Blessed Are the Wholly Broken

Tennessee Delta #1

by Melinda Clayton

Blessed Are the Wholly Broken is the harrowing story of a modern family in the midst of self-destruction. After the heartbreak of losing their newborn son to a previously undiagnosed genetic condition, Phillip and Anna Lewinsky manage to pick up the pieces of their broken lives and move forward, filling the emptiness with friends, work, and travel. When Anna unexpectedly finds herself pregnant again at the age of forty-three, Phillip is thrilled to have a second chance at fatherhood in spite of Anna’s objections. But the scars from their long-buried grief run deep, and as desires clash, misunderstandings abound, and decisions are irrevocably made, the fractured foundation of their marriage begins to crumble until only tragedy remains.

315 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2013

About the author

Melinda Clayton writes primarily southern psychological suspense, and is the author of eight novels, numerous articles and short stories, and two family genealogies. She has an Ed.D. in Education Administration, is a licensed psychotherapist in Colorado and Florida (now on retired status), and teaches MFA classes for SNHU COCE.

Reviews

[Shannon Yarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Melinda Clayton's books, unsolicited, and have never been disappointed. With her latest endeavor, Clayton has left the backwoods hills of Appalachia and explores a somewhat bizarre (nonsexual) ménage à trois between a young married couple and their friend from college.

In 1980s Memphis, we meet bookish Phil and jock Brian, roommates who befriend smart and beautiful Anna. She's more Brian's type but has a stronger interest in Phil. After college, the three share an apartment and are the best of friends. Phil and Anna eventually marry and move northward to settle into their professional lives. Brian becomes a lawyer and keeps close ties with his friends. But when the couple faces a series of obstacles when it comes to having children, this wholesome all-American story gets turned upside down.

This may sound like the beginning of a Nicholas Sparks novel, but only had he written Peyton Place! From the first chapter, Clayton grabs her reader's attention with only the smallest of cliffhanging details - Phil is in prison for the murder of Anna! No worries - I haven't even scratched the surface and will not give away any spoilers.

As Clayton peels away the layers of the couple's marriage and their friendship with Brian, deep dark secrets are revealed, ultimately satisfying the reader's questions that have been piling up since page one. The book moves at a nice evenly, but non-linear pace, as Clayton switches back and forth between the past and the present, constantly filling in gaps in the story but continuously leading you along begging for answers.

Clayton is a licensed psychotherapist in two states, and she puts her expertise to good use in her writing. All of her books dive deep into that no-holds-barred type literature that picks at the psyche and exposes the human condition, but gives us slice-of-life characters that anyone can relate to. Blessed Are The Wholly Broken is no different, but is a nice present day change of pace compared to her Appalachia trilogy. I can't wait to read what she does next!

[Jenny Hilborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows Phil and Anna and their friend, Brian from college through their professional lives and the tragedies that await them. The book is dark, but not graphic, beautifully written, and instantly engaging. The book opens with a suspenseful hook: Phil is in prison awaiting sentencing for the murder of his wife.

Phil and Anna's lives, and the depths of Brian's involvement in them, are all gradually revealed in the ensuing chapters, with the uncovering of dark secrets each of these deep and multi-layered characters has kept hidden. The chapters alternate between past and present and are easy to follow.

Blessed Are The Wholly Broken is an excellent book.

[Carolyn Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale will linger in your heart long after the final page is turned. By turns optimistic, heart wrenching, inevitable, and ultimately...unsatisfyingly redemptive, because, well, it's about life. This is a tale of family and friends caught up in a tragedy which unfolds too imperceptibly to prevent, and it is one that I couldn't put down. The characters are beautifully drawn, the research impeccable and the pacing perfect. If you enjoy character driven, modern, psychological literature, this book is a treasure.

[Malka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Jung once wrote “I am not what has happened to me, I am who I choose to become.” In Melinda Clayton’s novel, “Blessed Are the Wholly Broken,” Phillip and Anna Lewinsky are happily married college sweet hearts but what happens to them after the unexpected and tragic death of their newborn son defines them—their existence after the death of their son, is who they become.

The novel opens up with Phillip in a jail cell, accused of killing his wife. Instead of trying to defend his actions, Phillip’s only jury is his own conscience. At first glance, it appears as though he does not care what the reader thinks, or how as a narrator he needs to work his charm to get the reader to agree with his side of things. For Phillip, his and Anna’s story unfolded the way it should have, the way it had to, with Phillip being the willing participant. His narration is luring and seductive in the simplicity in which it is told. The story seamlessly travels between the past and present, with Philip recalling his past with Anna, their story and how the consequences of their actions (or lack of) bleeds into his present. Read the remainder of my review here

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was slow and confusing to start. We start in present day with Phillip accused of the murder of his wife Anna. We are then taken back to when they meet in college and their life since then. Marriage, two miscarriages then a late in life pregnancy and heartbreak. This book did not draw me in until more than half of it was read. Even then it wasn't so exciting. I give it three stars.
I was given a free copy of the audio book for an honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carl Jung once wrote “I am not what has happened to me, I am who I choose to become.” In Melinda Clayton’s novel, “Blessed Are the Wholly Broken,” Phillip and Anna Lewinsky are happily married college sweet hearts but what happens to them after the unexpected and tragic death of their newborn son defines them—their existence after the death of their son, is who they become.

At one time during their lives Anna has a rather intense conversation about that very topic with Phillip and their life long best friend Brian. This might have been a clue as to what was coming for Anna.

The novel opens up with Phillip in a jail cell, accused of killing his wife. Instead of trying to defend his actions, he remains passive and almost uninterested in helping Brian defend him as Phillip’s only jury is his own conscience.

For Phillip, his and Anna’s story unfolded the way it should have, the way it had to, with Phillip being the willing participant.

This is Phillip's narration of his marriage to Anna. While he sits in his jail cell he explores with absolute clarity the mistakes he made during his marriage.

The story travels between the past and present, with Philip recalling his past with Anna, their story and how the consequences of their actions (or lack of) bleeds into his present.

The story also deals with the nature of grief quite realistically. There are no shortcuts to describe Anna and Phillip’s grief after the death of their newborn son. It is a tragedy that not many are familiar with nor talk about—it is an unnatural occurrence to lose a child in and the author does a great job of capturing that grief. Certain passages and descriptions were very accurate and on point:

“I don’t blame people for not knowing how to help us; there was no way to help us. What do you need? They asked. What can I get for you? And we shook our heads. Nothing, we said, because what else could we say? We need Jeffrey; could you fetch him for us, please?”

This pain, naturally changes both Anna and Phillip. Anna falls into despair and becomes unrecognizable. Phillip’s response to his grief is to overlook things and pretend that things aren’t going into a downward spiral for them. Their grief is an important aspect in how things play out. Their despair is who they become. But the silver lining to their grief is that it intensifies Phillip’s love for Anna and their son. However, as Phillip came to realize his love for Anna also made him blind to what she was going through. Was she just suffering from depression or was it, as Anna silently feared... something much worse?

Phillip learns all this the hard way, in retrospect. But his ephipany purifies his feelings of love and pain, thus the title: Blessed Are the Wholly Broken. Without this enlightenment, the ending of the book will not make sense to readers.

Another aspect of the story was the courtroom drama it contained. Though the courtroom scenes weren’t long and drawn out as one might expect but rather glimpses into Phillip’s case—the witnesses testifying for him or against him. These scenes were artfully used in the sense that they made you go back and question Phillip’s narrative. Right until the end when we are given a pretty clear explanation of what happened, I kept wondering if Phillip was guilty of what he was accused of.

Some may find this book depressing and sad as it did deal with some very sad events that happen to this couple and their family and friends by extension. But the author handled these events in a thoughtful, kind manner.

Blessed Are the Wholly Broken took on a subject matter that is very difficult to grasp and made it accessible and did a great job of portraying it authentically and respectfully. While at the same making this a good read.

[Dario Falcone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the last page. The character work and storytelling are masterful, the plot unfolding piece by piece as you follow the crumbs Melinda lays down with ruthless precision.

She doesn’t flinch from exposing the ugliest corners of the human psyche, laying bare the brutal processes behind her characters’ choices. At times chilling, the story spirals into a dark descent toward an inevitable resolution—but even then, she manages to show how a shard of humanity can still shine through, though never in the way you’d expect.

Every revelation lands like a gut punch, building toward an ending that feels as unavoidable as it is haunting. This is the kind of book that lingers, stalking you long after the final line.

If you’re drawn to dark, uncompromising storytelling, this one is absolutely for you.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #1 in a series of books.
I did finish,but was sadly disappointed.
The couple met in college,married & there were several unsuccessful pregnancies.
A child,which was not her husband's was born many yrs.later,after the wife stated,she did not want to be pregnant.
She later nearly lost her mind & tried to end baby Peter's life.
Her husband saved the baby,but the mother's life was lost.
He went to prison & was found guilty of her murder.
You will need to read the book,to understand the whole situation. It is a short read.

[Trish Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed are the wholly broken.

A pretty heavy reading book. I think that Philip had as many issues or mental problems as Anna did and unfortunately it costs her demise. I don't think Philip did her any favor buy always coming to her rescue and trying to placate her every step of the way. Nonetheless I enjoyed the read. She never got to grow up and when the time came for her to be a grown up she didn't know how to be one. In essence he did kill her.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

I thought I really loved this book and I guess I should have seen the ending coming but still I wasn’t prepared for it. I guess I understand but still.

[Saarah Niña · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessed are the wholly broken.

My review for this book is ridiculously long overdue. The first time I listened to it, I got a little past three chapters. It was too serious for my taste. I liked to think I matured considerably since then, trouble is I kept thinking myself to be 'mature enough', when I actually never was. What I've now realised is that this is the kind of story that has you aging within a couple of hours. If only I had given this book hours back then, instead of minutes! You're probably wondering what finally gave me the motivation to read this book past chapter three- easy: my kindle is running out of storage space, and so I figured archiving (not deleting) an audio book might help somewhat. That, and I really meant to finish it before 2017!

You'd think that I'd be relieved to have finally completely this book, after having developed an "on again-off again relationship" with it. But, I'm incredibly devastated by its end, a surprising revelation even to me.

So officially, I read it from start to finish on Jan 17th, and finished it on Jan 19th 2017.

This is one of those books that toy with your emotions, breaking you down at parts, and just wishing a story like this didn't sound so real. It's a tragic story, incredibly tragic. We meet Anna, Phillip and Bryan: the best of friends. Anna and Phillip are in a romantic relationship which soon goes on to become a blissful marriage. Blissful, that is, until they decide to have children. Anna has around three miscarriages which shatter her completely, she then tries again for another child. Both Anna and Philip are quickly losing hope, but when they come incredibly close to having a child that survives, they lose him too. Phillip decides to have a Vasectomy, to prevent the chances of Anna falling pregnant again. To prevent her grieving all over again.

Years pass, and Anna finds herself pregnant again. This time, she doesn't want the child. She believes herself to be too old to be a mother. Phillip tries to reassure her. We soon learn that Anna has lost herself to her grief. She is almost unrecognisable to her husband, and her family. Will they survive parenthood?

Major plot twist! Did I mention that Phillip kills Anna? That Phillip is on trial, being held accountable for his actions? Don't worry, this is hardly a spoiler: we learn it two chapters in to the story. I can't believe I put such a brilliant, traumatic, book on hold for such a long time. Though I do think I'm better able to deal with and understand such a deeply upsetting story than I was when I first picked this book up.

This is definitely a book you'd want to read in 2017. Or pick up the audio book as I did, it made the story that much more real and it helped me connect to such a sorrowful tale. It was written so extensively, the tiny details within it, good humour, light hearted moments but most of all I loved the book's unpredictability. I never want to forget this book, it's one of those that, as sad as it was, remains a testament to humanity's fragility, compassion and just plain old love. Keep tissues close, the ending was a tearful one. I'm still in agony.

Favourite characters: first Bryan, then Philip. Then, everyone else. Now, the question of whether this book made it to my favourites, to which I happily (I'm sticking to crying on the inside) declare "Yes, definitely!" To assure you of the certainty of my opinion, note that I am writing this review at 1:12 am (on a school day). Don't judge me until you've read the book.

I received this book through Audio book Boom.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given a choice, I’d prefer to like a book and give it a good review than the opposite. Yet, it seems writing a negative or even lukewarm review is much easier. Articulating why a book didn’t work for me is normally easy, usually a matter of listing which common faults I found, both of a technical nature (inadequate proofing, grammar problems, convoluted verbiage) and issues with the story (inadequate or too much characterization, lack of conflict, nonsensical plot points) with examples.

You’d think a good review would be a matter of working from the same mental list of what can go wrong and explaining that it didn’t. Sometimes I do just that. But how many times can a reviewer say “fun (or entertaining) story, good characters, buy this book?” Even if the readers of the review don’t notice, the reviewer knows and feels like he or she is repeating the same old thing. It may not bore you, but sometimes it bores me writing it. Often the books I like the most are the toughest to figure out how to explain why. Blessed Are the Wholly Broken is one of those books.

Melinda Clayton’s first novel, Appalachian Justice, has been on my short list of books to recommend to others since I first read it. This book is as good in its own way, but much different. Maybe the way to get at the appeal of this book is to compare and contrast the two. The main characters in Appalachian Justice (I’ll abbreviate the two books as AJ and BWB going forward), due to the environment they were born into, both have much to overcome just to survive. Although one of the characters in BWB was born into a situation that isn’t much better, when we pick up his story he appears to have moved beyond his troubled beginnings (whether that is actually true, I’ll leave to the reader to decide). In any case, the characters and the setting of the story in BWB are going to feel more familiar, a lot more like what the typical reader has experienced in their own life than those in AJ.

The story conflict, those things the characters need to overcome, is also something most readers will more easily be able to relate to their own life or someone they know, even if they’d handle the conflict in a different way. Another difference between the two is the overall tenor of each story. While both have emotional ups and downs, AJ is much more positive and ends on an emotional high while BWB is the opposite, darker throughout with enough of the ending hinted at in the prologue lurking in the readers head to temper even the happiest points in the book.

In the end, both are excellent stories, but much different reading experiences. Picking a favorite would be tough and ultimately comes down to the reader’s taste.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Knives Boone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phillip and Anna Lewinsky have suffered a loss. Their newborn son was born with a previously undiagnosed medical condition, leaving the couple grieving and distraught. They manage to pull things together and move forward in their lives, and then unexpectedly at the age of 43, Anna finds herself pregnant again. Phillip is over the moon with excitement, but Anna less so. This causes strife in the marriage, and as postpartum depression settles in, things go awry.

This book was a quick easy read, and I enjoyed it. I did have a little trouble identifying with Anna's character and her lack of connection to her baby. But then there is an unexpected twist of events, and the couple is again derailed in an unimaginable way.

I enjoyed this book, and especially the twists and turns the plot takes along the way. The writing was nothing spectacular, but sometimes an uncomplicated book is what you really want.

POTENTIALLY DISTURBING CONTENT:
Violence: There is minor violence against an infant

I recommend this to anyone who wants a quick easy read. I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narrator, Alan Taylor, did a fine job and was easy on the ears.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.

[Patricia Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will give 5 stars for writing style, 5 stars for creating the believable psychological destruction of two people, 5 stars for character development, 5 stars for addressing post partum depression and mental illness, but I cannot give 5 stars for the book. Because of Anna’s misinterpretation of what Phillip was feeling and vice versa, their lives became one big misunderstanding. Big issues were not addressed; bad decisions were made. For me, it was too depressing watching these two characters sink further and further into the depths of destruction. It’s a great title, though. Both Anna – more so – and Phillip were wholly broken. Recommendation: none.

[Jennifer Bunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reviewing portions of the book prior to publication. I read the book in its entirety in one sitting. I was spellbound by the author's description of the relationships between the main characters. She is not afraid to write about the goodness and the cruelty that is present in all of us at times. Her characters are all too human and all too easy to identify with. I'm going to order her Appalachian series as soon as I finish typing this!

[Veyona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still in shock

The length we go to protect the ones we love truly have no bounds. Shocked at Phillips selflessness and inspired by his love for his wife. Post partum psychosis is really and sadly kept a secret in most homes. We should never feel ashamed for needing help.

[Kristina Trawick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad tale

Wonderfully written story about the heartache of miscarriages and genetic anomalies. This is incredibly sad, not a good pick if you're looking for a light read, but it is insightful with a look into a family beset with too many losses.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very captivating and well written. The story line was so incredibly sad though...I just needed that glimmer of hope in some way, and it would've been five stars.

[Shah Par · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a read...!

[Robert Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most riveting stories I've ever read. I would have finished it in one sitting had there not been necessary interruptions!

[Icy_heart]

its very bad