Book Review: A Heart that Breaks the Soil

Dec. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- 12/6/2012 – Lewistown, PA - FROM THE BACK COVER: Mandy held on to hope that her husband and her situation would change as she tried to honour her commitment despite all signs pointing to this being an unworkable marriage. A Heart That Breaks the Soil takes you across the vast expanses of Africa and into the insecure realm of the human psyche.

The author speaks to her audience with frankness and from experience, sharing the remarkable resilience of some women who cope, forgive and even laugh during the most difficult of situations. This is the story of how one woman struggled to find her way in the search for that one coveted destination: a happy life. It is Mandy’s story but it will become yours as well as you enter her world of trials and deep sadness, mixed in with humour, friendship and love.

BOOK REVIEW: An emotional journey worth taking!

Mandy, a 37-year old schoolteacher is married to Winston. Winston grew up with his Uncle Temba, a man he eulogized often and held in high esteem because he was a man “feared by all.” Their relationship is difficult to say the least. Mandy eventually finds herself trapped in a love-less marriage with daily disappointments and children (not even her own) to look after. She feels “controlled like a puppet in a show” by her husband and quietly hopes that he will reflect and realize that he mistreats her. Winston prides himself on being a traditional, African, family-man—he wouldn’t dream of admitting to a mistake; especially one that involves admitting to his wife that he has made a mistake.

For Mandy, the emotional stages of divorce are like a weight on her shoulders. Even worse, she doesn’t know who she is or what her purpose is. She has gone through the typical stages: denial, numbness, shock, and bargaining. It’s letting go that takes her the longest to accept. She has a difficult journey back to a state of normalcy. She wonders how a man who restricts access to a social life due to the belief that “moral decay in our society is spreading like wildfire,” could be causing her such pain.

Breaking the cycle of an abusive relationship is difficult for Mandy; she handles her situation with grace, and keeps her dignity in a way that only a strong woman would. A Heart That Breaks the Soil shines a light into the secret lives many women endure with grace and silence. Lee’s characters are real, relatable, humorous, and memorable, as is her writing. The deep look into the unexplainable aspects of the human mind will leave you with through-provoking questions. This novel is the perfect fit for fans of Nicholas Sparks, Melissa Foster, and Joan Riley.

Overall, Mandy’s acuity is to be admired; this novel should not be overlooked.

Review provided by: http://pennbookreview.com