The expression ‘roll with the punches’ makes sense in the context of adapting to a difficult situation in order to minimize or mitigate the impact. While Eddy Kimes and his wife, Gayle, aren’t facing opponents in a boxing ring, they are certainly learning how to ‘roll with the punches’ as they encounter dramatic life changes. Eddy faces a setback when he loses his long-time position as a supervisor at the cable company. Worse yet is the crippling blow they receive when Gayle is diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Not only is their routine upended, but their financial status appears grim and family happiness is waning. Their grown children have both moved away from their western New York childhood home in the hopes of finding success and fulfillment. But they struggle under the weight of past events and a time of reckoning may be just around the corner for all of them.
With true-to-life problems and realistic human reactions, Broken Pieces of God will hit close to home for many people. The plot and narrative are a bit languorous at first, setting up a lifetime of memories and backstory for the Kimes family. Slowly but surely, the story picks up steam as it navigates through numerous challenges and finally builds to a dramatic conclusion. Thought provoking in a grounded way, Seaburn appeals to both faith and reason in this heartfelt book. Subtly humorous and pleasantly ironic, Broken Pieces of God boasts charm, drama, emotional volatility and even a few surprises along the way.
