The Broken Book Book

I stepped out of my comfort zone with this book - it's definitely not the sort of novel I would normally read. And I found it hard to know just how to rate it, I'm conflicted over enjoyment versus technical strength. So I thought a 3 was a fair compromise.

Katherine Elgin grew up in a small coastal town in NSW and from early on knew that she wanted to be a writer. But following her passion does not come easily - first there is World War Two to contend with and being part of the war effort and then comes the demands of marriage and children while living first in London and then in the Greek Islands. Married to a fellow writer, Katherine is always one step behind his success and struggles to maintain her own creative pursuits.

I found the structure of the book a bit hard to follow. While many authors slip between present and past fairly seamlessly, in the Broken Book it just seemed a bit disjointed at times. Also the point of view switches between Katherine herself and Cressida, the main character of her novel (who is based on Katherine herself). It also flips between the 1940s/50s and 1960s in no particular order.

I also found the storyline quite depressing, following Katherine's struggle to be the writer she wants to be and never really making it. While I could understand her frustration at her ambitions being swallowed by other demands, I also found her to be a victim and quite selfish. I guess I like a bit of joy and escapism in a story and there was just none in this one.

So what kept me reading then? Despite the points mentioned above, The Broken Book is beautifully written with very engaging prose. Even though I did not especially enjoy the storyline itself, I couldn't help but be swept up in the lovely flow of words. And although there is no real action to speak of, the pace is good and the short chapters keep things moving along. I found it relatively easy to read and had no problems finishing it.

Overall a different kind of novel, probably more suited to those who enjoy literature in it's purest form.