Edith's life is not going according to plan. Her husband has left her for a younger woman. Her son is incapable of holding a job, and busies himself w...moreEdith's life is not going according to plan. Her husband has left her for a younger woman. Her son is incapable of holding a job, and busies himself with drinking and fistfights in the local pubs. Her ex-husband not only left her, but also left his aging, invalid uncle in Edith's care. Edith attempts to remain positive. She is an avid journaler, and has created the ideal, perfect life for herself. The only problem is, it's only on paper and in her mind. Her downward spiral and depression is both bleak and beautiful. This is my first Patricia Highsmith and I'm hooked.(less)
5th grade Harper has a lot on her mind. Her dad left home, after arguing with her mom about his drinking. Harper, her younger brother Hem, and her mom...more5th grade Harper has a lot on her mind. Her dad left home, after arguing with her mom about his drinking. Harper, her younger brother Hem, and her mom are evicted from their apartment after not paying their rent. Things only seem to get worse. But Harper has always found comfort in her words. She's even named after her mom's favorite book, "To Kill A Mockingbird." So when a poetry competition comes up at school, Harper is confident she's got a shot at winning. But things don't go according to plan, when her family is forced to move. (less)
Arthur Opp used to be a successful university professor. But things are different now. After he left work, he lives alone, in the hou...moreHeft by Liz Moore
Arthur Opp used to be a successful university professor. But things are different now. After he left work, he lives alone, in the house he inherited from his parents. He doesn’t venture outside, and has all of his meals and necessities delivered. Morbidly obese at over 500 pounds, Arthur is trapped in a cycle of overeating, anxiety and depression.
While he was teaching, he befriended a young student, Charlene. They developed a close relationship and remained pen pals for years. Arthur misrepresented himself in his letters, and when Charlene proposes to meet up, he is forced to reconcile his surroundings and lifestyle. Nervous about the condition of his house, Arthur turns to a maid service, and young, energetic Yolanda shows up on his front doorsteps. Arthur hasn’t let anyone into his life for years, and they develop a special friendship based on mutual acceptance and openness.
Charlene writes to Arthur about her son, Kel Keller. Kel is a baseball star at his high school, but is not thrilled about the idea of college. Charlene sees Arthur as a potential mentor for her son, and wants him to encourage Kel to pursue an academic career.
But Charlene hasn’t been truthful in her own letters to Arthur. As Arthur soon finds out, Charlene’s dependence on alcohol brought chaos to her own life and especially with her son, Kel.
Heft is told in alternating first-person narration, between Arthur Opp and Kel Keller. Charlene’s behaviors have impacted both men dramatically, and surprising information is revealed when circumstances abruptly change. Liz Moore does a superb job of harnessing the human desire to connect. As both men have been damaged by failed personal relationships, they each learn how to be vulnerable and trust other people. Moore does an outstanding job of conveying social anxiety, embarrassment and shame in her characters, without making them seem weak or hopeless. My favorite book I’ve read this year. (less)
Nic Sheff started his writing career his first memoir, "Tweak," which dealt with his addiction to crystal meth. Then his father wrote his own memoir,...moreNic Sheff started his writing career his first memoir, "Tweak," which dealt with his addiction to crystal meth. Then his father wrote his own memoir, "Beautiful Boy," detailing his struggles with his addicted son. Both father and son went on a national book tour, and with Oprah's help, became national bestsellers. "We All Fall Down" is Nic Sheff's story about how he dealt with rehabilitation, how he relapsed, suffered set-backs, and how he tries his best to stay clean. Nic's story is not new, he shares most addict characteristics, self-destructive, lying, and harming relations family and friends to continue the addiction. He is involved in several long term relationships with women who have their own addiction issues. Nic does have a fresh, honest voice that should resonate with teen readers, as well as adults. Good addition to the drug memoir genre. My favorite is the "Note to Readers" disclaimer at the beginning, very echoing of James Frey or Greg Mortenson recent scandals. "This work is a memoir. It reflects the author's present recollections of his experiences over a period of years....Dialogue and events have been re-created from memory and, in some cases, have been compressed to convey the substance of what was said or what occurred." :-)(less)
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