Upon beginning Fractured some forty minutes ago, I can safely say I was rather unprepared for it. The blurb tells of a reflection on ‘the nature of love, relationships, and emotional attachments,’ but having actually experienced what the book has to offer, it’s clear to me that there’s a lot more to this collection of personal essays.
Reaching the end of this intimate and strangely powerful work was an odd feeling. Having sat down in the warm sunshine bathing the my living room to enter the mind of author K.J. Pierce, it wasn’t long until that warm sunshine seemed quite distant- Fractured is quite frequently as heartbreaking as is insightful. However, there’s a very real sense of redemption upon absorbing the final words, and I think it’s only upon completing the book that it becomes apparent how positive the message is- it all depends on how you interpret it.
Fractured by name, the collection is also, in a way, ‘fractured’ by nature, not in a negative light however, and certainly not in any way that acts as a hindrance. I’d compare the reader’s experience to looking inside the author’s mind- you’re seeing broken memories, ideas and thoughts, all beautifully realised on page in a form that’s perfectly coherent, yet retains this sense of- for want of a better word- chaos. Even more amazing is that for its relatively short length, Fractured is an incredibly absorbing and fulfilling read. We get a crystal clear sense of who this person is, and what they’re trying to tell us, which is remarkable given the amount of words we’re given.
Beautifully presented by an author carrying a lifetime of loss and hurt, Fractured is not something I’d have read were I not given the opportunity, but I’m thrilled that I was. Often hilarious, frequently devastating, and consistently insightful, K. J. Pierce’s work isn’t asking a lot of your time, but in return it can offer you a fascinating look into one person’s observations on love, and it how it can bend and break us. You can afford to buy this book. I guarantee it.
(reviewed the day of purchase)