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Broken
- GenresContemporary
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2014
40 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Jack Benton
48 books90 followersJack Benton is the mystery writing pen name of British science fiction writer Chris Ward.
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 2, 2022
I thought this might be an interesting book. It dealt with a young man from England who was sent by his parents to live in Japan for a time. I have a son and a nephew, both of whom went to Japan to live for a few years after they graduated college. So, I thought getting another perspective on the experience of learning to live in Japan might be interesting. Sadly, this book didn't foot that bill.
The young man sent to Japan, Jack Williams, was a complete asshole. He would likely have qualified as a "hooligan" back in Britain,: his life consisted mostly of lots of drinking and picking fights. His parents probably thought that sending him to Japan would help straighten him out. Well, it sort of did in the end. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, he repented his assholism and took up a new life...or something. I wasn't convinced.
Jack is sent to a Japanese college whose primary purpose is instruction in English, that is subjects are taught in English so the students can strengthen their language skills along with strengthening skills in other subjects.
One of his classmates is Kubota Miyu, who is a very complicated young woman. She and Jack become sort of friends, but also sort of enemies. After her "father" dies, Miyu learns that her "father" wasn't actually her biological father, but her uncle. Her biological father, apparently, lives in Nagano and is the man she always thought was her uncle. Also in Nagano, she thinks, might be her sister and her mother, both of whom disappeared from her life when she was quite young. She has only fleeting memories of them.
Well, Jack's assholism gets him in trouble with the police, so he effectively goes on the lam by accompanying Miyu to Nagano where she hopes to find her mother, sister, and "real" father.
The book is organized by alternating chapters from the points of view of Jack or Miyu. In the first half of the book, Jack is just a complete asshole. When he and Miyu travel to Nagano, he is mostly still a complete asshole, but for no apparent reason, suddenly turns into a decent human being in the last chapter or two.
I dunno, it didn't convince me, and I'd much rather have had glimmers of Jack's ability to act like a decent human being earlier in the book. Basically, I have no interesting in following the life on a complete asshole.
The young man sent to Japan, Jack Williams, was a complete asshole. He would likely have qualified as a "hooligan" back in Britain,: his life consisted mostly of lots of drinking and picking fights. His parents probably thought that sending him to Japan would help straighten him out. Well, it sort of did in the end. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, he repented his assholism and took up a new life...or something. I wasn't convinced.
Jack is sent to a Japanese college whose primary purpose is instruction in English, that is subjects are taught in English so the students can strengthen their language skills along with strengthening skills in other subjects.
One of his classmates is Kubota Miyu, who is a very complicated young woman. She and Jack become sort of friends, but also sort of enemies. After her "father" dies, Miyu learns that her "father" wasn't actually her biological father, but her uncle. Her biological father, apparently, lives in Nagano and is the man she always thought was her uncle. Also in Nagano, she thinks, might be her sister and her mother, both of whom disappeared from her life when she was quite young. She has only fleeting memories of them.
Well, Jack's assholism gets him in trouble with the police, so he effectively goes on the lam by accompanying Miyu to Nagano where she hopes to find her mother, sister, and "real" father.
The book is organized by alternating chapters from the points of view of Jack or Miyu. In the first half of the book, Jack is just a complete asshole. When he and Miyu travel to Nagano, he is mostly still a complete asshole, but for no apparent reason, suddenly turns into a decent human being in the last chapter or two.
I dunno, it didn't convince me, and I'd much rather have had glimmers of Jack's ability to act like a decent human being earlier in the book. Basically, I have no interesting in following the life on a complete asshole.
December 28, 2016
Two lives with different cultures and up bringing merge.
Miyu has grown up hard and fast. Her life has been a mystery to even her. Her father was a broken man with no job and a drinking problem. She had been told her mother took her older sister and disappeared. Then Jack shows up at her college. He is the spoiled brat of a movie star. Jack has his own issues and has never really grown up. He may be the crutch she needs to solve the mystery of her mother and sister.
Miyu has grown up hard and fast. Her life has been a mystery to even her. Her father was a broken man with no job and a drinking problem. She had been told her mother took her older sister and disappeared. Then Jack shows up at her college. He is the spoiled brat of a movie star. Jack has his own issues and has never really grown up. He may be the crutch she needs to solve the mystery of her mother and sister.
May 20, 2024
A generation lost
The novel has many unlike able characters. All are driven by forces outside of their control in many ways. Once some focused their attention outside of their ego, life changed for the better.
The novel has many unlike able characters. All are driven by forces outside of their control in many ways. Once some focused their attention outside of their ego, life changed for the better.
January 20, 2018
Sorry
Really sorry, read fifty per cent but gave up. Well written but felt story developed far too slowly for me.
Really sorry, read fifty per cent but gave up. Well written but felt story developed far too slowly for me.
July 22, 2020
To Japan with l Love
Japan and London meet ,life's adventure and difference disappear and relationships began. This is an enjoyable and enjoyable romantic story.
Japan and London meet ,life's adventure and difference disappear and relationships began. This is an enjoyable and enjoyable romantic story.
February 19, 2025
So good!!
I loved reading this book. It was very entertaining and so enjoyable. I think it’s a hit and I highly recommend it!!
I loved reading this book. It was very entertaining and so enjoyable. I think it’s a hit and I highly recommend it!!
June 22, 2016
Can you get a chance to start over? Jack has been sent to Japan in a last effort to get him straight, his parents just want to sweep him under the carpet as he is always getting into trouble. Jack really needs to grow up as he knows that his looks get him whatever he wants but that is about to change.
Miyu is just holding it together, her father drinks himself to death, she has to sleep with men to get money to pay the bills and still be able to go to school.
Can Miya & Jake find a way to get through school together and maybe be friends? They are both going to be thrown together as both their worlds are about to change.
Can they help each other through these tough times of doubt and disbelief? What happens when the dust settles, does Jack get to go home and what about Miya she has no one now.
A great story of understanding, love and second chances. Great to see and feel the Japanese country side. They both deserve happiness even when they are so confused about their feelings.
I really enjoyed this story didn't think that I would but it caught me out in a good way. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review via a reading group.
Miyu is just holding it together, her father drinks himself to death, she has to sleep with men to get money to pay the bills and still be able to go to school.
Can Miya & Jake find a way to get through school together and maybe be friends? They are both going to be thrown together as both their worlds are about to change.
Can they help each other through these tough times of doubt and disbelief? What happens when the dust settles, does Jack get to go home and what about Miya she has no one now.
A great story of understanding, love and second chances. Great to see and feel the Japanese country side. They both deserve happiness even when they are so confused about their feelings.
I really enjoyed this story didn't think that I would but it caught me out in a good way. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review via a reading group.
March 3, 2016
A boy who has yet to turn over a new leaf to be a man, a woman who has just discovered she is not who she thought she was, and with all this hardship it may just make them stronger.
Jack has been in trouble for a long time. Being rich and spoiled hasn't helped either. But it's getting to the point that even his parents are tired of him. So they ship him off to Tokyo Japan for a year. To learn something new and stay out of trouble....
Miyu has only known her alcoholic father as her only parent her entire life. She had memories of her mother and a sister too. But has never seen them or heard from them over the years when they disappeared one day. Since then she has been keeping everything around the house going, bills and making sure her father is okay too. But when tragedy strikes, and new information about her past comes up. She gets help from the most unlikely person. Jack. Who has been a thorn in her side since he started in her one class.
Jack has been in trouble for a long time. Being rich and spoiled hasn't helped either. But it's getting to the point that even his parents are tired of him. So they ship him off to Tokyo Japan for a year. To learn something new and stay out of trouble....
Miyu has only known her alcoholic father as her only parent her entire life. She had memories of her mother and a sister too. But has never seen them or heard from them over the years when they disappeared one day. Since then she has been keeping everything around the house going, bills and making sure her father is okay too. But when tragedy strikes, and new information about her past comes up. She gets help from the most unlikely person. Jack. Who has been a thorn in her side since he started in her one class.
December 3, 2016
Finding My World by Chris Ward is a great romance read. I enjoyed Jack and Miyu's story. There is so much more than just a romance too. I thought Jack and Miyu were likable characters and they both had room to grow. I like what they both brought out in each other. Jack was a troublemaker and shipped off to Japan to keep him out of trouble. Miyu's life hasn't been glamorous and she has had her obstacles to deal with but she is figuring things out as she goes. The two meet when she is hired to show Jack around once he has arrived. Together the two of them embark on a journey to self discovery and finding inner strength and love. I would have rated Finding My World a 5 but it took me a little bit to get into it. I would recommend it because it is well worth the read. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
December 26, 2015
this one was enjoyable.. i liked the complications.. and the sweetness... i enjoyed the characters and the plot. overall I am really glad i got to review this and i would recommend it to my friends
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews