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lbw's review
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Funny and filled with quirky characters.
If you are interested in the line between hoarding and “collecting,” this book touches on that a bit. The characters have varied relationships to their stuff or collections.
If you are interested in the line between hoarding and “collecting,” this book touches on that a bit. The characters have varied relationships to their stuff or collections.
missmelia's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
christinejean's review
4.0
What a nice little odd, meander-y tale. I say meander-y, but I’d also like to note the length was just right- any longer and it would have been annoying.
bgordo79's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jenblei's review
3.0
I enjoyed the humour a lot. I did find almost all of the characters unsympathetic- there's nothing wrong with that, but it's just not my cup of tea.
judya's review
4.0
Perhaps my review is colored by the fact my glasses were steamed over, while browsing, masked in my library. I thought I was grabbing a cozy mystery.
This isn't one, although a few crimes were committed in its pages.
What it is is a compelling commentary on changing tastes in midwestern America, and the people left in the wake of change. Antique dealers are a different breed, many of whom are my friends. Therefore, I am prejudiced but also reeling from the pandemic-related closure of all my favorite haunts.
HoJ has many of the issues typical of a first novel, including names just different enough from celebrities to avoid lawsuits, and the overused concept of chapters told from a eponymous character's view. Thankfully, Geddes avoided first person! However, there's promise here.
PS: the antiques mall featured is clearly the Heart of Ohio Antiques Mall. Moving it to Wichita hasn't fooled me.
This isn't one, although a few crimes were committed in its pages.
What it is is a compelling commentary on changing tastes in midwestern America, and the people left in the wake of change. Antique dealers are a different breed, many of whom are my friends. Therefore, I am prejudiced but also reeling from the pandemic-related closure of all my favorite haunts.
HoJ has many of the issues typical of a first novel, including names just different enough from celebrities to avoid lawsuits, and the overused concept of chapters told from a eponymous character's view. Thankfully, Geddes avoided first person! However, there's promise here.
PS: the antiques mall featured is clearly the Heart of Ohio Antiques Mall. Moving it to Wichita hasn't fooled me.
deedireads's review
5.0
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR review: Heart of Junk is a laugh-inducing, refreshing little story that will tug at your heart strings harder than you expect. Every character is weird a lovable and well-written. I loved it.
For you if: You’re looking for a good giggle, and maybe to have your heart cracked open a little bit.
Big thank you to the folks over at Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced review copy of this book! You were right, this was right up my alley, and I’m so glad to have read it.
Me at the end of chapter 1: “Oh my gosh, this book is going to be hilarious.”
Me at the end of chapter 3: “Oh my gosh, this book is going to break my heart.”
Heart of Junk is a story about a dying antique market told through the eyes of several characters — the market’s owner, his daughter, and several of the booth renters. Each one of them is super quirky and unique, and although it’s written in third person, Geddes brings each of their voices out loud and clear in each chapter’s narration. It’s funny and moving at the same time.
The premise is this: There’s a big TV show coming to tape an episode about the Heart of America, their sprawling and struggling antique market in Wichita, KS. Many of our characters have convinced themselves that the filming could solve the most pressing of their problems, but there’s a snag: A local little girl is missing, and it might keep the show from filming after all. One of our characters knows what happened to her, though.
Told in the span of five days, we wonder — will she be found? Will the show come to town after all? How on earth might this story wrap up on a hopeful note? Will Margaret admit the thing she’s denying? Will Lee and Seymour be okay? Will Kieth get some relief? etc etc etc
I expected to laugh with this one, but I didn’t expect to get walloped in the heart so many times! Geddes dives into and out of the seriousness of the situation, hooking you and bringing you to the brink of emotional release, only to drop in with perfectly timed comedic relief and show you that yes, these characters’ struggles are serious and worthy of your heart space, but also, let’s laugh because why not?
This was a great story to start the year with — light enough to be oodles of fun, but serious enough to feel like more than pure entertainment. I highly recommend.
TL;DR review: Heart of Junk is a laugh-inducing, refreshing little story that will tug at your heart strings harder than you expect. Every character is weird a lovable and well-written. I loved it.
For you if: You’re looking for a good giggle, and maybe to have your heart cracked open a little bit.
Big thank you to the folks over at Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced review copy of this book! You were right, this was right up my alley, and I’m so glad to have read it.
Me at the end of chapter 1: “Oh my gosh, this book is going to be hilarious.”
Me at the end of chapter 3: “Oh my gosh, this book is going to break my heart.”
Heart of Junk is a story about a dying antique market told through the eyes of several characters — the market’s owner, his daughter, and several of the booth renters. Each one of them is super quirky and unique, and although it’s written in third person, Geddes brings each of their voices out loud and clear in each chapter’s narration. It’s funny and moving at the same time.
The premise is this: There’s a big TV show coming to tape an episode about the Heart of America, their sprawling and struggling antique market in Wichita, KS. Many of our characters have convinced themselves that the filming could solve the most pressing of their problems, but there’s a snag: A local little girl is missing, and it might keep the show from filming after all. One of our characters knows what happened to her, though.
Told in the span of five days, we wonder — will she be found? Will the show come to town after all? How on earth might this story wrap up on a hopeful note? Will Margaret admit the thing she’s denying? Will Lee and Seymour be okay? Will Kieth get some relief? etc etc etc
I expected to laugh with this one, but I didn’t expect to get walloped in the heart so many times! Geddes dives into and out of the seriousness of the situation, hooking you and bringing you to the brink of emotional release, only to drop in with perfectly timed comedic relief and show you that yes, these characters’ struggles are serious and worthy of your heart space, but also, let’s laugh because why not?
This was a great story to start the year with — light enough to be oodles of fun, but serious enough to feel like more than pure entertainment. I highly recommend.
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