Better Broken Than New

This memoir by bestselling novelist Lisa St Aubin de Teran reflects on her life in a remote Mozambican village, revealing hidden truths and challenges while celebrating her journey and resilience. Better Broken Than New captures her unique experiences.

"Better Broken Than New" is a revealing memoir by acclaimed novelist Lisa St Aubin de Teran, known for her works such as "Keepers of the House" and "The Slow Train to Milan." In this introspective narrative, Lisa reflects on her life after she chose to step away from the literary limelight and settle in a secluded village in northern Mozambique in 2004. This retreat allowed her to reconnect with her African heritage, establish a charity, and face a series of new challenges that would ultimately shape her journey.

Throughout her career, Lisa's life has been filled with remarkable experiences, from her adventures with a group of Venezuelan exiles to her time spent on an Andean hacienda and her two decades in a dilapidated Umbrian palace. Despite the extensive media coverage surrounding her, much of her true story remained hidden. In "Better Broken Than New," Lisa employs the metaphor of kintsugi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold—to illustrate her process of piecing together the fragments of her life. She candidly addresses the dramatic and often scandalous elements that have defined her existence, revealing the complexities behind the public persona.

This autobiography not only seeks to clarify the misconceptions surrounding her life but also celebrates her resilience and unwavering pursuit of dreams. Lisa's journey is a testament to the idea that even when life’s challenges seem insurmountable, embracing one's brokenness can lead to a richer, more authentic existence. Through her compelling storytelling, she invites readers to join her in exploring the beauty found in vulnerability and the strength that comes from embracing one's true self.