Reviews

Heft by Liz Moore

cjgmiranda220's review against another edition

4.0

I stumbled upon this book while browsing my local library's audio collection. Heft is a story about a morbidly obese man named Arthur Opp. He's a former professor that has been housebound for twenty years. It is also a story about a high school athlete named Kel Keller. The connection they have to each other is Kel's mother who was also a former student of Arthur. This book explores the loneliness that both Arthur and Kel feel. This book makes you cheer and hurt for both characters.

My only criticism is I wish it would have ended a little differently, but definitely worth reading.

rienthril's review against another edition

4.0

The lonely, sensitive and morbidly obese Arthur Opp, former lit professor, shares narrating duties with the likewise lonely, somber and abrupt-yet-poetic Kel Keller, a high school baseball star and would-be Major Leaguer. Keller's mother, Charlene, is also Opp's former student, love interest and nostalgic obsession. Moore weaves her characters' sad stories together into a hopeful set of second chances that covers a lot of ground: rich privilege, self-destruction, belonging. Really a beautiful story that gets a 4 instead of a 5 from me only because the ending left me without some of the closure I wanted.

gianna628's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was skeptical about this book because it started slow but it was SO good. I read it in a day it was so good, it was a good story but also emotional and kind? Idk what word to describe it but it was so good and a quick read 

wondrwhy's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this book. It had a rawness to it that touched the human emotion. I felt the characters were very real and easy to relate to.

daniela_tarantino's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gertrude314's review against another edition

4.0

The issues addressed in this book were pretty heavy (hefty?): Obesity, alcoholism, suicide, loneliness, neglect. And yet also filled with hope so it was almost uplifting.

chipie's review against another edition

I liked the style and the story. Meaningful read

ksdambro's review against another edition

3.0

I stayed up all night and read this book. The characters were real and I sympathized with them. Well done.

christinebeswick's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. An absorbing tale of hope, redemption and second chances

littletaiko's review against another edition

4.0

Heft was a surprisingly enjoyable and quick read. Primarily the story of two unrelated people, it starts with Arthur, a morbidly obese shut-in who has a pen pal. Eventually the story shifts to Kel, a teenage baseball player. The parallels in their lives was interesting. Out of the two, I found Arthur to be the more enjoyable narrator - everyone could use a friend like him.