Shattered by Travis Winks
Big Sky Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922265883.
(Age: Adult) Shattered - no other word could better describe it. It
is the true story of a family shattered by three events that all
happened within the space of three months: the attempted suicide of
a brother, the arrest and imprisonment of a sister, and the shooting
of a father. The prologue gives us the dates and key events. Winks
then goes on to tell us how his life and his relationship with his
new partner Amanda spiralled into a nightmare where just one
horrific thing happened after another, beginning with his brother
Trent on life support following a suicidal drug overdose. Then his
sister Amy cracks after enduring years of domestic violence and goes
on the rampage, to be arrested and charged. And his father, the rock
of the family, in despair, sets out into the paddock with a gun.
Fortunately for Travis, his partner Amanda stands by him through it
all. With her support Travis finds the strength to step up to care
for his splintering family.
The writing is raw and full of emotion. Readers will find themselves
gripped by the story, and unable to set it down. It is hard to
imagine a more horrific sequence of events. But in sharing his story
Winks shines a light on issues of depression, domestic violence, and
mental breakdown, and the failure of our society to provide the care
and support that is needed. Unfortunately these issues are of
ongoing concern.
Themes: Mental health, Depression, Suicide, Domestic violence,
Nervous breakdown.
Helen Eddy
