Broken

I thought I had blogged about this book...I'm seriously unimpressed with myself for not having written about it before. And now, since it was such a long time ago I cannot remember all that happens in the story!

Broken by Daniel Clay was a book I had to promote when I was working at HarperCollins. It wasn't a big title on our list that year but it was good enough to worthy some proofs being made. In fact, I still have a proof copy on my shelf somewhere. I kept it because I enjoyed it so much. It was my job to project manage all proof copies - from the typeset pages to the finished product. These would then go out to various people in the trade to encourage publicity and promotion. Broken was a publicity proof - this meant the campaign was going to be publicity lead rather than with a big marketing budget behind it. This also meant no eye-catching colour cover - just a very plain front with the title typed always in the same font.

It's not a pleasant little book...I had to warn friends and family when I gave it to them as presents. There are some horrible characters in there and some ghastly moments. Try and imagine the roughest, most despicable family living in your area and you'll be some way close to imagining the Oswalds' family.

I knew of kids and people like this growing up somewhat...there was a notorious housing estate near where I lived so I went to school with some of that ilk. I can relate in that way, but I'm sure many of us can.

Broken tells the story of a little girl in a coma and how she got there. How a thoughtless and untruthful accusation of rape leads to brutal beating of a young teenage boy by the neighbourhood's roughest father: Mr Oswald. A brutal beating which leaves the boy emotionally scarred, broken and unhinged. It tells of Mr Oswald's delinquent daughters and the young girl's own family and their issues, of the girl's school teacher and a local gypsy boy...and the chain of events now set in motion which will infect and upturn all of their lives leaving havoc in its wake. You can read more about it here and here.

The big news is they've gone and turned it into a film! I'm really rather excited. Here is the trailer:

When I get a minute I'm definitely going to watch it. I wonder if they'll remain true to the book...if so I'm expecting some dark moments! I'm also really happy to see Daniel Clay having this success. It was a small book on a big list competing against the likes of the phenomenal, Orange Prize winner Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (also currently being made into a film) when I first came across it and I felt it was rather overlooked. It is an excellent read and it deserves attention. If you get a chance pick up the book before you watch the film...Just be warned...it reflects some of the worst aspects of our British society all wrapped up in one vulgar, thuggish family.