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2010, 2011: A natural disaster can turn a life upside down in more ways than one
The Broken Book
What you need to know before your trail
It’s somewhat of a understatement to say that a natural disaster can turn a life upside down in an instant. But in four essays, interspersed with a poem or two, Fiona Ferrell documents the changes in her life since the Christchurch earthquakes took place and what has happened since.
Part memoir, part travel book and a little piece of poetry, this is a personal but far reaching account of events told with a lot of humanity and even a sprinkling of humour.
Travel Guide
The ‘broken book’ is about a country quite literarily split in two – broken. A broken country with a broken spirit following the 2010 earthquakes. How does a city, its people survive that and how does life go on?
The country and everyone in it struggled to cope with the enormity of what had happened both in practical terms and emotional terms as seeing your city, your neighbourhood and your life destroyed like this must be heartbreaking and very hard to understand if you’ve not been through it. Fiona allows us inside the pain of it all, but also the hope and survival of people like her.
The country which emerges from all of this, all of the breaks is a completely different one to that which existed before. As are its people. Where does strength come from to move on and how is it possible?
An Earthquake Museum in the city helps to explain the science of earthquakes but it’s the human angle which interests and shines most. Other cities are mentioned as Fiona walks but the earthquakes in Christchurch are the starting, middle and end.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: The Broken Book
Author/ Guide: Fiona Farrell Destination: Christchurch Departure Time: 2010, 2011
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