“Half Broken Things” by Morag Joss

The central themes of Half Broken Things are twofold: the fragility of the shell of reality that hides deeper truths, and the destructive hold of the past over the present. Jean Wade has made her living housesitting, when (in her 60s) she loses her job. But discovering the keys to the locked cupboards and secrets of her current home, the spacious Walden Manor, she is able to assume ownership. And then begins a strange transformation: Jean starts to alter things in the Manor, while acquiring a surrogate family: Michael and Steph have, like Jean, not made a success of their lives, and the sanctuary the trio create is built upon an extrapolated--and illusory--past. But the happiness they enjoy proves to be transitory, when dark secrets from the past begin to tear the thread of their day-to-day existence. And the grim resolution of their liaison all too quickly comes upon them, as their past actions come destructively back.

This is another book I wouldn’t have read had it not been a Book Group choice and what a treat I would have missed!

I think the author was bold to start the novel so slowly. I appreciate that, when the book opens, Jean is barely alive, her spirits are the first half-broken things perhaps, but I very nearly gave up on Jean and the novel. I felt sorry for a batty, terribly lonely old lady but I wouldn’t have been sufficiently interested to read on.

The twists and turns of the plot click together like a puzzle in a very satisfying way. Jean herself reiterates the point that they seize whatever opportunities that present themselves, rather than plan in advance and I couldn’t help but admire the ingenuity with which the characters did so. I would say that these qualities make them survivors only, of course, they are not – not just the dreadful end but before the house, each character was not surviving in any workable way. Jean acknowledges that their life together is precarious and ultimately unsustainable.

I found the characters very sympathetically drawn, despite the crimes. Some things made me laugh out loud, even while I squirmed – the matter of fact statement that Michael wasn’t strong enough to carry the corpse “in one piece” – I could see what was coming and it was horrible but to the characters it made perfect sense. I loved the description of Mother’s cookery (p174) and its effects. Many a true word is spoken in jest!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it lingered for days afterwards
9 out of 10

Jayne