Rated of 5
by Helen 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 Ellen Survival
Michele Zackheim did an admirable job of describing the overall effect that war has on an individual throughout his or her lifetime. Although I was instantly engaged the first few paragraphs, about a third of the way into the book I became frustrated with the main character.
She suffered great losses during the war so it is understandable that it would take significant time for her to get her life in order. However, with each passing chapter I became more and more exasperated with this woman. Just when I thought she would finally get her act together - she missed another opportunity to move on with her life.
I started the book very sympathetic towards the main character - but by the end of the book I just wanted to throttle her. I work with many Holocaust survivors who have suffered greater atrocities but have gone on to have a very full life.
Rated of 5
by Patti - Greenwich,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 Jennifer A Sad Story
This story starts out sadly. The heroine Sophie never knows her parents because they die at the beginning of World War I when she's a baby. But she's raised by her father's parents in a small English village. They encourage her to be a painter like her father and grandfather. During World War II, a German explosion kills her grandparents and almost kills Sophie. I was depressed by all the death and destruction, but I was glad that Sophie's life with her grandparents is mostly peaceful. I can relate to finding a job that you're passionate about and being encouraged to do it. Sophie is ..... [edited for potential plot spoiler ..... ]. It just took too long to get there.
Rated of 5
by Dorian Colorful
Upon beginning this book I feared that it was going to be too familiar, another story of a character wounded by war and unable to find "life". I even put it down for awhile. But, as I read more I found I was drawn to the characters, caring about them and hoping that they would have a chance at a "happy" ending.
I enjoyed the artistic angle of this book, along with the quotes that begin each chapter. They do not overwhelm the flow of the narrative. There is one spot that I felt the story line abruptly changed, but that may have been because I was hoping for a different outcome!
Overall, this is a well-written book that I would recommend.
Rated of 5
by Carole 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.
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by Helen 
of 5
by Ellen 
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by Dorian 
