When a successful designer, entrepreneur, and lifelong city dweller hesitantly agrees to follow her husband’s dream of country living, she doesn’t expect to be undone by a sagging Victorian farmhouse and the relentless wind howling through uninsulated walls. But as holes are patched and rooms slowly take shape, something surprising space opens up. Not just in their crumbling home, but in her heart.
Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.
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| June 2026; She Writes Press; 979-8896363361 ebook, print (216 pages); memoir |
Anyone who has ever done any kind of home improvement project - just binge-watches fixer-upper type shows on TV - knows that you can't control everything. My 1980s-built home has given enough unexpected problems; I can't imagine trying to remodel a home built in 1903. But that is what Maida Korte and her husband Andy decided to take on. Granted, they are both in the remodeling business, so they have more skills to start with than I did.
I thought I might get some tips on how to handle my own projects, but this memoir is so much more than just home renovations.
A Masterclass in Metaphor
Korte used the metaphor of remodeling a home to delve into deeply personal, yet often universal, internal thoughts and feelings. She does a wonderful job of continuing this metaphor throughout the book (I'm working on a much smaller story with a building metaphor, and the metaphor keeps falling apart, so I really commend her on this point).
She often mentions how the things she can accomplish for her clients as a high-end designer, she fails to accomplish for herself. This instantly makes her and her story relatable. How many of us are calm and collected, problem solvers for others, but feel overwhelmed, stressed, and at a loss when dealing with our own lives?
Renovation as Self-Reflection
Yet, she doesn't allow the often messy, unexpected, unpredictable, expensive remodel to derail her. Instead, she uses the time for self-reflection and self-care. As she turns the house into a more loving home, she is also hoping to turn herself into a more loving, kind person.
In these pages, Korte is open and honest about her lifelong battle with anxiety and the need for control. She discusses her childhood coping mechanisms and now how she makes space in her life to handle these moments.
The Verdict
If you are like me and picked up this book for the home renovation aspect, you won't be disappointed. There are plenty of mishaps as well as wonderful discoveries - all the realities of home renovations. If you are thinking about doing a major home remodel on your own, this book will definitely give you a realistic look at what such a project entails (and remember, they are professionals). And if you are in the midst of a project, you may find the therapeutic aspect of the book encouraging.
Recommended For:
Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, contemplating a major move, or just want to do a little self-remodeling, this sometimes humorous, but always relatable memoir is just the book you need to read.
Buy Gutted at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour
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