Review
Title: Broken and Beautiful
Author: Calee Reed
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Inspiration
Year Published: 2020
Number of Pages: 32
Binding: Hard
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-798-1
Price: 12.99
Reviewed by Heather Harris Bergevin for the Association for Mormon Letters
Broken and Beautiful, written by musician Calee Reed, is meant to be a gift book for someone in time of distress, and I think it serves well in that purpose. I could easily see this talk-in-book-form as a treat to a friend (and might use it as such). It’s a lovely little tome, with on trend graphics and patterning.
You can tell Reed’s musical voice is there in the sections where the pages seem to be musical choruses. I thought from the lyrics inside that a QR code for a musical download might be included, or that she’d written a piece to go with the book, but, alas! Reed discusses her intensity of pain after divorce (oof- relatable!) and especially the concept of being broken, but still of value and worth to a loving God. This is critical and important information for all humans, but especially LDS folks in places where, frankly, we are far too competitive in our Christianity. Especially as women in the church, we sometimes internalize the flawed concept that unless we fit all of the preferred list– endowed, temple married, not divorced, however many children seems acceptable in your region, SAMHing, etc– that we are somehow unworthy or not useful to either God or the church.
This is, of course, not true, or even doctrinal, but can seem true and can be intensely painful for us in our varied individual circumstances. I address this often in my own writing, and I’m extremely happy to see Deseret Book discussing it! This is a great step.
Reed talks about the concept of Kintsugi, the repair of broken pottery with gold leafing, which is a traditional artform in Japanese culture. Many of us have enjoyed the memes passed around in social media about this artform, and the concept of a repaired piece being seen as more valuable than before it was broken, but for those who haven’t seen, or who need a reminder, it’s a lovely thing. Altogether, the book is less than roughly 2500 words, small enough to be mailed easily in a 6×6 square envelope. If you’re looking for a little gift book to tuck into the mail as something sweeter than a card alone, this cutie would be a nice addition.