** ARC REVIEW **
"How can something as good as a miracle be so broken?"
These are the words of the author himself, Jorge Netto, during a live and that sums up the main question of the book The Broken Miracle - Part One.
How can it, then?
Paul Cardall is a renowned pianist who was born with the rare condition of heart hypoplasia: only one of his ventricles is functional. The disease overloads the heart and the mortality rate is very high - most do not reach adulthood. In addition to the various symptoms and limitations, the person still has to endure the risky surgeries necessary for the “maintenance” of the organ.
The fact that Paul not only reached adulthood, but reached almost half a century of life is a huge miracle. A very exhausting to maintain ... he underwent open chest surgery with less than a day to live! He faced a heart infection twice, procedures to keep his heart working and, finally, a transplant in 2009.
I've never seen a title resonate with the story so much. Paul is a miracle from the first minute of his life until then. And very delicately, Netto reconstructs his story through personal diaries and notes by the pianist, building a unique work that unites fiction and reality in an exquisite web that made me shed several tears during reading and led me to an intense reflection at the end .
I didn't know Paul before I had the opportunity to read that early copy of the book, but right from the first pages I was so intrigued by what I read that I started to research more about him and listen to his music. I believe it was a handpicked choice by the author that culminated in a successful project: J.D.in some way managed to put all the smoothness and depth I found in Paul's songs in the book.
The narrative is pleasant and engaging, and explores the deepest feelings of the pianist throughout his life, especially the most difficult moments he had to face with his family. And yet, he achieved the feat of not resulting in a heavy reading - in fact, quite the opposite. The hope and faith of both the author and the subject are present in each line.
It is undoubtedly an inspiring book for an incredible story. And I cannot wait for part 2!