Helpful Score: 4
I wish I was a literary critic cause I bet I could explain things better. This book was a perfect book. It isnt fast paced, full or snappy dialogue, or full of twists and turns, It is a great book written in a way that you really care about all the characters, I read the whole book in one night, and had to finish it, Not to see how it ended in some who done it cliff hanger way but to read about the future of the characters. It doesnt really end cause their lives go on.
Charlene was a former student of Arthur's and they became friends, and pen pals for the past 18 year. Charlene reaches out to Arthur to ask her to help her son Kel, who is a Senior in High school. So the 1st part is Arthur writing about his life and how he met Charlene, then it switches to Kel's voice telling about his life with Charlene. Since Charlene intends for Kel and Arthur to meet, Arthur decides he needs help cleaning up his house, as he as been a recluse who weighs 550 pounds and can not climb the stairs to even see that part of the house. Yolanda a young Hispanic tiny wisp of woman enters his home and his life.
I loved all the characters, and I couldnt put the book down, no cliff hangers at the end of each chapter, I just wanted to know more. I think the big theme in this book is about loneliness in the world and true friendship. I think it is the theme, that keeps you reading. It never gets preachy about loneliness or Friendship, never gets sappy, and it doesnt just tie up their lives in a neat little bow, and happy ending: Applause, and a bow, and curtain. It ends in a way that you know that the characters keep living, and learning.
Charlene was a former student of Arthur's and they became friends, and pen pals for the past 18 year. Charlene reaches out to Arthur to ask her to help her son Kel, who is a Senior in High school. So the 1st part is Arthur writing about his life and how he met Charlene, then it switches to Kel's voice telling about his life with Charlene. Since Charlene intends for Kel and Arthur to meet, Arthur decides he needs help cleaning up his house, as he as been a recluse who weighs 550 pounds and can not climb the stairs to even see that part of the house. Yolanda a young Hispanic tiny wisp of woman enters his home and his life.
I loved all the characters, and I couldnt put the book down, no cliff hangers at the end of each chapter, I just wanted to know more. I think the big theme in this book is about loneliness in the world and true friendship. I think it is the theme, that keeps you reading. It never gets preachy about loneliness or Friendship, never gets sappy, and it doesnt just tie up their lives in a neat little bow, and happy ending: Applause, and a bow, and curtain. It ends in a way that you know that the characters keep living, and learning.
Helpful Score: 1
Beautiful and touching story about an obese man who has become a recluse. Gradually, his life begins to open up with the friendship of a young girl and connection to a past relationship. This book was well written, funny, and heart breaking all at once. I wanted it to go on, to discover what happens to the engaging and heart felt characters that I can not get out of my mind.
Helpful Score: 1
Arthur Opp weighs 550 pounds and hasn't left his rambling Brooklyn home in a decade. Twenty miles away, in Yonkers, seventeen-year-old Kel Keller navigates life as the poor kid in a rich school and pins his hopes on what seems like a promising baseball career. The link between this unlikely pair is Kel's mother, Charlene, a former student of Arthur's. Told with warmth and intelligence through Arthur and Kel's own quirky and lovable voices, Heft is the story of two improbable heroes whose connection transforms both their lives. This is a great book about an overweight 550 pound professor and a student who corresponds for 20 yrs. with secrets. She has a son who wants to be a major league baseball player. She is an alcoholic who ends up taking her life. He is searching for his father and then he meets Arthur through his letters. Arthur hires a housekeeper as he is preparing to clean up his house for when Charlene is coming over. His housekeeper, Yolanda, is pregnant and they become friends. It is a wonderful story that is so down to earth that is keeps the pages turning until the very end. I'm now looking forward to the next book from Liz Moore. Her writing is unbelievable and I'm sure you will love this book. Highly recommend!
I guess I'm in the minority, but I didn't like this book. I couldn't find any sympathy for this overly obese man who ate himself into oblivion and lived like a pig, never bathed and wore the same clothes until they stank. He ordered his food online and left the garbage all over the living room. He couldn't walk the stairs to the bedrooms for years, and made his place in front of the TV stuffing his face! He didn't speak to his family, but his father kept supporting him, perhaps out of guilt.
I skimmed a lot but it was boring and didn't interest me. You know the old expression, "different strokes for different folks"!!!
I skimmed a lot but it was boring and didn't interest me. You know the old expression, "different strokes for different folks"!!!
A very unusual book, written first person in voice of 2 main characters. It is tender, thoughtful and rich with insight and compassion. Excellent!
One of the best books I've read in a while. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
HEFT featured likeable enough characters, especially the lonely, obese Arthur Opp, but overall I found myself reading the book just to finish it. I've seen a lot of rave reviews for this book, but it didn't connect with me.
Very good book. Really enjoyed it.
