Structure

The Beauty in Breaking is divided into eleven chapters plus an Introduction and Epilogue. The chapters are all of roughly equal length, though the Introduction and Epilogue are both shorter. The narrative is in chorological order, though some scenes are flashbacks. For example, when Michele attends her graduation from medical residency, she remembers all of her previous graduations. Through the narrative is primarily chronological, it does skip over large periods in Michele’s life, focusing only on the events that are most pertinent to the story she is choosing to tell and the themes she wishes to emphasize.

For example, Chapter 1 takes place during Michele’s childhood, Chapter 2 jumps ahead to the end of her medical residency with several flashbacks to some important events in the intervening years, and Chapter 3 onward take place during Michele’s career as a doctor after finishing residency. There is therefore a...