Broken Colors - words like a painting
There is a quote from Miro, toward the end of the book that spoke to my overall feeling of the book -he said "I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music." Zackheim used her words like a beautiful palette to paint a story that captured my attention and imagination from beginning to end. This is due, no doubt, to her talent as a painter as well as a writer.
While the storyline of the novel was wide-reaching it was inclusive of the various characters and side plots and came together in a way that one would have missed any component. The book flowed for me and was read easily over two long afternoons by the fire. While the ending was satisfying and conclusive I none the less was sad to not have the novel to pick up the following evening. It was a lovely lyrical time for me.
Rated of 5
by Patti - Greenwich,CT (Riverside CT)
Broken Colors
I truly enjoyed Broken Colors by Michele Zackheim. I have no previous art experience yet as a result of her descriptions the art work became very real to me. I became engrossed in Sophie's life as she aged from a child to an octogenarian.Her art was the one constant as she coped with multiple tragedies ... [edited to remove potential plot spoiler] .... I enjoyed the happy ending having felt that Sophie has suffered enough. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading Zackheim's other works.
Rated of 5
by Helen (Sun City West AZ)
Luminous and Vibrant Broken Colors holds the reader’s interest in the loves and losses of Sophie Marks, a talented artist, as she lives and paints in England, Paris, Italy, and the American Southwest desert.
This book would appeal to a book club for absorbing discussions of the consequences of what Sophie did or did not do as she endured tragic experiences during her long life, finally making a "wide awake decision while staring straight on at gruesome memories".
Sophie explains that “broken colors” are the result of mixing two or more pigments of different colors, creating a new color which does not reflect light as the original colors did. She says that in order to keep colors luminous and vibrant, it’s important not to muddy your palette. Although mixed through their interactions, the palette of characters remains luminous and vibrant throughout this very readable book.
Rated of 5
by K. Johnson (Bremerton WA)
Resonated
This book really resonated with me. I've taken some art classes and although I'm no artist I could readily identify with Sophie's obsession with her painting and the difficulty she experienced in trying to reconcile her work with her personal life. Sophie's life was not easy and although filled with broken colors, it was a rewarding one. This would be a good book for a book club. Sophie's decisions would provide rich material for discussion. A well crafted and well written story. I give it 5 stars.
Rated of 5
by Cathy (Fort Wayne IN)
Characters on Canvas Broken Colors is a feel good novel from beginning to end. Michele Zackheim’s writing style flows like the paint on the canvasses that Sophie’s grandfather paints. She had me from page 22 on when Sophie's grandfather, Eli, sketched a map of the world and placed a box around England. His sketch became a metaphor for his story illustrating how Sophie was the center of his world. Zackheim’s descriptions of Sophie’s childhood and her grandparents,and the feelings that the author established in the reader, set the stage for the remainder of the novel and the physical and emotional travels of Sophie. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys character development that is both realistic, soul searching, and heartwarming.
Rated of 5
by Loren (Appleton WI)
artistic insight
This was a wonderfully written novel with good characterization and descriptions. I enjoyed it for the insight into how an artist feels and creates. I gave it four instead of five stars because of the romantic elements. (I'm not very fond of romances.)
Rated of 5
by Julie (Jefferson ME)
A True Coloring
The plot of "Broken Colors", developed through natural dialogue and internal monologue, provides the impetus for the direction of this novel. In an easy descriptive style imbued with charm, wit and pathos, Michele Zackheim creates her heroine, Sophie Marks, as a resourceful, yet often temperamental, talented artist - Ms. Zackheim’s own visual art career establishes a credible base for the development of the story’s artistic theme.
When loneliness added to physical and mental suffering overwhelmed Sophie, I felt impelled to join her search for survival and wondered where she would find the courage to reach fulfillment in her work and relationships with friends and lovers. In addition, I enjoyed the book’s cultural and historical aspects as the storyline meandered through English history during WWII and exposed its devastating effect on the innocent. It was also easy to imagine sharing Sophie’s bohemian artist’s life in Paris and then to follow her south to Italy where the author painted overlays of bucolic country life and flowing landscapes.
Broken Colors is a portrait of a strong, capricious, yet winsome woman whose struggle with personal tragedy colors her life and her search for inner peace and love.
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of 5
by Carole (Denver CO)
of 5
by Loren (Appleton WI)
