Heart of the Matter

By: Emily Giffin

Narrated by: Cynthia Nixon

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie - a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance - and even, to some degree, friendships - believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

©2010 Emily Giffin (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Giffin excels at creating complex characters and stories that ask us to explore what we really want from our lives." ( Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"Giffin’s talent lies in making her characters believable and relatable, and readers will be enthralled by this layered, absorbing novel." ( Booklist)

5 Stars

I knew within the first 2 minutes of listening that I had made a great choice. The story was well written, and the insights into female friends, male / female relationships, marriage, etc were spot on. And I never knew that Cynthia Nixon would be so good - great narration choice.

Cliched morality tale

I found this book pretty darned conventional in its analysis of a marital affair populated by wooden characters and predictable outcomes. Thank god for the high minded wife. Not. Cynthia Nixon's reading is pretty good and I somehow managed to wade through to the end.

Heart of the Matter Review

Although the premise of this novel (infidelity) was thoughtful and covered just about every possible point of view,from the perspective of a man cheating on his wife that is, the novel itself was rife with cliches and tired old turns of phrase. The characters were sketchy as well...I wanted to like them but I never really got to know them very well. It was believable enough to engage me, but not something I would want to admit. Kind of like an average TV show. I am sure this novel will be able to keep Giffin in groceries for awhile.

Great story, but.......

I loved Cynthia Nixon's narration and how the story was told from multiple points of view. I had a really tough time liking or relating to the mistress, however.

Great real life

The story was very good with many lessons to be learned. It was just like real life except we usually mess it up.

Heart of the Matter

Interesting take on a professional getting involved with his client and its consequences. Predictable ending.

Loved it

I really enjoyed this book. The two female characters were interesting and credible, though I found myself relating much more to one than the other. My only complaint is regarding the male character, who did not have the benefit of a first voice perspective and therefore remained a mystery in terms of his motivation. But maybe the motivation for this kind of behavior is always somewhat of a mystery anyway, even to the subject. Nevertheless, a very satisfying (audio) read. Narration top notch as well.

Excellent!

I really liked this book. I've read the authors other books and this one is right up that alley. The plot was engaging, and I was actually somewhat surprised at some of the twists.

Messages Matter ... Right?!?!

Would you try another book from Emily Giffin and/or Cynthia Nixon?

Of course - I love this author as her books are fun with a "situation" that will need to be worked out. The journey and process of working through the challenge is always captivating!

Would you be willing to try another book from Emily Giffin? Why or why not?

Yes ... same reason as listed above.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was great!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not. I think the adultery portion of the book was unnecessary. The same points and sentiment could have been driven home without the physical affair. It could have been written with an emotional affair and deep intimate ties without the actual physical affair.

Any additional comments?

Messages matter ... and because they do, I did not like the message that lingered throughout this book ... that husbands are less apt to stray when their wife is professionally successful and out and about in the secular world. Being a stay at home Mother is one of the most rewarding things a woman can do ... and this coming from a woman who has never been one. My career is set in a professional environment with the politics and "brainstorming" and "drilling down" and blah blah blah. It's a means to an end, whereas watching your children grown into whatever their hearts desire, and knowing that you played a hands on, continual role in that is certainly far more exciting and should be far more desired by a confident man who truly cherishes and loves his wife and children. The message here failed to present that aspect, yet because Emily Giffin is a great writer I still continued reading to the end. Perhaps that's the point of it all ... when you can read through a book, though you don't like much of the content, but enjoy the way it is written ... well, that's a success for the writer. Wouldn't you say?!?!

Tough Listen

I found this a difficult book. The female characters were well developed, and I sympathized with both of them. The narrator did a fine job. My problems with this book were the long exposition and rising action. A train wreck in slow motion. The reader can see where it is heading, and because both female characters are likable, it is painful to watch the story unfold. The end is acceptable and understandable. The male character is underdeveloped during the beginning. Almost stereotypical in his workaholic disconnect from the family and his attraction to the "other woman." I found myself thinking that were I a man I would be angry with the portrayal. I'm thinking it must be well written because I had such an emotional response to it, but it was not pleasant or entertaining. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they were toying with having an affair. This book makes a great case for patient confidentiality as well.