The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

Stories

By: J T LeRoy

Narrated by: Laura Albert, Shirley Manson, Joshua Caleb Johnson, SOKO, Michael Imperioli, Winsome Brown, Pamela Sneed, Robin Weigert, Lawrence Rothman, Jeff Feuerzeig, Kerris Dorsey, Julie Mintz, Paul Mendez, Donovan Leitch, Full Cast

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The classic JT LeRoy story collection is now available in audio for the first time ever, featuring 11 previously uncollected stories, including one never before published, and an all-star line-up of 21 narrators.

“Beautifully structured and written.” (Hubert Selby, Jr., author of Last Exit to Brooklyn)

This book of interconnected stories depicts the chaotic life of a young boy on the run with his teenage mother. When Sarah reclaims Jeremiah from his foster parents, he finds himself catapulted into her world of motels and truck stops, exposed to the abusive, exploitative men she encounters. As he learns to survive in this harrowing environment, Jeremiah also learns to love his mother, even as she descends into drug-fueled madness. Told in spare, lyrical prose, rich with imagination and dark humor, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things transforms the savagery of Jeremiah’s world into an indelible experience of compassion.

Foreword written and read by Jeff Feuerzeig

Narrators include: Laura Albert, Shirley Manson, Joshua Caleb Johnson, SOKO, Michael Imperioli, Winsome Brown, Pamela Sneed, Robin Weigert, Lawrence Rothman, Kerris Dorsey, Julie Mintz, Paul Mendez, Donovan Leitch, Daniel Newman, Darnell Martin, Alissa Bennett, Libby Mintz, Laura Desiree, Christelle de Castro, and Laila Hayani.

©2001 J T LeRoy. Previously unpublished stories © 2016 by Dove’s Diner, Inc. Foreword © 2016 by Jeff Feuerzeig (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Riveting story and characters

The writing was beautiful, the story was compelling. Some of the narrators were wonderful, although others detracted from the story.

Overall, I really loved the book.

JT Leroy

I liked the stories, however real or made up. Very visceral. Very real. Rather frightening.

Una realidad increíblemente cruel

Las historias , ligadas e inconexas a la vez, tejen un tejido de densa descripción de los efectos de abuso sexual transgeneracional. Maestría absoluta en los relatos : dar sentido al sinsentido de un mundo sin empatía y protección para los más vulnerables. A leer a dosis pequeñas, y respirar profundamente en los intermedios.

definitely a must listen if you read it before!

I have read this book and watched the film several times. I was very excited to find that there was 3 hours of book left after what I knew as the ending. Although it doesn't really add much more to the story as a whole, it still is very satisfying that it goes on bc the original ending left you needing to know more. Now I do. I will say though, most of the readers are great but some are so different it messes with the flow and mood.

Stories amazing, narration meh

I loved these stories. Had heard about JT LeRoy for many years but hadn't read them, which now I regret. Such intensity and so raw. Listening to them first (instead of reading them) may have done them a bit of a disservice, because the performances were so-so. I'd say about half of them were good.

Disturbing story

Very disturbing story about a child growing up with absent/dysfunctional parents and how society (police, foster care, other family members,etc.) can fail these children

Horrible tales of abused children!

This is a horrible array of short stories of adults abusing children! Do not purchase

“F” word disappoints

This used too much foul language for me. I believe some was used for character development, but after a while, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I could not finish this book.

No thanks.

If you want to hear about a bunch of sexual abuse and how it forms the psyche of a young individual, then this is for you, but if not, you may want to steer clear.