Broken for You

By: Stephanie Kallos

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

When we meet septuagenarian Margaret Hughes, she is living alone in a mansion in Seattle with only a massive collection of valuable antiques for company. Enter Wanda Schultz, a young woman with a broken heart who has come to Seattle to search for her wayward boyfriend. Both women are guarding dark secrets and have spent many years building up protective armor against the outside world. But as the two begin their tentative dance of friendship, the armor begins to fall away, and Margaret opens her house to the younger woman.

This launches a series of remarkable and unanticipated events, leading Margaret to discover a way to redeem her cursed past and Wanda to learn the true purpose of her cross-country journey.

Exuberant, heartbreaking, and alive with a potpourri of eccentric and irresistible characters, Broken for You is a testament to the saving graces of surrogate families and shows how far the tiniest repair jobs can go in righting the world's wrongs.

©2004 Stephanie Kallos (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Well-crafted plotting and crackling wit make this debut novel by Seattle author Kallos a delight to read and a memory to savor." (Booklist)
"[A] dreamy, powerful tale of familial warring, secrets, and redemption....This haunting, memorable debut is reminiscent of early Atwood, peopled by lovably imperfect and eccentric characters." (Publishers Weekly)
"A dazzling mosaic of intersecting lives and fates...[A] multi-layered rhapsody....Kallos has a rare, deft way with whimsy, dream sequences and hallucinations. Comparisons to John Irving and Tennesse Williams would not be amiss in this show-stopping debut." (Kirkus Reviews)

Broken

Broken doesn't always correlate with meaning something is now trash, beyond repair, unworthy, or time to be thrown away. Though this book was far from perfect and wouldn't have been a choice had I known in advance, I sm glad I picked it and read it even if it was slow at times as well as strange.

I did enjoy watching the broken & fragmented bond of the houseguests that were brought into the house to board with our elderly main character who was also broken herself grow into a loving family. As she instructed things to be broken at the shock of others (I will let you read the reason why), the bond of the newly formed family grew tighter and stronger and a new form of art began to be seen.

Through broken hearts love was found. It was an interesting story and worth the read. A bit strange as I said but I just skimmed over those parts and went to the rest of the main story.

Enjoy!

Interesting, depressing, sad, beautiful, WW2

Exceptionally well written, albiet, somewhat depressing but engaging, mysterious, and thought provoking.
A different perspective about what it means to remember, preserve & honor our history.
--- I personally don't agree with the FMC decision regarding her attachments to WW2 history. But the take of the writer is/ was quite provocative, which I admit adds intrigue. ---

I love the way the story weaves all these oddball characters together and reveals the connections so slowly it almost feels deliciously frustrating. I especially loved that Margaret and Wanda are complete complimentary opposites.

The narration was fantastic, very professional.

dont sleep on this!!

everything about this book was amazing ❤️ the characters were very loveable. I'm VERY GLAD I read this book!

Twisty turny story masterfully narrarated

Richly satisfing creative story with deeply developed characters. I felt like they were all old friends that I hadn't met before, but looked forward to spending time with as the story unfolded. I've never read anything like it. Highly recommend!

Brilliant narrator and excellent story

I listened to this because it was included with my membership. What a lovely surprise! Such a rich story beautifully read.

Broken for You

I loved ❤ it. Laughed out loud and cried out loud. Keep tissue 🤧 handy. I truly wanted more of these people. I really can't remember a book where I felt that way. So many broken things in this book; people, lives, pottery, bones and hearts ❤. I highly recommend this audio recording.

enjoyable

fun and off beat cast of characters. I loved the pursuit of love...

Wonderful cast of characters

Midway through this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it. I lose patience with stories of people who insist on gloom and doom. Then, it turned into a story of how broken people and things can be reassembled into something different and beautiful. It’s an intricate story, much like the mosaics that Wanda creates and shows others how to create.

The narrator is excellent with the many voices and accents that feature in the story. Her delivery is a little odd at times, much like the old Paul Harvey “The Rest of the Story” broadcasts.

I was totally captivated...

Right from the start I was swept into all the emotions of Margaret Hughes, an amazing woman who was determined to enjoy what remained of her life . I I didn't want it to end. A narrator can make or break an audible book, but this one was absolutely perfect.
I could listen to her for hours and not get bored. I won't forget this book for a long long time.

Amazing!

Who knew you have to break to get your act together? Loved it, the book is clever, light, uplifting.