Breaking TWIG

By: Deborah Epperson

Narrated by: Rebecca L. Spear

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Sprinkled with all the southern flavoring found in a hearty bowl of chicken and dumplings, Breaking TWIG is a powerful coming of age novel and emotional roller-coaster ride set in rural Georgia in the '60s and '70s. It's the story of 13-year-old Becky (Twig) Cooper, who is trying to survive the physical and emotional abuse of her mother, Helen, a calculating woman who can, with a mere look, send the meanest cur in Sugardale, Georgia, running for its life. Not even Twig's vivid imagination and keen wit are enough to help her endure the assaults of Helen and a new stepbrother, but help comes from an unexpected source - Frank, her stepfather. Sometimes, having one person who believes in you is all a girl needs to keep hope alive.

Over the next eight years, Becky's tumultuous struggle to prevail - becoming neither a Pick (victim) nor a Picker (abuser) - finds her bouncing back and forth between Helen's abuse and Frank's tenderness as she fights to win this desperate battle of souls. Just as she begins to feel life holds some promise, Becky's world crumbles and she must make a shaky truce with Helen. On Halloween night, they argue and all lies are stripped away. Now that she knows the shocking truth, Becky must make a fateful decision - one that can give her the freedom and love she craves or send her to prison for life.

Often raw and irreverent, Breaking TWIG is a story about finding love where we least expect it, destroying lives with easy lies, and realizing each of us determines our own truth.

©2012 Deborah Epperson (P)2014 Deborah Epperson

Amazing!

This book stays with you long after you've finished it.
One of the best books I've read this year. Truly a gem!

A story that tugs in your mind.

If you could sum up Breaking TWIG in three words, what would they be?

Forgiveness comes eventually.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breaking TWIG?

The prologue about picks and pickers.

What about Rebecca L. Spear’s performance did you like?

The narrator, Rebecca L. Spear, skillfully grows the Southern voice of Becky throughout the audio book as Twig grows from a young girl into a young woman.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed, cried, got mad and felt love for Becky

Any additional comments?

Every once in a while a book comes along that speaks to the human condition. Love, hate, truth and lies, to forgive or not to forgive. Deborah Epperson has written one such book in a voice rich in southern heritage. Her character, Becky Lee Cooper is portrayed as an innocence child in a world of pain and anger imposed by her mother and step brother. Becky (nicknamed “Twig”) grows, finds love in unlikely places and endures. The narrator, Rebecca L. Spear, skillfully grows the Southern voice of Becky throughout the audio book as Twig grows from a young girl into a young woman. You will inhale this book with its unvarnished portrait of life. I highly recommend it. It is an audio book you will love and will want to listen to again. Marie F Martin, author of Harbored Secrets.

better than I thought.

I did not think I'd like this much but I loved it characters were great the narration was awesome and I've never liked books read to me instead of me reading them but I very much enjoyed this and all of your books thank you

Background noise was distracting!

Would you try another book from Deborah Epperson and/or Rebecca L. Spear?

I would totally listen to another book, but i would be listening for the background noise, just like I ended up doing for this one. At some point, I even heard what sounded like a glass breaking! But, it wasn't adding to the story nor was there a follow up afterwards. Not even a distance shout of "Ted! get the broom!"

How could the performance have been better?

Less background noise!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would, but would think that the movie wouldn't do it justice.

I read this about 5-6 years ago

I remember being so disturbed by this book when I first read it and hating how much I loved it. It reminded me of the book girl interrupted and the movie home fries.

This story is touching and it is very sad. Rebecca is clearly a little bit crazy but who can even blame the girl. Her mom is so evil and I never warmed up to her even after hearing her life story. She’s just a terrible person.

I think what lacked for me in the audio book was that the narrator made Rebecca way to giggly. Way too soft spoken instead of timid. There wasn’t enough Twain and heartache in the voice. The narrators voice is definitely nice to listen to and that kept me going but it lacked the devastation and drama that I think the voice needed.

Over all I loved this book and I’m glad it was an audio book so I could enjoy it a second time.

Highly recommended!

A long story with character development that keeps you interested throughout. The narration portrays each character very well. Very emotional.

voice

Book was good. The readers voice is like an kid through the whole book and took away from the story.

Hesitant at first, but glad I stuck it out!

What made the experience of listening to Breaking TWIG the most enjoyable?

The narrator, which I found surprising because in the beginning I kept finding myself rolling my eyes at her fake southern accent

What did you like best about this story?

The only thing that I didn't like was the lack of time-changing..they would be reading something and then the next sentence they were 2 years in the future or a month later, and it threw me off because there was no chapter change or obvious break in time so.

What about Rebecca L. Spear’s performance did you like?

I really, really enjoyed her. When I first started this book I almost returned it because I knew there was no way I would be able to listen to that accent the entire book..but I stuck it out and am so glad I did, I got used to the accent and found myself falling in love with Twig, wanting to take her under my wing, thanks to the narrator.

Who was the most memorable character of Breaking TWIG and why?

Twig of course, and then Mama. Mama was my favorite.

Great book

Has a great story line and it keeps you wanting to know what happens next! I would highly recommend this book

Drew me back to listen - appalled me - explained..

... how such socially taboo things could happen. Deborah Epperson's narrative incorporated so many attrocities in our society today: child abuse, generational abuse, like mothers - like daughters, rape, institutional abuse, illegal abortions, incest, young people pursuing multiple careers, small town politics, good and bad, and human resiliency and hope re-instilled.
Its 13 1/2 hour length put me off until I had two 6-hour road trips, time I could devote to listening. Epperson raises as many questions as this narrative answers and leaves Becky's options open-ended for the listener to imagine what could occur in the future. Never predictable in this audiobook, the plot twists (sometimes implausible) kept this listener intrigued.
Spear's narration is compelling, easily switching between characters and keeping them distinguishable. Personally, I didn't like the "mousy-ness" of the voice, but it seemed appropriate for this character without a face - as the cover predicts - who must find her way through unbearable odds. I disliked the "drop-out" during silences between words - needed room noise to prevent this distraction. Still worth a listen.