National Network for Equitable Library Service

Is suicide hereditary? Does it run in families? When three brothers end their lives, is it an ill-fated coincidence or an underlying symptom? Perhaps it's a curse, an unfortunate chain of events, or a string of bad luck. One thing is for sure—there are endless questions that beg answering. "Brother Broken" is not a tale of woe. It's not a romance novel, a how-to handbook, a travel guide, a pot-boiler, a sci-fi sequel, or a fantasy adventure. It's a Saskatchewan true story—a slice of history that's not dark or depressing. A memoir of hope and gratitude, with a touch of the ridiculous—though some parts are complicated, because there is nothing straightforward about "broken." Three of my brothers died. I wish I could say they died of natural causes, but there is nothing natural about suicide. It's the kind of loss that isn't easily explained. I remember my brothers by writing about them. I share the story of their lives. I tell of what decent boys they were, what they meant to me, how their lives were ordinary and sound before all the trouble started happening. I write so people will learn the goodness of my parents, the wholesomeness of my extended family—that my kin weren't lowbrow hicks who screwed up raising kids. If you are suffering, mourning, or considering suicide, my deepest wish is for the story to speak to you, bring you out of despair, and give you hope.