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)

Beautiful and heartbreaking

Loved the story. Poignant and engaging. Sadness but some hope towards the end. I do wish book didn’t seem to end so abruptly, or maybe I just wasn’t ready to let go of the characters yet.

Horrible ending

After all those hours.... invested in those characters. The end is the most dull, boring, uneventful end ever! Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

I finished it, and I rarely finish books.

The narrator for the older Arthur sections of the book was perfect for the character. He sounded intelligent, sad and fat. I would love to meet Arthur.
I savored the book from start to finish. I wouldn't allow myself to listen to it when I was lying down, for fear of falling asleep and missing something.
I had to finish the book because I cared about the characters and needed to know what happened to them. I lose interest in the characters in most books. I do not care what happens to them, so I abandon them.
This book felt like a gift and I so thank the author and the narrators for it!

Awesome narration of a great story

I do not like to write reviews because taste is so subjective. I do love this story being read to me because of the awesome narrators. If I had read this novel in print I wouldn't have liked it as much. I usually don't like anything I read but this is one of my faves!

A PAGE TURNER

What made the experience of listening to Heft the most enjoyable?

The narration by Kirby Heyborne. He brought the character to life and made him human and very real.You can almost hear Arthur walking and see the pain in his face .

Who was your favorite character and why?

Arthur. He took away my prejudice about obese people and open my mind and heart to them

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

no,but will look for their work.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many moments,but when I it became clear to me that society teach us to think that the better looking we are or the more education we have the less we have to depend on other people is an absolutely lie. We need each other so desperately .

Any additional comments?

Love,love the tenderness and humanity of the story,and the narration was beyond expectation.

Heartwarming

Moral...old saying.Never judge a book by its cover...nor man by his cover...a caring heart is never too big...

Gets to the heart of "Family"

I bought this because of reviews recommending and wasn't disappointed. The characters are well developed and believable, enhanced by wonderful expression by narrators. The book sensitively explores themes around grief and the search for love, value and belonging in a contemporary setting.

Held my attention to the last word. Left me enriched.

Emotionally invested doesn't begin to cover it.

I can honestly say, and without reservation, that this is the first book that the second it ended I actually yelled out loud, "MOTHER F$%^&%$%^"!!!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs. Just so you know, I will not give any spoilers, I don't do that, I will let everyone enjoy the ride, but in my heart of hearts I can only imagine Liz Moore somewhere, sitting in a comfortable chair, probably with a cup of coffee in her hand, LAUGHING HER @$$ off at me right now.

Its been a while sense I got so emotionally invested in two characters. Both flawed for various reasons, and yet both possess wonderful attributes to share, if they could just get past their hang-ups. I found myself finding excuses to keep listening, leaving work in a sprint so I could continue the story, driving the long way home, or just driving around. I just. . . . . .grrrrrrr. You will know what I'm talking about if you decide to get on this ride.

Narration was excellent, although I did speed up the story to 1.25x, which felt perfect to me.

Character development was outstanding. Everyone else has already said it, these characters will stick with you for a long time. I could 'SEE' Arthur, Yolanda, Kel, & Charlene.

Again, no spoilers, give it a chance. Just be prepared.

well rounded storyline

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

absolutely.

Which character – as performed by Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka – was your favorite?

Arthur Opp. i'm not sure which of the readers portrayed him but his pacing, the timbre of his voice, his ability to emote... all draw you in and let you feel you really really KNOW Arthur Opp.

Who was the most memorable character of Heft and why?

both Arthur and Kel's characters will remain with you long after the last page.

Oh Arthur Opp....

I enjoyed this story very much, certainly touching. Some perhaps complex (maybe too srrong of a word) relationships, not just with others but with oneself. imposing self-limitations and working toward toward resolutions with both. Most intriguing characters were Arthur and Charlene. While I liked Kel, his story seemed to drag at times, but overall, I did really enjoy this story very, very much and related to all characters for different reasons, but especially Arthur.