Elegies for the Brokenhearted: A Novel by Christie Hodgen
Review by McGuffyAnn M. (nightprose)
This novel is beautifully written, though often sad. It is pieces written to various people who have affected the life of the narrator.
As a whole, the book is thoughtful, well written, and very believable. Separately, each piece is sensitive, poignant and moving. Each piece, each elegy, is unique in itself, just as the person and the relationship was.
Each character is genuine and the portrayal of the relationship is heartfelt and even heartrending at times. The thought and feeling involved in each gives pause and reflection of those people over the course of one’s own life. Each of us can think of the many people who have entered our lives. Each person has affected us in some way, for some reason or purpose. This book addresses that idea.
Christie Hodgen’s novel will make the reader think about the people in your life that have brought you to where you are now, including the “broken ones”. Sometimes it is these broken people who have the deepest impact on us. For our narrator, Mary, these broken people included her uncle, friends, including family friends, and ultimately her own mother.
It will make you consider the way you affect other people, because we all do affect each other in some way. That’s life.
Even the title is lyrical…
Intriguing review. I think I want to check this book out!