the premise of this, I found it engaging, and I liked the slight Carrie vibe it had going on, however I also disliked quite a lot too 😬.
The secondary characters were all stereotypes, as if there was a long list of boxes and they all needed to be ticked, likewise every social issue you can think of was levered in with absolutely no subtlety at all, again a very long list.
The women vs men dynamic was very black and white, I consider myself a feminist, but newsflash - not all women are wonderful, and likewise not all men are arseholes, though to me, this book seemed to come across that way, I saw another reviewer say that the important subject matter in this story deserves better, and I'd have to agree.
The overuse of the phrase "hot flashes" drove me bonkers (the story is set in the UK, we say hot flushes), nit picky maybe but Bernie was having one on every other page.
Weirdly I had no trouble buying into the supernatural elements of the story, but I did have trouble understanding why Bernie was such an absolute doormat in every way possible.
I'm giving 3 stars though, as even though I was irritated, I was also intrigued and engaged all the way through.
August 27, 2023
Clearly I am in the minority in my opinion of this book, since so many reviewers loved Harris’s contemporary novel which tackled hefty and significant issues from misogyny and toxic masculinity, social media and conspiracy theories, to bullying and menopause.
But I think this book would have been far more powerful if the author had just dialled down the intensity and actually allowed the reader to fully absorb the impact of her writing without having to repeatedly reinforce her message (frequently to the point of irritation).
I found the binary treatment of “all women are good, all men are bad” just too heavy-handed, especially when I couldn’t even become partially invested in the main character, “super-heroine” Bernie, with her maxi-pads and “hot flashes”. (which felt like they were mentioned every second page).
Whilst I generally enjoy the genre of magical realism, I thought this plot was pretty weak (“Playing House”? ), and too disjointed. The stereotypical nature of many of the other characters felt they were sometimes inserted simply for the purposes of ticking boxes.
The whole story just felt “overcooked” to me as I struggled to even finish this book.
But I think this book would have been far more powerful if the author had just dialled down the intensity and actually allowed the reader to fully absorb the impact of her writing without having to repeatedly reinforce her message (frequently to the point of irritation).
I found the binary treatment of “all women are good, all men are bad” just too heavy-handed, especially when I couldn’t even become partially invested in the main character, “super-heroine” Bernie, with her maxi-pads and “hot flashes”. (which felt like they were mentioned every second page).
Whilst I generally enjoy the genre of magical realism, I thought this plot was pretty weak (“Playing House”? ), and too disjointed. The stereotypical nature of many of the other characters felt they were sometimes inserted simply for the purposes of ticking boxes.
The whole story just felt “overcooked” to me as I struggled to even finish this book.
April 17, 2024
As you’ve gotten older do you or have you tended to fade into the background, feel invisible.?
Odd question….right?
Bernie is fast approaching 50 years old, going through the menopause with a sense of fading away, not seen, like a wallflower, part of the furniture.
So very different from the girl she was at 19 years of age, young, had dreams and ambitions. Challenging life.
But what or if someone gives her the chance, the ability to break free, do something and be someone?
What then?
Great thriller
Historical thriller
Edge of supernatural
Paranormal
What a combination.
I didn’t look too far into this book when I saw it on Borrowbox my library audio provider having read a book by this author before, I think I’d have missed out because I usually avoid supernatural and paranormal.
I quite enjoyed it in part.
Odd question….right?
Bernie is fast approaching 50 years old, going through the menopause with a sense of fading away, not seen, like a wallflower, part of the furniture.
So very different from the girl she was at 19 years of age, young, had dreams and ambitions. Challenging life.
But what or if someone gives her the chance, the ability to break free, do something and be someone?
What then?
Great thriller
Historical thriller
Edge of supernatural
Paranormal
What a combination.
I didn’t look too far into this book when I saw it on Borrowbox my library audio provider having read a book by this author before, I think I’d have missed out because I usually avoid supernatural and paranormal.
I quite enjoyed it in part.
February 27, 2025
'Little girl. Make them look' 👀
Joanne Harris is a true marvel with words. She has an incredible insight into the human experience and her voice dictates it perfectly. Every sentence. Every word is crafted with such eloquence. Her writing is so powerful and meaningful.
This is a bold novel that explores the intricacies of being a woman. It explores the life of Bernie Moon, who feels invisible and how she takes back her control. This is a thrilling novel that explores everything from female friendship, menopause, murder and rape. It is a high-five to womanhood and power! ✋🏼🤜🏼🤙🏼
I don’t want to give this magical storyline away (and it truly is magic ✨) so I will leave you with some of my favourite quotes from the novel:
‘So many women never claim their achievements openly. So many women are eclipsed – sawn in half, or stabbed with knives, or made to vanish into thin air – as if that were so unusual. After all, it’s hardly news. Women vanish every day. But The Great Carovnik had shown me this: that we need never vanish. She had shown me that you could take the spotlight if you wanted to, even from the man in the suit, with all his smoke and mirrors.’
“Some women have inner goddesses: I have my inner critic instead, who sounds something like my mother."
"People are like houses. We all have public spaces. Well-lit façades; neat gardens. Pictures of loved ones on the walls. A mirror over the mantelpiece. These are the carefully chosen things that other people are meant to see. But, most of the time, we’re inside the house, and what happens there is private."
"My words are no longer cushioned, but edged, like tiny shards of broken glass."
"How can I possibly know these things? It was almost as if my experience had opened a window into her house. Suddenly, I knew things…”
"And, in only one lesson, I’m already learning that there’s power in my voice, a power I never suspected. Singing in the choir at Mulberry House has given me some good habits. Running has already taught me something about breath control. And the Great Carovnik has taught me the most important lesson of all: that I can take the spotlight, and that I can control their gaze."
“Sometimes, I envy Iris. Her world seems so much simpler than mine. Men fall into one of two categories: keepers and douchebags. Women are even easier, being split into fighters and quitters."
“Made You Look." 👀
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Joanne Harris is a true marvel with words. She has an incredible insight into the human experience and her voice dictates it perfectly. Every sentence. Every word is crafted with such eloquence. Her writing is so powerful and meaningful.
This is a bold novel that explores the intricacies of being a woman. It explores the life of Bernie Moon, who feels invisible and how she takes back her control. This is a thrilling novel that explores everything from female friendship, menopause, murder and rape. It is a high-five to womanhood and power! ✋🏼🤜🏼🤙🏼
I don’t want to give this magical storyline away (and it truly is magic ✨) so I will leave you with some of my favourite quotes from the novel:
‘So many women never claim their achievements openly. So many women are eclipsed – sawn in half, or stabbed with knives, or made to vanish into thin air – as if that were so unusual. After all, it’s hardly news. Women vanish every day. But The Great Carovnik had shown me this: that we need never vanish. She had shown me that you could take the spotlight if you wanted to, even from the man in the suit, with all his smoke and mirrors.’
“Some women have inner goddesses: I have my inner critic instead, who sounds something like my mother."
"People are like houses. We all have public spaces. Well-lit façades; neat gardens. Pictures of loved ones on the walls. A mirror over the mantelpiece. These are the carefully chosen things that other people are meant to see. But, most of the time, we’re inside the house, and what happens there is private."
"My words are no longer cushioned, but edged, like tiny shards of broken glass."
"How can I possibly know these things? It was almost as if my experience had opened a window into her house. Suddenly, I knew things…”
"And, in only one lesson, I’m already learning that there’s power in my voice, a power I never suspected. Singing in the choir at Mulberry House has given me some good habits. Running has already taught me something about breath control. And the Great Carovnik has taught me the most important lesson of all: that I can take the spotlight, and that I can control their gaze."
“Sometimes, I envy Iris. Her world seems so much simpler than mine. Men fall into one of two categories: keepers and douchebags. Women are even easier, being split into fighters and quitters."
“Made You Look." 👀
🌟🌟🌟🌟
May 17, 2023
Get The Witches of Eastwick (both book and film),throw in rampant misandry,a plot device that could have been original but ends up being ridiculous and silly, a heavy dose of the most obvious and cheap chick lit,endless repetition,black and white stances (all women are perfect, all men are evil) the twisting of what feminism actually is, and you get this book.
Having loved the Malbry trilogy (not A Narrow Door,though), I tried thinking the author intended this one as a parody but no, it´s just really,really awful.
Having loved the Malbry trilogy (not A Narrow Door,though), I tried thinking the author intended this one as a parody but no, it´s just really,really awful.
August 24, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
There’s something about a woman’s rage that feels very old, very primal. A man’s rage may be more physical, but a woman’s rage is born from centuries of violence.
This book tapped into the female rage in such a magically unique way and I bloody loved it. 🩵
I highlighted SO MANY quotes whilst I was reading because Joanne Harris so perfectly encapsulated the feeling of being a woman in, not just a man’s world, but a modern-day podcast man’s world. Whilst the writing wasn’t overly visceral, the magical realism really drew me in and I flew through it.
I wish that I could have given this 5 stars, but the only thing stopping me was that I thought the story started losing a bit of momentum towards the end. It managed to get some of it back during the conclusion, but since this was overall quite a slow burn, it needed to maintain the pace a bit better.
Nevertheless, this was an utterly fantastic story. My love for Joanne Harris hasn’t burned this bright since I last read the Chocolat series. ❤️🩹
There’s something about a woman’s rage that feels very old, very primal. A man’s rage may be more physical, but a woman’s rage is born from centuries of violence.
This book tapped into the female rage in such a magically unique way and I bloody loved it. 🩵
I highlighted SO MANY quotes whilst I was reading because Joanne Harris so perfectly encapsulated the feeling of being a woman in, not just a man’s world, but a modern-day podcast man’s world. Whilst the writing wasn’t overly visceral, the magical realism really drew me in and I flew through it.
I wish that I could have given this 5 stars, but the only thing stopping me was that I thought the story started losing a bit of momentum towards the end. It managed to get some of it back during the conclusion, but since this was overall quite a slow burn, it needed to maintain the pace a bit better.
Nevertheless, this was an utterly fantastic story. My love for Joanne Harris hasn’t burned this bright since I last read the Chocolat series. ❤️🩹
May 4, 2023
Bestselling Anglo-French author Joanne Harris (Chocolat) offers readers a truly unique tale in Broken Light, a fascinating, page-turning thriller crackling with female rage. Told in mesmerizing fashion through twin narratives following Bernie and the recollections of her childhood friend Kate, this is a thought-provoking, anger-inducing, brilliant novel. It feels both timely and timeless, and may linger long in your thoughts after the final page.
March 21, 2023
Rating: 3.0/5
"Broken Light" tells the story of Bernie Moon, who is, on the face of it, an unremarkable woman approaching the age of fifty. But it wasn't always so. As a teenaged schoolgirl Bernie had a particular talent and when a young woman is murdered close to Bernie's home, she finds her particular ability being reactivated.
This is an unusual read in many ways and it does take a little while to settle into. There is a clear influence from Stephen King's "Carrie" and certain aspects of the story put me in mind of John Wyndham's "The Midwich Cuckoos". There are recurrent themes that have featured elsewhere in Joanne Harris's work such as identity, mother/child relationships, the outsider in the community, sensory perceptions and last, but certainly not least, sexism - more particularly, misogyny. This final element is the theme that is most often reiterated and emphasised - to the point where it could be viewed as actually moving into the realms of misandry, which some readers, especially (but not exclusively) of the male variety may consider overdone.
The content is certainly thought provoking and I can well imagine this providing the basis for some involved discussion in book groups around the country. There is some pleasing and effective imagery and the prose generally flows very nicely. Perhaps the one exception is the repeated reference to "hot flashes". This is used instead of the more usual "hot flushes" in relation to the menopause. I suspect "flash" may have been used as a deliberate mechanic to convey the potential for a broader sense of meaning and context, but although I can appreciate that aspect, I still found the repeated use of the term somewhat grating.
Overall, this is an engaging read that should provide ample food for thought.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
"Broken Light" tells the story of Bernie Moon, who is, on the face of it, an unremarkable woman approaching the age of fifty. But it wasn't always so. As a teenaged schoolgirl Bernie had a particular talent and when a young woman is murdered close to Bernie's home, she finds her particular ability being reactivated.
This is an unusual read in many ways and it does take a little while to settle into. There is a clear influence from Stephen King's "Carrie" and certain aspects of the story put me in mind of John Wyndham's "The Midwich Cuckoos". There are recurrent themes that have featured elsewhere in Joanne Harris's work such as identity, mother/child relationships, the outsider in the community, sensory perceptions and last, but certainly not least, sexism - more particularly, misogyny. This final element is the theme that is most often reiterated and emphasised - to the point where it could be viewed as actually moving into the realms of misandry, which some readers, especially (but not exclusively) of the male variety may consider overdone.
The content is certainly thought provoking and I can well imagine this providing the basis for some involved discussion in book groups around the country. There is some pleasing and effective imagery and the prose generally flows very nicely. Perhaps the one exception is the repeated reference to "hot flashes". This is used instead of the more usual "hot flushes" in relation to the menopause. I suspect "flash" may have been used as a deliberate mechanic to convey the potential for a broader sense of meaning and context, but although I can appreciate that aspect, I still found the repeated use of the term somewhat grating.
Overall, this is an engaging read that should provide ample food for thought.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 11, 2023
I am a long term fan of Joanne Harris’ works having particularly enjoyed the magical ‘chocolat’ series and the misogynistic St Oswald school thrillers. It is good that the plight of the menopausal women is getting attention (being one myself). Do we really need a hot flash every couple of pages and so many references to saturated maxi pads though ? (The consistent use of the Americanism, flash rather than flush really annoyed me too.)
I found this book really difficult to get into and seriously thought about abandoning it a hundred pages in. I certainly would have if it wasn’t by an author I admire and I actually regret the decision to continue.
I recently watched the drama ‘The Power’ which was far more effective at getting across the paranoia about female empowerment and the violent reaction of men towards this. If this is a theme you are interested in I recommend you watch that or read the novels that the series is based on, which are allegedly even better, though I have not read them myself.
I found this book really difficult to get into and seriously thought about abandoning it a hundred pages in. I certainly would have if it wasn’t by an author I admire and I actually regret the decision to continue.
I recently watched the drama ‘The Power’ which was far more effective at getting across the paranoia about female empowerment and the violent reaction of men towards this. If this is a theme you are interested in I recommend you watch that or read the novels that the series is based on, which are allegedly even better, though I have not read them myself.
May 3, 2024
Господи, какая же это скучная фигня, состоящая из всех возможных клише в мире. Бросила на 3й главе, ну невозможно.
June 6, 2023
A new Joanne Harris book is something I always get excited about, I have been a fan since reading Chocolat nearly twenty five years ago. Her new offering Broken Light is the story of Bernie, who at nearly fifty and facing the start of menopause is feeling invisible, lonely and doesn’t recognise herself. After a murder in her local park an old power from her childhood resurfaces, and gives her a focus for her rage,to make herself visible, the only problem is that it once nearly destroyed her life.
Broken Light is narrated by Bernie with short chapters narrated by her old school friend, turned nemesis Katie Hemsworth. From the beginning we are aware that something is wrong as Bernie’s story is told via a journal she kept that is now Exhibit B1, but what that keeps the reader guessing until the end. As a character I really identified with Bernie; I am of a similar age and facing some of the same difficulties she does. Bernie’s story takes us from her childhood with an overbearing mother, to becoming a mother herself at nineteen than also as a wife. This gives an understanding as to how Bernie has got to the place she is in now and why she feels the way she does. Joanne Harris has given her female characters in the past supernatural/magical qualities and Bernie has the ability to see inside people’s ‘houses’, there minds, their past, their thoughts, likes, dislikes and personality. She also has the ability to alter things, make people change and maybe get revenge. I loved this part of the story, how these ability gave her confidence and watching how she grew in confidence.
Joanne Harris uses Bernie’s story to highlight some of the problems that women face today, and how women are perceived (from sexism to being able to go out safely at night). She also highlights the power of female friendship, how they support each other and hold each other up. I also loved how each section was named after a track of music and with a quote from my favourite poem The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, which also links to the theme of women and how they are seen by society. The writing and plotting is masterful as always, with characters you can connect to and a story that grips from page one until the very last page.
Broken Light is another amazing read from Joanne Harris. She really gets under the skin of her characters, making them personable and relatable and Bernie is now one of my favourite characters. I loved the idea of being able to look in peoples ‘houses’, being able to see the good and the bad and maybe changing how people think, to see and understand how others work. This is an fascinating and engaging read, that is empowering to women of all ages but especially those who are approaching menopause. Simply stunning!!
Broken Light is narrated by Bernie with short chapters narrated by her old school friend, turned nemesis Katie Hemsworth. From the beginning we are aware that something is wrong as Bernie’s story is told via a journal she kept that is now Exhibit B1, but what that keeps the reader guessing until the end. As a character I really identified with Bernie; I am of a similar age and facing some of the same difficulties she does. Bernie’s story takes us from her childhood with an overbearing mother, to becoming a mother herself at nineteen than also as a wife. This gives an understanding as to how Bernie has got to the place she is in now and why she feels the way she does. Joanne Harris has given her female characters in the past supernatural/magical qualities and Bernie has the ability to see inside people’s ‘houses’, there minds, their past, their thoughts, likes, dislikes and personality. She also has the ability to alter things, make people change and maybe get revenge. I loved this part of the story, how these ability gave her confidence and watching how she grew in confidence.
Joanne Harris uses Bernie’s story to highlight some of the problems that women face today, and how women are perceived (from sexism to being able to go out safely at night). She also highlights the power of female friendship, how they support each other and hold each other up. I also loved how each section was named after a track of music and with a quote from my favourite poem The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, which also links to the theme of women and how they are seen by society. The writing and plotting is masterful as always, with characters you can connect to and a story that grips from page one until the very last page.
Broken Light is another amazing read from Joanne Harris. She really gets under the skin of her characters, making them personable and relatable and Bernie is now one of my favourite characters. I loved the idea of being able to look in peoples ‘houses’, being able to see the good and the bad and maybe changing how people think, to see and understand how others work. This is an fascinating and engaging read, that is empowering to women of all ages but especially those who are approaching menopause. Simply stunning!!
May 17, 2023
We learn about Bernie back when she was 16 she was a little awkward and ostracised by the kids at school. Now, she’s approaching 50, menopausal and invisible. When a young female jogger is murdered it shocks Bernie into waking up. Memories of when she was a teen flood back, a secret talent she hasn't used in years surfaces as is can do more harm than good.
Bernie pieces together the secrets from the past, she rediscovers herself. It's a beautifully told story, I especially loved the menopause journey she undertakes, her goto influencer on the subject it gave a difficult subject matter some light and humour.
I really enjoyed this book, I read Chocolat many years ago and absolutely loved it, Joanne is a masterful story teller, this book is another gem I absolutely adored.
Thank you to the lovely team at Hachette Australia for my copy of this book - out now across Australia.
Bernie pieces together the secrets from the past, she rediscovers herself. It's a beautifully told story, I especially loved the menopause journey she undertakes, her goto influencer on the subject it gave a difficult subject matter some light and humour.
I really enjoyed this book, I read Chocolat many years ago and absolutely loved it, Joanne is a masterful story teller, this book is another gem I absolutely adored.
Thank you to the lovely team at Hachette Australia for my copy of this book - out now across Australia.
August 4, 2023
Good story, but fairly heavy handed misandry.
March 24, 2024
Защо ли се съмнявах в Джоан Харис? През 2/3 от книгата мислех, че се е поддала на някакви плоски течения от социалните мрежи (от думите "социални мрежи" напоследък получавам лек тремор, като от думата "уникална", използвана в комбинация със "салата"). И от тази мисъл страшно се ядосах. После реших, че дори и така да е, проблемът е в мен и не трябва да приемам книгата сериозно, не и като отражение на истинския живот, а просто като интересна измислена история. Все пак Джоан Харис е много умела и сладкодумна разказвачка. А и изглежда аз и повечето ми приятели/познати сме живели съвсем различен живот от героите на Харис, но нали книгите са за това? Да показват различните животи. Кой изобщо вярва, че всички жени са жертви, а всички мъже са насилници?!?! Все пак краят не ме разочарова, беше логичен , точно както се надявах да бъде. Продължавам да имам любима писателка (не най-любима за всички времена, но е напред в класацията), въпреки негативните ми чувства от началото на книгата. Въпреки лекото разочарование, което ще изчезне до ден-два.
July 16, 2023
I liked this overall, though I found it a little repetitive in some ways. I think it's an interesting take on feminine power and reclaiming identity, and also the paranoia associated with females becoming more empowered. It was also nice to have a menopausal woman as the protagonist, though the constant references did start to grate (and I'm perhaps not the intended demographic for this one either). I did like the magical realism element to the narrative, and Bernie's female friendships within her running group. This feels like a different approach from the author but I quite liked it- it would have been nice to see a couple of sympathetic and likeable male characters though- I understand the overarching theme of female oppression and then empowerment but this does read quite 'women good and justified, men sad and bad'.
April 3, 2024
I love.. “love” is such a little word for what I need to say .. but I absolutely LOVE this book. Joanne Harris is amazing. She always makes me FEEL! She is a magician and believe in her magic ❤️
May 5, 2024
Слишком в лоб, но в целом неплохо
July 30, 2023
Joanne Harris writes: “As I was writing A NARROW DOOR, I thought a lot about women’s power, and especially that of the middle-aged woman. I realized that in traditional tales, young women tend to predominate. Their power is often in their beauty, their youth – and most especially, their desirability to men. Older women often tend to be antagonists – cruel stepmothers, witches, jealous bosses, powered by envy and rage for the fact that their youth and beauty is waning. I asked myself where are the stories of women in control of their power? And through that I started to think about what a woman’s power means, and how to build it into a story.
Some of you will already know that I’m a big fan of Stephen King. I discovered his short novel, CARRIE, when I was in my late teens, and was fascinated by his depiction of the misfit at high school, and of the destructive potential of teenage hormones out of control. Revisiting it later, I began to ask myself this: What if Carrie White had lived? What if her powers had emerged, not with puberty, but with menopause?”
I was enthralled by this supernatural thriller from the beginning. I particularly loved how it was presented as excerpts from a diary and the “Class of 92” book of both Bernie and Katie, estranged childhood friends, and how we are told that these form part of some kind of evidence so building up to it’s explosive conclusion.
I felt a righteous anger on Bernie’s behalf for how she had just become unseen and under valued in her life and cheered her on as began to change that.
Bernie appears to have a supernatural power to enter people’s minds and manipulate them, sometimes with dangerous consequences. This story covers the menopause, how women are treated and perceived by men - but also of change and growth and friendships that encourage and build up - it is a story of our times with sometimes disturbing relevance and if it makes for some uncomfortable read then it’s doing it’s job!
The writer chose hot “flash” over flush as she wanted to represent both a physical and psychic reaction so don’t get too hung up on it!
Some of you will already know that I’m a big fan of Stephen King. I discovered his short novel, CARRIE, when I was in my late teens, and was fascinated by his depiction of the misfit at high school, and of the destructive potential of teenage hormones out of control. Revisiting it later, I began to ask myself this: What if Carrie White had lived? What if her powers had emerged, not with puberty, but with menopause?”
I was enthralled by this supernatural thriller from the beginning. I particularly loved how it was presented as excerpts from a diary and the “Class of 92” book of both Bernie and Katie, estranged childhood friends, and how we are told that these form part of some kind of evidence so building up to it’s explosive conclusion.
I felt a righteous anger on Bernie’s behalf for how she had just become unseen and under valued in her life and cheered her on as began to change that.
Bernie appears to have a supernatural power to enter people’s minds and manipulate them, sometimes with dangerous consequences. This story covers the menopause, how women are treated and perceived by men - but also of change and growth and friendships that encourage and build up - it is a story of our times with sometimes disturbing relevance and if it makes for some uncomfortable read then it’s doing it’s job!
The writer chose hot “flash” over flush as she wanted to represent both a physical and psychic reaction so don’t get too hung up on it!
March 29, 2023
All the books of Joanne Harris are magical to me and Broken Light is no exception.
Bernie Moon is on the threshold of menopause, her hormones are acting up, and she is unhappy with her marriage, with herself, and with her relationship with her son. She has no friends and feels more and more invisible every day.
When a young mother is murdered nearby, Bernie rediscovers a gift she carefully concealed from herself in her youth. Can she reawaken her special power and use it to aid others and herself?
A wonderful novel about female power, relationships between men and women, understanding differences, respect, toxicity that wants to swallow the whole world, and, above all, friendship, even towards oneself.
What a master storyteller Joanne Harris is! Her characters are so relatable and the atmosphere is perfect!
Brilliant!
Bernie Moon is on the threshold of menopause, her hormones are acting up, and she is unhappy with her marriage, with herself, and with her relationship with her son. She has no friends and feels more and more invisible every day.
When a young mother is murdered nearby, Bernie rediscovers a gift she carefully concealed from herself in her youth. Can she reawaken her special power and use it to aid others and herself?
A wonderful novel about female power, relationships between men and women, understanding differences, respect, toxicity that wants to swallow the whole world, and, above all, friendship, even towards oneself.
What a master storyteller Joanne Harris is! Her characters are so relatable and the atmosphere is perfect!
Brilliant!
May 15, 2023
BROKEN LIGHT by Joanne Harris is a shattering read, a reckoning for our moment in time and its vacuum of empathy, and the profound sense that Harris tapped into a deep, intimate current with Bernie Moon (Ingram).
This book tells the story of a woman’s innate superpowers, her path of the “maiden-mother-crone” adage upended by an evolution of inner strength. These powers also bear a shadow side: that which Bernie can enhance to help save others from harm also holds the curse of temptation and addiction, as well as hypocrisy.
But Bernie is a multi-faceted individual wrestling with the incredible, while desperately craving love and fulfillment.
This book is a roller coaster. At times I sympathized and another times I recoiled. It’s rare that I find a character so fully realized and nuanced, and who has so much to say without realizing her power.
This book tells the story of a woman’s innate superpowers, her path of the “maiden-mother-crone” adage upended by an evolution of inner strength. These powers also bear a shadow side: that which Bernie can enhance to help save others from harm also holds the curse of temptation and addiction, as well as hypocrisy.
But Bernie is a multi-faceted individual wrestling with the incredible, while desperately craving love and fulfillment.
This book is a roller coaster. At times I sympathized and another times I recoiled. It’s rare that I find a character so fully realized and nuanced, and who has so much to say without realizing her power.
September 26, 2024
It takes a lot to give 5 stars but this ticks all the boxes. Being a woman of a certain age, Harris makes you relate and empathise with the main character, Bernie Moon, whose super power makes you question, “What would I do with that?” Bernie is a well-rounded protagonist and following her journey allows you to see her flaws, self doubt, self worth but also her determination and resilience which makes her an extremely likeable character.
I also love how this book touches on current topics such as social media, toxic masculinity and even misandry, and how people get consumed with the online world.
One slight irritation - it should be a hot flush, not hot flash.
Overall, an excellent read.
I also love how this book touches on current topics such as social media, toxic masculinity and even misandry, and how people get consumed with the online world.
One slight irritation - it should be a hot flush, not hot flash.
Overall, an excellent read.
June 5, 2023
A disappointing read; the three stars are for brilliant writing and the original premise but the actual story was a let down. As someone of Bernie’s age I thought I would enjoy this and would be able to empathise but there was little in this particular mirror for me.
As previous reviewers have pointed out in Britain we call them hot flushes not hot flashes - this little thing became annoyingly grating after a while.
Overall not one of Joanne Harris’ best.
As previous reviewers have pointed out in Britain we call them hot flushes not hot flashes - this little thing became annoyingly grating after a while.
Overall not one of Joanne Harris’ best.
June 30, 2023
Powerful, beautiful, and absolutely necessary 💪🏻✨
October 30, 2023
Ughhh... This story is just a bunch of caricatures...
All the man are bad, all the women are good...
Not even the end saves it.
All the man are bad, all the women are good...
Not even the end saves it.
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