18 essays exploring a life robustly and thoughtfully lived by acclaimed writer, activist and teacher Martha Gies, who is now entering her eighth decade. With dry wit, sharp insights, and deep empathy for the underdog, the memoir's three sections explore:

Act One: The Illusions and Disillusions of Childhood: Waking up to the world, as experienced through the lenses of rural living, a deep love of Russian literature, grief following two untimely deaths in the family, and other complications.

Act Two: The Search for Right Livelihood: A chaotic journey towards finding a vocation - from driving a cab at night to assisting a third-rate traveling magician - before a short-story writing workshop with Raymond Carver changes everything.

Act Three: A Forgiving Assessment Of What It All Means: Exploring the tension between the memories we try to find and the memories that find us. Essays include an encounter with a former Los Alamos scientist; a priest fighting for human rights in Chiapas; and a drug addict turned drug counselor, among others.

Broken Open is a collection of beautifully crafted stories told with a gift for humor and lived with the courage to face heartbreak.