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About the book:
Margaret Hughes is a wealthy widow living in the biggest mansion in a Seattle neighborhood way on the top of a hill. She is all alone in the museum-like house stuffed with a priceless collection of porcelain. For various reasons, which unfold in the book, Margaret is a recluse and lives almost solely to be the caretaker of this collection, the provenance of which we suspect, but which is only slowly revealed. Margaret discovers that she has incurable cancer, and so decides she will take the last chance she has of living for herself. Her first step is to seek company and she advertises for a lodger. Wanda Schulz comes into her life. Wanda seems tough, but we find she has been severely emotionally damaged by a series of rejections, first by her father and more recently by a lover whom she is seeking in Seattle. As both women wrestle with the ghosts of their past, a diverse cast of eccentric characters comes into their lives. All are broken in some degree, and all find ways to put themselves together, each in a different and ultimately beautiful form. Wanda discovers that she is a talented mosaic artist. Her art form becomes a metaphor for all that occurs in the book, a breaking of things that is essential before beauty or lives can be reformed. The book itself is complex, with many themes and plot-lines being assembled to complete the mosaic, which finally takes shape as a celebration of the diverse ways love manifests itself.

About the author:
This is Stephanie Kallos’ first book. She spent 20 years in the theater as a teacher and actress. Her short fiction was nominated for a Raymond Carver Prize and a Pushcart Prize. She lives in Seattle. Click here for her website

Reviews:
The book received 3 starred reviews.

Conversation starters:
The book starts with Margaret in her house. What do you think of the way Margaret’s history is revealed?
The characters are very eccentric, but at the same time believable. Why do you think this is? What do you think of their behavior?
The plot is very complex. How are the different threads woven together? Are the resolutions believable?
Metaphor is very important in this book. Which ones worked for you?
I saw humor in this book. Did you also find the same? What for you was the effect of the humor?
The concept of “broken� is central to the book. What did you make of that?

This book has been compared to books by Margaret Atwood. I think it would appeal also to readers of Anne Tyler. Do you agree?