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)

A Lovely Story

This was a soft story. The narrators were actually perfect. It feels at first that it is slow and they sound a bit drone, but then I couldn't stop listening and realized they fit the story perfectly. It is an emotional book. If you don't have any reaction, I'd be concerned about your ability to feel.

I saw this repeatedly in sales and thought oh, no I wouldn't like that. I finally got it due to all the good reviews. I read her other book which also touched me, but that I felt was more depressing. This story is sad but has hope and possibility by the end.

entertaining

I would say Heft is "OK to good." It is entertaining and it held my interest, but I don't think it's a knockout. I liked the parts about Arthur and Yolanda and their relationship more than the parts about Kel. Arthur is a great and unique character and I really cared about him. The guy they got to read for Arthur/Yolanda was fabulous....I can't imagine a better voice for Arthur.

I thought some of the passages about Kel's sports went on for too long and the author didn't finish a few things that she introduced. For example, at one point Kel gets into some legal trouble but I don't think the author ever lets us know the outcome. I don't need all questions to be answered for me, but some of these loose strings were significant to the story/characters and a few times I was left wondering "what happened with that?" But these are minor issues that don't take away from it being an easy, enjoyable listen.

Enjoyable Performance

I truly came to love the characters. This is not a book I would typically gravitate towards, but I am so glad I listened. The performance was excellent, and I was sad when the story came to an end.

sad when it ended

wonderful characters and narration.. hoping sequel to follow..has been a very pleasant companion..😊go for it..

Lengthy as well as Hefty

Would you listen to Heft again? Why?

Yes, but only if they have the patience it takes to live through the mundane and very real life day to day lives of these complex characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Arthur because he made the most dramatic changes in his life, for the better, and in so doing had a positive impact on the lives of others.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Arthur confronted the housekeeper's abusive boyfriend. He forgot himself and forgot his weight, just for that moment he was the man he had forgotten he could be.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it did not. I'm not sure that was the author's intent. It was more about the daily trials and failings of flawed characters, and how their smallest improvements impact each other.

Any additional comments?

It was maybe just a tad long, but I'm not sure how one portrays everyday mundane lives in an abbreviated form.

A unique story, wonderfully performed.

Very touching. Enjoyed it so much that when i was nearing the end I wished the countdown clock to go into reverse. I even had had the urge to slow down the speed during the final minutes.

Narration was truly incredible! Story was very relatable. And the author wrote in such a way that you felt you were in the skin each main character. A unique story, wonderfully performed. Certainly worthwhile.

It ends right in the middle of the story!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, with the warning that it leaves you hanging.

Would you be willing to try another book from Liz Moore? Why or why not?

Yes if it continues the story of these characters.

Do you think Heft needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes. As already stated if feels unfinished.

A very good character driven book.

The author did a fantastic job of delving deeply into the characters. It was very satisfying. Great coming of age story with Kell. Overall very sad but the end is hopeful and I see them both in better places. The ending is a bit more open ended than I usually like but I didn’t mind in this case. Arther was my favorite character. It’s easy to judge people by their appearance but it’s a good reminder that everyone has a story and if we knew it we’d likely have much more empathy toward their situation.

Why?

I'm surprised I finished this audiobook because I don't hesitate to return one that I don't like. The story starts out grabbing my interest from the first sentence. Then somewhere along the way I realized I didn't really care about the characters (especially Charlene) and considered returning it. I stayed with it only to be really disappointed at the ending, which came so abruptly and was very unsatisfying. Why oh why did I finish this book? I guess there is enough there that kept me hanging on. If you like books that are unique, maybe there's something here for you.

Enjoyed it but left with a void.

I enjoyed this book especially for the performances of the characters. You will find yourself immersed in their lives and want for all the best things for them in the end. It saddened me that we didn't get the answer to the biggest question being asked throughout the entire book. But, like life, these things aren't always boxed up in the end with a nice, pretty bow.