Heft

By: Liz Moore

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Keith Szarabajka

Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Literary Fiction, 2013

A heartwarming novel about larger-than-life characters and second chances....

Former academic 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 - if he can untangle himself from his family drama. The link between this unlikely pair is Kel’s mother, Charlene, a former student of Arthur’s. After nearly two decades of silence, it is Charlene’s unexpected phone call to Arthur - a plea for help - that jostles them into action. Through Arthur and Kel’s own quirky and lovable voices, Heft tells the winning story of two improbable heroes whose sudden connection transforms both their lives. Like Elizabeth McCracken’s The Giant’s House, Heft is a novel about love and family found in the most unexpected places.

©2012 Liz Moore (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A suspenseful, restorative novel from one of our fine young voices.” (Colum McCann, National Book Award–winning author)

“In Heft, Liz Moore creates a cast of vulnerable, lonely misfits that will break your heart and then make it soar. What a terrific novel!” (Ann Hood, best-selling author of The Red Thread)

“This is the real deal, Liz Moore is the real deal - she’s written a novel that will stick with you long after you’ve finished it.” (Russell Banks, Pulitzer Prize finalist)

Isolation and connection

It's a story about loneliness, isolation, addiction as solace, and ultimately, the healing power of human connection.

In retrospect, the title is a bit misleading. Because while the main character uses food as his comfort and his self sabotage, each character has different, but equally fierce demons to contend with.

As you might imagine, it’s a bit of a depressing read. But it’s heartfelt and hopeful in the end. I think it will stick with me for some time.

The Character of Arthur is Superb!

I loved this on audio, but am not sure I would have liked it as much in print. The voice of Arthur really brought this character to life for me and really increased the overall reading experience. The story was good, although some parts of Kell's story seemed to drag for me. I thought I had it all figured out, but there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

could have been excellent

Is there anything you would change about this book?

the "whining" was annoying at times, story was a bit predictable

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

characters were well developed and good insights into the inner worlds of the characters

What three words best describe Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka ’s voice?

clear, listenable, expressive

Was Heft worth the listening time?

yes, all in all, though the story certainly could have been reduced a bit

Not long enough

Any additional comments?

My only complaint is that I wanted one more chapter. It hints at resolution, but you don't get to hear it.

Beautiful, A "must read"

Would you listen to Heft again? Why?

Yes. This book is now on the top of all my audible books I have listened to . Both narrators were PERFECT. Can't wait for Liz Moore's next book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Heft?

There were many, but I think when Yolanda entered Arthur Ops life.

What about Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka ’s performance did you like?

Everything, but most of all, both of the narrators felt real!!!

If you could take any character from Heft out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I think Charlene. I'd like to know more about her life.

Any additional comments?

Liz Moore's "Heft" should be on all the Best Sellers list. It should be up there with "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving. One of the best books I've ever read. I can't believe that I found it by accident. LUCKY ME!!!!

Strains the heartstrings...

This novel was quite an eye opener. It helped me to catch a glimpse inside the mind of individuals who struggle with things far beyond what I have had to deal with temporally. People both physically challenged, as well as emotionally broken and bereft. This book challenged ME emotionally. It caused me to evaluate my own life, and the way that I perceive society and those around me. It also made me very thankful for the relationships that I have.

I thought that the character development was far superior to other books in this genre. The 2 main characters were completely exposed and left bare for the reader to examine, dissect, and immerse into. I loved it.

Love this book

I loved Heft. I found the characters to be well developed and believable. I enjoyed having two different voices for Kel and Arthur. I'm so sorry to have come to the end of this book!

Two improbable heroes, love and family

What a captivating story. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of the main characters and felt the author, Liz Moore, did a fabulous job with characterization.

The book revealed some of the secrets as you progressed in the story, but not all of them which was nice to give the readers the opportunity to create their own unveiling of the unknown secrets.

Life can be so hard, yet beautiful too. I highly recommend this book and thought the narrators, Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka, were fabulous!

Loved it!

What did you love best about Heft?

It's been a long time since I listened to a book I was EXCITED to listen to... I wish Liz Moore had other books on here. I loved the entire story and narration was great too.

Such a satisfying read!

What did you love best about Heft?

I loved that even though the characters encountered difficulties, they didn't just spiral down to the depths, but were able to learn from them.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters were very well drawn and likable

Have you listened to any of Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to these readers before, but I thought they were outstanding.

Who was the most memorable character of Heft and why?

Both Arthur and Kell were very memorable. It would not be possible to choose between them, as they both enriched the story as regards living with loneliness.