Broken for You

This is a wonderful book, written in parts as if it were a memoir, with Margaret, the main character, reviewing her life through her collections of priceless European china. Each object in her house has a story, and that story is written down, if not embellished, by Wanda, the young woman Margaret more or less adopts.

Then, the objects are shattered, and remade into mosaics that tell their stories in more poignant ways. You see, the objects are all the result of ill-gotten gain. Margaret's father trafficked with the Nazis in
WWII, and the collections were stolen from Jewish families, many of whom were sent to their deaths.

This book shows us how to tell our stories through our objects, both cherished and common, and also tells us how to remake our lives, even when they are shattered. I compliment Kallos on her command of the names of fine china, and on the details of porcelain prodcution. She also uses her own background as an actor and gives us more knowledge of mosaic as a fine art.

The objects are themselves characters, and unlike the knick knack wall of How to Make an American Quilt, the remade mosaics are hopeful and positive. I wonder if Kallos is Greek; there appear to be Greek children's books similar to some I have on her site, and her book covers are blue and white, colors of the Greek flag, and of the Aegean.

There are many quotes by Yeats, and wonderful protrayals of books of affirmation. The book stresses and defines a life lived well, and Margaret, reminds me very much of legendary collector Margaret Woodbury Strong, found of the Strong Museum, now the National Museum of Play and home of the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Good luck to Miss Kallos; may she always write.