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The Weight of Him
In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.
At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food's colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy's beloved son Michael takes his own life.
Billy determines to make a difference in Michael's memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention--his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy's dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.
Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.
Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.
At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food's colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy's beloved son Michael takes his own life.
Billy determines to make a difference in Michael's memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention--his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy's dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.
Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.
Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2017
24 people are currently reading
3156 people want to read
About the author
Ethel Rohan
23 books264 followersEthel Rohan is an award-winning essayist, novelist, and short story writer. Most recently, In the Event of Contact won the Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize, the Eric Hoffer Short Story Collection Prize, and the Gold Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for Best European Fiction. She has published widely beyond her books, including work in The New York Times, World Literature Today, The Washington Post, The Irish Times, PEN America, Tin House, and The Stinging Fly. For her recent foray into playwriting, she received a residency at Pavilion Theatre Studio, Dublin (2023). Rohan's second novel, Sing, I, is forthcoming from TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press (April 15, 2024). Raised in Ireland and flavored in San Francisco, she currently lives outside London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 309 reviews
February 21, 2017
3.5 Billy is a large man, over 400 pounds and also a very sad man. His family, three remaining children, his wife, is in tatters after the suicide of his eldest son, only 17. He can't help going over and over the things he did wrong, his son left no note, and no one noticed anything wrong, not friends, not family. Food has always been his comfort but he decides to make his son's suicide count for something, to make a difference in suicide prevention. So with virtually no family support Billy sets off on a quest, a goal.
One can't help but feel for Billy, his story, his efforts, but in this too lies the problem. The other characters are virtually lifeless, his daughter rarely mentioned, Billy is the story and for me it became repetitive. Looked forward to his interactions with his youngest son, who was the second most complete character, and these showed growth in the both of them, father and son. A second chance in a way. Don't get me wrong this is a good story, a heartfelt one, just wish it had been a little more widespread, included a wider view.
ARC from Netgalley.
One can't help but feel for Billy, his story, his efforts, but in this too lies the problem. The other characters are virtually lifeless, his daughter rarely mentioned, Billy is the story and for me it became repetitive. Looked forward to his interactions with his youngest son, who was the second most complete character, and these showed growth in the both of them, father and son. A second chance in a way. Don't get me wrong this is a good story, a heartfelt one, just wish it had been a little more widespread, included a wider view.
ARC from Netgalley.
April 7, 2017
Billy Brennan has worked as an inspector at a toy manufacturing company for twenty years. His family is grieving the recent suicide of their eldest son Michael. He was only seventeen years old when he took his own life and he did not leave a note.
Billy weighs 401 pounds and has had difficulty with obesity throughout his life. He has been warned by his doctor that he is unhealthy and will face future medical issues if he does not change his lifestyle. Using grief as a motivator, he organizes a fundraiser raiser for suicide prevention. His stated goal is to lose 200 pounds which is half his body weight. While this project helps Billy work through his issues, it disconnects him from his wife, parents and children.
Billy seeks to take back control of his life in places that he has previously ignored. His progress is gradual and inconsistent as he continues to address the flaws he has suppressed during his life. The author handles the subject of obesity delicately and gracefully.
Goodreads giveaway https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
Billy weighs 401 pounds and has had difficulty with obesity throughout his life. He has been warned by his doctor that he is unhealthy and will face future medical issues if he does not change his lifestyle. Using grief as a motivator, he organizes a fundraiser raiser for suicide prevention. His stated goal is to lose 200 pounds which is half his body weight. While this project helps Billy work through his issues, it disconnects him from his wife, parents and children.
Billy seeks to take back control of his life in places that he has previously ignored. His progress is gradual and inconsistent as he continues to address the flaws he has suppressed during his life. The author handles the subject of obesity delicately and gracefully.
Goodreads giveaway https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
April 22, 2019
4.5 Stars
Nobody's perfect. We all have flaws in some way, shape or form as do the characters in this story, but as THE WEIGHT OF HIM shows, those of us with imperfections have value too!
Billy Brennan is morbidly obese, and he has recently lost his teenage son to suicide. (no spoiler here) With little to no family support, Big Billy decides to go public on a quest to lose 200 pounds (half his body weight) to benefit Suicide Prevention Awareness, but finds the journey is filled with the most formidable of challenges.
In THE WEIGHT OF HIM Ethel Rohan does a great job of combining two mental wellness issues...morbid obesity and suicide...into a touching story of how one man battles to turn horrific despair into hopefulness for others.
Great read! Zoomed right through it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
April 16, 2017
The Weight of Him is a deeply moving novel about a grieving family and in the center of that grieving family, Billy Brennan, the patriarch, over four hundred pounds and struggling with his oldest child's suicide, the body he lives in, and food that has long been his comfort and companion. To raise awareness about suicide Billy decides to lose weight with sponsors from his local community and the novel follows him as he tries to grieve, to lose weight, and become more present in his life and to his wife and children. Billy is, by far, the most fully realized character in the novel and as such, the most engaging. I wish that his wife Tricia, and there surviving three children, were given more space to be part of the story. Overall, this is a memorable book, well worth a read.
February 6, 2017
Billy Brennan, severely obese, is on a mission after the suicide of his son Michael. He wants to to lose over 200lbs and begins a public weight loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention.
We follow him through this crusade of his, and also how he and his family deal with the aftermath of his son's death.
I really liked this story, and all these characters! Also, this story is set in Ireland, and the descriptions of the landscape renew my wish to go there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
We follow him through this crusade of his, and also how he and his family deal with the aftermath of his son's death.
I really liked this story, and all these characters! Also, this story is set in Ireland, and the descriptions of the landscape renew my wish to go there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
January 5, 2017
The Weight of Him was a nice surprise. The book's description makes it sound like somewhat of a humorous book, but it's actually quite meaty and emotionally charged -- in a good way. Billy lives in a small village in Ireland with his wife and children. He weighs 400 pounds and his family has recently suffered a terrible tragedy. With the odds stacked against him, Billy sets out to find a way to improve his life and eke something positive out of his family's recent tragedy. His family is less than enthusiastic and his plans do seem a tad grandiose. What I liked about the book was the nuance in Billy's and his family's emotions. This book takes on two big and seemingly disparate themes -- grief and the stigma of obesity -- and weaves them together really well. I felt the social stigma associated with Billy's weight, but at the same time he is not portrayed as a misunderstood hero. His family's polarized reactions to Billy's actions feel real and just as legitimate as his feelings -- thereby emphasizing that grief and life generally can be pretty messy. To some extent, Billy reminded me of Harold in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry -- an unhappy idiosyncratic character who strives to turn his own and other people's expectations upside down -- the issue of who may or may not be misguided remains open for a long time. While the writing style is light, this didn't feel like a light book. I found myself engaged, and even teary at times. I suspect some may find this a bit sentimental and predictable, but it worked well for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
March 21, 2023
“Sometimes I want to die just so I could be with him again.”
.. the story of a loss to suicide and how one family survived and found connection once more .. at one point I was sure they were going to fall apart for good ..
.. the story of a loss to suicide and how one family survived and found connection once more .. at one point I was sure they were going to fall apart for good ..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2018
The two-fold meaning of this title speaks to both the physical size of Billy Brennan and the incredible burden carried after losing his eldest son to suicide. Both are crushing in their own way, the loss of Michael certainly being the worst to bear. And although the feelings that Billy's obesity have caused cannot be compared to the pain of losing a son, it is the burden that he has carried all his life, the thing that has defined him, the onus that has also been the comfort to hide behind. Grief without an answer as to why Michael chose to die is the catalyst for Billy's next, rash decision, but it is done to honor his boy. It comes at nearly any price to himself, but it will effect his remaining family in ways that he is blind to seeing.
”Why did it take tragedy to bring out the best in us? And why was that state of grace so fleeting?”I raced through many pages this book because of the quotes like the one above and below. They were like glimmers of hopeful inspiration inside a tough subject. In the end, Billy was also inspiring, but I had a hard time accepting the two conflicting sides of his character. He was one who would sometimes share his emotions without abandon, and at other times seem to live only within his own head. He failed in the moments, but triumphs came when maybe they shouldn't have, or weren't explained enough to remain believable. What I liked is the way his son, Michael, was never forgotten here, and the important topic that did not end without leaving an impression.
”Michael saved me. My own son saved me, and believe me, if I could have it any other way, if I could bring him back and trade my life for his, I would in a heartbeat.”
December 1, 2017
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
----Jalaluddin Mevlana Rumi
Ethel Rohan, an Irish author, has penned an extremely heart touching story called The Weight of Him that revolves around an obese father's loss over his elder son who has committed suicide, and his journey to deal with grief and heal over the loss of his loved one lead him on a path to weight loss but sadly that pushes him away from his dear family and his wife. Set in an idyllic back ground of Ireland, this deeply moving story is going to inspire the readers dealing with loss and grief thoroughly.
Synopsis:
In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.
At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food's colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy's beloved son Michael takes his own life.
Billy determines to make a difference in Michael's memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention--his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy's dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.
Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.
Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.
Billy Brennan, a 400 pounds man working at a toy manufacturing company, has recently lost his eldest son who took his own life leaving behind no clue or reason for his parents, family and peers as to why he committed suicide. And owning to his immense grief and loss over his dear son, Billy decides to host a organize a fund raiser for suicide prevention and in order to do so, he will loose half of his weight. Even though, previously, he has been repeatedly warned by his doctor as well as by his family to lose some weight in order to avoid an early death, he never paid much heed to those warnings before mainly due to the fact that food always comforted Billy. But now to deal with loss over his son's suicide, Billy is determined to shed his body weight, but sadly, his journey to weight loss pushes him away from his family and parents, who want him to deal with loss and grief in a quiet manner. But can Billy achieve his goal, and ultimately get over his loss, with a few supporters and with a family which is growing estranged with every passing day?
This is a brilliant book, but sadly the story has quite a handful of flaws that marred the charm of this book. Nevertheless, I found this book to extremely emotional and inspiring enough to make me forget about those fatal flaws. And I would suggest everyone to read this book, especially to those who are dealing with loss and grief over the death of any near and dear ones. The story will motivate the readers to look at the positive side of life and to deal with pain courageously and emphatically. The message of the story line will wrap the readers into its warm embrace and will give an assurance to handle life in a confident manner.
The author's writing style is really eloquent and evocative enough to move the readers deeply with the emotional flow of the story line. The narrative is articulate and compelling enough to keep the readers engaged into the story line. Also the dialogues are painted in a realistic manner, hence the readers will be able to relate to the plights of the characters. The pacing is steady and sways smoothly with the flow of the story line. The author has covered a lot of realistic everyday and sentimental issues through this story that she has sensitively portrayed through her main character's journey to weight loss and fighting obesity and grief.
The backdrop of Ireland is magnificently painted into the story line. The author has brought alive a rural and contemporary Irish town vividly with the strikingly descriptions about the streets to the flora to the culture to the flora to the food to the life of the common folks, and it surely will make the readers visually imagine Ireland right before their own eyes while reading this book.
The author has developed the characters in this book really well, and with enough realism so that their honest demeanor strike the souls of the readers in a right way. Sadly some of the characters lacked depth thoroughly, especially, some of the important secondary characters will come across as too hazy and unclear in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Billy, though, has been portrayed very strongly and with enough depth and back story to make him look real, humble and understanding in the eyes of the readers. His personality will inspire the readers, especially his strong determination towards a positive goal will effect the readers in a best possible way, and no doubt, he is bound to leave an impression in the hearts of the readers.
In a nutshell, this captivating, encouraging and highly absorbing book is a must read for one and all, as it narrates a beautiful yet heart breaking journey about death, weight loss and grief.
Verdict: A thoroughly inspiring read!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author herself for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
----Jalaluddin Mevlana Rumi
Ethel Rohan, an Irish author, has penned an extremely heart touching story called The Weight of Him that revolves around an obese father's loss over his elder son who has committed suicide, and his journey to deal with grief and heal over the loss of his loved one lead him on a path to weight loss but sadly that pushes him away from his dear family and his wife. Set in an idyllic back ground of Ireland, this deeply moving story is going to inspire the readers dealing with loss and grief thoroughly.
Synopsis:
In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.
At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food's colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy's beloved son Michael takes his own life.
Billy determines to make a difference in Michael's memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention--his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy's dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.
Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.
Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.
Billy Brennan, a 400 pounds man working at a toy manufacturing company, has recently lost his eldest son who took his own life leaving behind no clue or reason for his parents, family and peers as to why he committed suicide. And owning to his immense grief and loss over his dear son, Billy decides to host a organize a fund raiser for suicide prevention and in order to do so, he will loose half of his weight. Even though, previously, he has been repeatedly warned by his doctor as well as by his family to lose some weight in order to avoid an early death, he never paid much heed to those warnings before mainly due to the fact that food always comforted Billy. But now to deal with loss over his son's suicide, Billy is determined to shed his body weight, but sadly, his journey to weight loss pushes him away from his family and parents, who want him to deal with loss and grief in a quiet manner. But can Billy achieve his goal, and ultimately get over his loss, with a few supporters and with a family which is growing estranged with every passing day?
This is a brilliant book, but sadly the story has quite a handful of flaws that marred the charm of this book. Nevertheless, I found this book to extremely emotional and inspiring enough to make me forget about those fatal flaws. And I would suggest everyone to read this book, especially to those who are dealing with loss and grief over the death of any near and dear ones. The story will motivate the readers to look at the positive side of life and to deal with pain courageously and emphatically. The message of the story line will wrap the readers into its warm embrace and will give an assurance to handle life in a confident manner.
The author's writing style is really eloquent and evocative enough to move the readers deeply with the emotional flow of the story line. The narrative is articulate and compelling enough to keep the readers engaged into the story line. Also the dialogues are painted in a realistic manner, hence the readers will be able to relate to the plights of the characters. The pacing is steady and sways smoothly with the flow of the story line. The author has covered a lot of realistic everyday and sentimental issues through this story that she has sensitively portrayed through her main character's journey to weight loss and fighting obesity and grief.
The backdrop of Ireland is magnificently painted into the story line. The author has brought alive a rural and contemporary Irish town vividly with the strikingly descriptions about the streets to the flora to the culture to the flora to the food to the life of the common folks, and it surely will make the readers visually imagine Ireland right before their own eyes while reading this book.
The author has developed the characters in this book really well, and with enough realism so that their honest demeanor strike the souls of the readers in a right way. Sadly some of the characters lacked depth thoroughly, especially, some of the important secondary characters will come across as too hazy and unclear in the eyes of the readers. The main character, Billy, though, has been portrayed very strongly and with enough depth and back story to make him look real, humble and understanding in the eyes of the readers. His personality will inspire the readers, especially his strong determination towards a positive goal will effect the readers in a best possible way, and no doubt, he is bound to leave an impression in the hearts of the readers.
In a nutshell, this captivating, encouraging and highly absorbing book is a must read for one and all, as it narrates a beautiful yet heart breaking journey about death, weight loss and grief.
Verdict: A thoroughly inspiring read!
Courtesy: Thanks to the author herself for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
May 23, 2017
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of THE WEIGHT OF HIM by Ethel Rohan in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set in rural contemporary Ireland and I feel drawn to the picturesque countryside. (Hoping to visit Ireland someday.)
Micheal Brennan, age seventeen and eldest child of Billy and Tricia, cut down the clothesline and took his own life while his family was sleeping. They are now trying to cope. You can feel the tension in the home. Tricia has lost her appetite and has started smoking again. Billy, morbidly overweight and eating uncontrollably, is headed for an early death.
Billy visited his family doctor, and told him that he wanted to drop his weight and get fit and healthy. Dr. Shaw said, "...Your blood pressure is high, worrisome in fact, as is your overall condition. There is no easy way to put this, Billy, you're morbidly obese and on a very slippery slope. Headed straight for hypertension, diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease and you put shock and grief on top of all that...well, I don't have to spell it out."
'Billy left Shaw's office in a daze. He'd known, and yet it still came as a shock - he was a ticking bomb and if he wasn't careful, he was going to put his family through another premature funeral.'
'Now the torment of what he should have seen in his own son crawled in his head like maggots.'
'His whole life, he could always count on food. From his earliest memories, he'd loved food's colors, textures, and tastes. The way flavors went off in his mouth. How food distracted. Kept his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Comforted. Pleasured. Sated. Filled him up. Made him feel in charge. A giant. Food made everything better.
At least it had made everything better.'
'Billy sat trembling with his idea. He could set a weight goal and people could pay him for every pound he lost. Or, like the walkathon, they could donate a flat amount. He rubbed at his mouth. Micheal's death had cut him in two, so he would set his weight loss goal at two hundred pounds. Half of himself. The money he raised would help save lives, in Micheal's memory.'
I sympathize with Billy and his family and their hurt, sorrow and guilt. My favourite characters are Billy and 12 year-old Anna. Despite opposition and disapproval from his family, Billy tries to carry out his plan to raise awareness of suicide and to help prevent suicides.
Will he succeed in raising lots of money for Suicide Prevention?
Will Billy be able to stay on his diet?
Will he lose the excess weight?
By going public will Billy widen the gap between him and his family?
I feel that Ethel Rohan did a fine job of bringing to the forefront two subjects that we have difficulty addressing - suicide and obesity.
Something ten-year-old Ivor said to Billy is my favourite quote from this book.
"We get reminders about dying, so we don't forget to make the most of living."
I enjoyed reading THE WEIGHT OF HIM and recommend reading this heartwarming story.
4*
The story is set in rural contemporary Ireland and I feel drawn to the picturesque countryside. (Hoping to visit Ireland someday.)
Micheal Brennan, age seventeen and eldest child of Billy and Tricia, cut down the clothesline and took his own life while his family was sleeping. They are now trying to cope. You can feel the tension in the home. Tricia has lost her appetite and has started smoking again. Billy, morbidly overweight and eating uncontrollably, is headed for an early death.
Billy visited his family doctor, and told him that he wanted to drop his weight and get fit and healthy. Dr. Shaw said, "...Your blood pressure is high, worrisome in fact, as is your overall condition. There is no easy way to put this, Billy, you're morbidly obese and on a very slippery slope. Headed straight for hypertension, diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease and you put shock and grief on top of all that...well, I don't have to spell it out."
'Billy left Shaw's office in a daze. He'd known, and yet it still came as a shock - he was a ticking bomb and if he wasn't careful, he was going to put his family through another premature funeral.'
'Now the torment of what he should have seen in his own son crawled in his head like maggots.'
'His whole life, he could always count on food. From his earliest memories, he'd loved food's colors, textures, and tastes. The way flavors went off in his mouth. How food distracted. Kept his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Comforted. Pleasured. Sated. Filled him up. Made him feel in charge. A giant. Food made everything better.
At least it had made everything better.'
'Billy sat trembling with his idea. He could set a weight goal and people could pay him for every pound he lost. Or, like the walkathon, they could donate a flat amount. He rubbed at his mouth. Micheal's death had cut him in two, so he would set his weight loss goal at two hundred pounds. Half of himself. The money he raised would help save lives, in Micheal's memory.'
I sympathize with Billy and his family and their hurt, sorrow and guilt. My favourite characters are Billy and 12 year-old Anna. Despite opposition and disapproval from his family, Billy tries to carry out his plan to raise awareness of suicide and to help prevent suicides.
Will he succeed in raising lots of money for Suicide Prevention?
Will Billy be able to stay on his diet?
Will he lose the excess weight?
By going public will Billy widen the gap between him and his family?
I feel that Ethel Rohan did a fine job of bringing to the forefront two subjects that we have difficulty addressing - suicide and obesity.
Something ten-year-old Ivor said to Billy is my favourite quote from this book.
"We get reminders about dying, so we don't forget to make the most of living."
I enjoyed reading THE WEIGHT OF HIM and recommend reading this heartwarming story.
4*
July 9, 2017
For some reason, I found myself reading a few pages of this book and then needing to stop for a while. It could have been the subject matters of suicide and grief, but most likely it was the subject matter of food. Billy Brennan is trying to go from 401 to 200 pounds, quickly, to honor his dead son and raise money for suicide prevention. Feeling constant hunger and deprivation, he dreams about the food he so dearly loves. He describes huge delicious meals he has enjoyed, and wanting to climb into his refrigerator and eat the contents in entirety. I had to go get several snacks throughout this reading. Watch Billy lose the pounds as I pack them on! Probably gained 5 pounds.
Even though the book was slow and a bit repetitive, there are some heartbreaking parts that I admit made me tear up. Billy is trying so hard to make a difference in his son's honor, but realizes he needs self confidence to pull it off, which is lacking for him at 401 pounds. He also needs the support of his friends, neighbors, and family; but his family has their own grief to deal with in their own way. Not to mention blame, guilt, and anger. His other three kids can't help but notice their parents' relationship changing. His own parents were never supportive but he thought at least his wife would understand.
It's a very sad story overall, but it touches all the emotions. It really does.
Even though the book was slow and a bit repetitive, there are some heartbreaking parts that I admit made me tear up. Billy is trying so hard to make a difference in his son's honor, but realizes he needs self confidence to pull it off, which is lacking for him at 401 pounds. He also needs the support of his friends, neighbors, and family; but his family has their own grief to deal with in their own way. Not to mention blame, guilt, and anger. His other three kids can't help but notice their parents' relationship changing. His own parents were never supportive but he thought at least his wife would understand.
It's a very sad story overall, but it touches all the emotions. It really does.
March 23, 2017
3.5 Stars
April 20, 2017
Big Billy is shaken to action with the death of his son. He decides to do something about suicide prevention and also about himself. He decides to lose half of his staggering 400 pounds of weight. He is a very relate-able character in that who hasn't had a tragedy in their life that has deeply changed everything. I was quickly drawn into this story and I felt touched by Big Billy's efforts to deal with the death of his son. Really touching story that reminded me of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
February 5, 2017
When one reads the summary of this book, they stumble onto a word they don't think about much until they pick up the book and see for themselves how crucial that word is in describing it. That keyword is picturesque.
Mrs. Rohan writes beautifully, interlacing the complex emotion of the characters throughout the text. From the first sentence I was met by the feeling of melancholy, and that continued throughout. The characters are well-developed, and the story itself is amazing, gripping and inspiring. The Weight of Him is an incredible read in its entirety, very engaging.
I recommend it. And I cannot wait to read something else from Mrs. Rohan in the near future.
P.S. What drew me to request this book was the fact that the book is set in Ireland. If you've been following me for a while, then you know that I have a budding obsession with Ireland, I even crated a shelf for my hibernophilia. The book has beautiful descriptions of the Irish countryside, which made me fall in love with the text even more.
A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for offering me the chance to read and review this book.
Mrs. Rohan writes beautifully, interlacing the complex emotion of the characters throughout the text. From the first sentence I was met by the feeling of melancholy, and that continued throughout. The characters are well-developed, and the story itself is amazing, gripping and inspiring. The Weight of Him is an incredible read in its entirety, very engaging.
I recommend it. And I cannot wait to read something else from Mrs. Rohan in the near future.
P.S. What drew me to request this book was the fact that the book is set in Ireland. If you've been following me for a while, then you know that I have a budding obsession with Ireland, I even crated a shelf for my hibernophilia. The book has beautiful descriptions of the Irish countryside, which made me fall in love with the text even more.
A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for offering me the chance to read and review this book.
April 11, 2017
THE WEIGHT OF HIM BY ETHEL ROHAN
This book has a lot of heart. I just loved Anna and Billy. Billy Brennan decides to lose half his body weight for a fundraiser to help in the prevention of suicide. Billy has lost his son Michael to suicide and everywhere Billy looks he sees his son Michael who he lost to suicide. You can feel the tension between Tricia and Billy sometimes in the beginning of the book when they are reeling from their heartbreaking loss. Their relationship is solid and it improves as time ebbs and they start to process their grief. The author must be a really nice person because all of her characters reflect it.
Suicide is still hard to deal with especially one of your beloved children. People don't really feel comfortable talking about it. I suppose I would talk about my loved one all of the time. Every chance I got. Its heartbreaking and sad and I don't know if people just don't know what to say. Billy is lucky to have all the support he does at work towards his diet. Billy has such a big heart. I felt hungry just reading the descriptions of food. It is very hard to lose weight and keep it off so I applaud Billy for losing weight and it is for a very thoughtful cause. To save other people from having to suffer from the suicide of a loved one or somebody they know. In this case Billy is doing it (raising money to raise awareness of suicide prevention) for the most unselfish of all reasons. To save even one person.
Suicide is an epidemic everywhere. It knows no boundaries and doesn't discriminate. This book deals with some powerful subject matter. It takes a ton of talent to write about suicide and not turn it into a depressing book where as I read it I do so with knots in my stomach. This is where this author succeeds. This book wasn't depressing. This author brings this book alive by developing proactive characters who want to do something to help other people. This book educates and is a very important topic that can save somebody's life. The author wrote a book about a subject that people generally avoid and its characters plant a seed of HOPE. It was an honor to read and review this piece of art. I hope it saves people as does Billy.
Thank you to Net Galley , Ethel Rohan, ST Martins Publishing for reading and reviewing this book.
This book has a lot of heart. I just loved Anna and Billy. Billy Brennan decides to lose half his body weight for a fundraiser to help in the prevention of suicide. Billy has lost his son Michael to suicide and everywhere Billy looks he sees his son Michael who he lost to suicide. You can feel the tension between Tricia and Billy sometimes in the beginning of the book when they are reeling from their heartbreaking loss. Their relationship is solid and it improves as time ebbs and they start to process their grief. The author must be a really nice person because all of her characters reflect it.
Suicide is still hard to deal with especially one of your beloved children. People don't really feel comfortable talking about it. I suppose I would talk about my loved one all of the time. Every chance I got. Its heartbreaking and sad and I don't know if people just don't know what to say. Billy is lucky to have all the support he does at work towards his diet. Billy has such a big heart. I felt hungry just reading the descriptions of food. It is very hard to lose weight and keep it off so I applaud Billy for losing weight and it is for a very thoughtful cause. To save other people from having to suffer from the suicide of a loved one or somebody they know. In this case Billy is doing it (raising money to raise awareness of suicide prevention) for the most unselfish of all reasons. To save even one person.
Suicide is an epidemic everywhere. It knows no boundaries and doesn't discriminate. This book deals with some powerful subject matter. It takes a ton of talent to write about suicide and not turn it into a depressing book where as I read it I do so with knots in my stomach. This is where this author succeeds. This book wasn't depressing. This author brings this book alive by developing proactive characters who want to do something to help other people. This book educates and is a very important topic that can save somebody's life. The author wrote a book about a subject that people generally avoid and its characters plant a seed of HOPE. It was an honor to read and review this piece of art. I hope it saves people as does Billy.
Thank you to Net Galley , Ethel Rohan, ST Martins Publishing for reading and reviewing this book.
February 20, 2017
Billy Brennan is overweight, 401 lbs to be exact. He and his wife Tricia just lost their oldest teenage son Michael to suicide, and with no recollection of the boy being unhappy and no note of explanation, they are blindsided and distraught. This horrific tragedy has left the family in shambles. As the couple and their 3 remaining children struggle in their grief to reclaim an element of normalcy, Billy steps out of his typical complacency and decides he will make a big change in his own life and attempt to get healthy in honor of his beloved son. With a unwavering commitment to lose 200 pounds, organize a walk to raise money for suicide prevention and film a documentary to publicize this terrible and prevalent occurrance, he pushes forward with determination while his family chooses not to support him and his efforts as they deal with their grief in their own ways.
Ethel Rohan does a fine job showing us some of the challenges of weight loss and the struggles brought on by suicide in broad strokes. Billy is a likable character and despite his lack of support from the family, the community starts to rally behind him. I was rooting him on every step of the way as his effort picked up momentum. I found the relationship development with Billy and his wife and other children to be a little shallow at times and reenactment of playing with his deceased son with the wooden toys a bit odd for a grown man, but grief can be expressed in many ways. Despite dealing with the sensitive topics of obesity and suicide, The Weight of Him was a very enjoyable and quick read.
Review as seen on https://booknationbyjen.wordpress.com
Ethel Rohan does a fine job showing us some of the challenges of weight loss and the struggles brought on by suicide in broad strokes. Billy is a likable character and despite his lack of support from the family, the community starts to rally behind him. I was rooting him on every step of the way as his effort picked up momentum. I found the relationship development with Billy and his wife and other children to be a little shallow at times and reenactment of playing with his deceased son with the wooden toys a bit odd for a grown man, but grief can be expressed in many ways. Despite dealing with the sensitive topics of obesity and suicide, The Weight of Him was a very enjoyable and quick read.
Review as seen on https://booknationbyjen.wordpress.com
October 13, 2016
***I received this book as a part of Goodreads First Reads***
This novel was so beautiful. I am still grappling with the emotions that occurred while reading page after page. It informed me on so many things about suicide that I had never known. It is heartbreaking to know that families of suicide have to endure an inquest, on top of the emotions of having to grieve their loss. It makes me wish that their were many more Billy's in this world to inform everyone about all of the elements of suicide.
I also hope there is a follow up to this novel, to update us on Billy's weight loss and his journey to bring the message of suicide to the world.
My favorite aspect of the book was the ending, where the youngest child, Ivor, made a powerful statement, "We get reminders about dying, so we don't forget to make the most of living". Death is an aspect that we all can relate and I think this novel will give every reader a renewed reasoning behind life.
This novel was so beautiful. I am still grappling with the emotions that occurred while reading page after page. It informed me on so many things about suicide that I had never known. It is heartbreaking to know that families of suicide have to endure an inquest, on top of the emotions of having to grieve their loss. It makes me wish that their were many more Billy's in this world to inform everyone about all of the elements of suicide.
I also hope there is a follow up to this novel, to update us on Billy's weight loss and his journey to bring the message of suicide to the world.
My favorite aspect of the book was the ending, where the youngest child, Ivor, made a powerful statement, "We get reminders about dying, so we don't forget to make the most of living". Death is an aspect that we all can relate and I think this novel will give every reader a renewed reasoning behind life.
February 7, 2017
This beautiful book broke my heart. The author's prose pulled me so far into this story that I was emotionally attached to Big Billy and his wonderful family. What an amazing job Rohan did in tackling two very complex subjects, obesity and suicide. I was right there with Billy struggling to lose weight and I felt the family's grief over the loss of their son. Billy wants to make a difference. He wants to keep his sons memory alive. So he vows to lose half his weight to raise money for suicide prevention. His wife is appalled, his children embarrassed, and friends question his actions. But Billy is determined to save himself and those who are contemplating taking their life. This book sounds sad but in retrospect I would say it's more uplifting and inspiring. What a journey! 4.5 stars
I received an ARC from bookstr.com
I received an ARC from bookstr.com
December 21, 2016
I am very moved by this book. The subject matter is very personal to me and my family. The author did an incredible job developing characters struggling with suicide and obesity. But really a beautifully written portrait of what it is to be human. The last few pages tied the book together emotionally for me. Very glad to have read this book.
March 15, 2018
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narration was really good and added to the story.
A suicide in the family at the young age of 17 leaves a family in tatters and struggling to survive as a family unit.
Each of us deals with grief in our own way and their must be nothing as devastating as to lose a child, especially to suicide.
We are not supposed to be burying our own children and suicide leaves no answers as to why.
Billy deals with losing his child that is very different to the rest of his family.
A thought provoking fictional story that highlights losing a family member to suicide and how it affected them all.
Very well written and very hard to put down. Very highly recommended and I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could.
A suicide in the family at the young age of 17 leaves a family in tatters and struggling to survive as a family unit.
Each of us deals with grief in our own way and their must be nothing as devastating as to lose a child, especially to suicide.
We are not supposed to be burying our own children and suicide leaves no answers as to why.
Billy deals with losing his child that is very different to the rest of his family.
A thought provoking fictional story that highlights losing a family member to suicide and how it affected them all.
Very well written and very hard to put down. Very highly recommended and I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could.
April 28, 2017
ORIGNALLY POSTED ON: http://pastriesandnovelthoughts.weebl...
Billy Brennan is a four hundred pound man, his family is heartbroken and his life is chaos. After Billy's son, Micheal, kills himself, Billy decides to make a difference in memory of his son. Billy decides to do a weight loss campaign for suicide prevention.
"He could really do good with this, and make some(thing) meaningful out of the awful."
On his weight loss journey, Billy, makes a lot of allies like his community and co-workers. In able to get to his goal, billy will have to search within himself to find the real cause of so much pain in order heal and help his family to heal.
I will start with the three things I didn't like. One the book dragged a bit sometimes. Two there was like one or two scenes that were uncomfortable for my innocent eyes. And three, I didn't like Billy's wife, Tricia but I mean I think she was written to not be liked, maybe just a little bit. Now don't panic, it's not a porno, it's not overly depictive or graphic. But Yeah.
"He straightened his spine, raised his left hand, and curved his right arm around the memory of Tricia's thin, delicate back.
In other words, I really enjoyed this book. It was captivating and a bit thought provoking. Rohan made me want to go to Scotland. She described the landscape beautifully. In honestly I had reservations about this book. I'm not a fan of reading novels in the perspective of grown men. I don't know why but it's honest. This book has become an exception. Kudos Rohan. (Don't you just love how I write as the author's of theses books I review are actually reading them lol.)
"Despite his earlier determination, and the magnificence of his surroundings--white-crested waves and a sea and sky so blue they seemed more cinematic than real-- his willpower faded and his ankles and knees felt filled with broken glass."
The Weight of Him is written almost flawlessly and has a completely honest voice. As the reader you get to see not only the good and the okay times with Billy but his bad times too. Billy comes to life in this book, his inner thoughts are so true and mostly relatable and hilarious. I can promise you when you read this book you'll laugh out loud and shake your head and then begin to feel sad and sympathetic and sometimes angry. This book is a must read.
The Weight of Him is and will always be such a memorable novel to me. My hats off to Rohan! I recommend this book to the lot of you!
****I received a copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for a honest review.****
Billy Brennan is a four hundred pound man, his family is heartbroken and his life is chaos. After Billy's son, Micheal, kills himself, Billy decides to make a difference in memory of his son. Billy decides to do a weight loss campaign for suicide prevention.
"He could really do good with this, and make some(thing) meaningful out of the awful."
On his weight loss journey, Billy, makes a lot of allies like his community and co-workers. In able to get to his goal, billy will have to search within himself to find the real cause of so much pain in order heal and help his family to heal.
I will start with the three things I didn't like. One the book dragged a bit sometimes. Two there was like one or two scenes that were uncomfortable for my innocent eyes. And three, I didn't like Billy's wife, Tricia but I mean I think she was written to not be liked, maybe just a little bit. Now don't panic, it's not a porno, it's not overly depictive or graphic. But Yeah.
"He straightened his spine, raised his left hand, and curved his right arm around the memory of Tricia's thin, delicate back.
In other words, I really enjoyed this book. It was captivating and a bit thought provoking. Rohan made me want to go to Scotland. She described the landscape beautifully. In honestly I had reservations about this book. I'm not a fan of reading novels in the perspective of grown men. I don't know why but it's honest. This book has become an exception. Kudos Rohan. (Don't you just love how I write as the author's of theses books I review are actually reading them lol.)
"Despite his earlier determination, and the magnificence of his surroundings--white-crested waves and a sea and sky so blue they seemed more cinematic than real-- his willpower faded and his ankles and knees felt filled with broken glass."
The Weight of Him is written almost flawlessly and has a completely honest voice. As the reader you get to see not only the good and the okay times with Billy but his bad times too. Billy comes to life in this book, his inner thoughts are so true and mostly relatable and hilarious. I can promise you when you read this book you'll laugh out loud and shake your head and then begin to feel sad and sympathetic and sometimes angry. This book is a must read.
The Weight of Him is and will always be such a memorable novel to me. My hats off to Rohan! I recommend this book to the lot of you!
****I received a copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for a honest review.****
February 7, 2017
A longer review is available on my blog:
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
I found this book to be a bit more depressing than hopeful. I believe that the author intended it to be hopeful and there were some hopeful parts but the overall novel just didn't move me the way that I would have hoped. There were some very insightful thoughts on suicide and death, in general, towards the end of the book but the book mostly centered around Billy's struggle to lose weight and "save lives". The characters felt a bit one-dimensional and even though Billy stated that he wished to save lives by raising awareness of suicide, his actions seemed to me to be more self-serving than self-sacrificing. He ignores his family's feelings about the publicity and fashions himself after a soldier who is going to war with suicide. Almost all of the narrative is about Billy and almost devoid of any stories about his family or even about the son who he states he is doing all of this for. Even though I didn't enjoy the story or the characters as much as I would have hoped, I still enjoyed this author's writing style. It is very smooth and easy to read. Rohan's writing style reminds me of the bright, spring-like writing of Liane Moriarty. I would be interested in reading more from this author in order to feel that hopefulness in the writing. I do think there is an audience for this book but it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book to review.
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
I found this book to be a bit more depressing than hopeful. I believe that the author intended it to be hopeful and there were some hopeful parts but the overall novel just didn't move me the way that I would have hoped. There were some very insightful thoughts on suicide and death, in general, towards the end of the book but the book mostly centered around Billy's struggle to lose weight and "save lives". The characters felt a bit one-dimensional and even though Billy stated that he wished to save lives by raising awareness of suicide, his actions seemed to me to be more self-serving than self-sacrificing. He ignores his family's feelings about the publicity and fashions himself after a soldier who is going to war with suicide. Almost all of the narrative is about Billy and almost devoid of any stories about his family or even about the son who he states he is doing all of this for. Even though I didn't enjoy the story or the characters as much as I would have hoped, I still enjoyed this author's writing style. It is very smooth and easy to read. Rohan's writing style reminds me of the bright, spring-like writing of Liane Moriarty. I would be interested in reading more from this author in order to feel that hopefulness in the writing. I do think there is an audience for this book but it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book to review.
February 7, 2021
sad, haunting, and so good...
October 18, 2020
This novel dealt with two painful and difficult issues--obesity and suicide--in a touching way that met all the challenges head on.
August 25, 2021
It pays to investigate Indyreads closely - I unearthed this gem. Even though I hadn't heard of this book or its author I discovered that it presented really important ideas (obesity and youth suicide) in unusual, interesting ways and its character development was exemplary.
May 18, 2018
An ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review,
"The Weight of Him" is a remarkable novel, both tragic and inspirational.
Billy Brennan weighs 400 pounds and struggles everyday with his cravings and the emotional need to "hide".
One day, in the wake of a family tragedy, he decides that he's going to lose half of his wight. 200 pounds. He plans to get pledges and raise money for suicide awareness.
He wants to do some good in the aftermath of the event that changed his family's lives forever.
He organizes a march, prints flyers, creates a website, and more. He wants to get the ball rolling and he means it.
The story chronicles his grappling with his appetite, dealing with the naysayers (including his family) and self-doubt. He wants save his family and reignite his heart.
Billy is such a well-elicited character. I really enjoyed spending time with him.
Written in moving prose, it is emotional and poignant.
Ultimately, it is very uplifting.
"The Weight of Him" is a remarkable novel, both tragic and inspirational.
Billy Brennan weighs 400 pounds and struggles everyday with his cravings and the emotional need to "hide".
One day, in the wake of a family tragedy, he decides that he's going to lose half of his wight. 200 pounds. He plans to get pledges and raise money for suicide awareness.
He wants to do some good in the aftermath of the event that changed his family's lives forever.
He organizes a march, prints flyers, creates a website, and more. He wants to get the ball rolling and he means it.
The story chronicles his grappling with his appetite, dealing with the naysayers (including his family) and self-doubt. He wants save his family and reignite his heart.
Billy is such a well-elicited character. I really enjoyed spending time with him.
Written in moving prose, it is emotional and poignant.
Ultimately, it is very uplifting.
February 6, 2017
Big Billy Brennan and his wife Tricia are devastated by the loss of their 17 year old son Michael who one night with no warning, cut down their clothesline and used it to end his life. They have spoken to his friends, heard the crazy rumors, but never found a reason that may have led Michael to suicide.
As Billy tries to come to terms with what has happened, to find a way to make Michael's life and death count for something, his family becomes more angry and embarrassed by it all, and by Billy himself and his crusade to lose weight to raise money for suicide awareness and prevention. This was an emotional read. Though at times the pace was a bit slow, I could not help but admire Billy, and his courage and determination to never give up even when his own family did not support his efforts.
I received an advance copy for review.
As Billy tries to come to terms with what has happened, to find a way to make Michael's life and death count for something, his family becomes more angry and embarrassed by it all, and by Billy himself and his crusade to lose weight to raise money for suicide awareness and prevention. This was an emotional read. Though at times the pace was a bit slow, I could not help but admire Billy, and his courage and determination to never give up even when his own family did not support his efforts.
I received an advance copy for review.
January 2, 2017
I loved this book. I couldn't stop turning the pages, anxious to see if Big Billy Brennan was going to succeed in losing 200 pounds and whether his quest to raise suicide awareness was going to tear his family apart. Ethel Rohan is an incredibly talented writer, able to keep the reader on edge while at the same time delving deep into the emotional lives of her characters. The Weight of Him is both heartbreaking and inspirational—the perfect read for anyone overcoming a loss or trying to achieve a goal. I plan to buy several more copies!
March 14, 2017
Such an important story to be told. An over weight man dealing with the loss of his oldest son. Billy is a character I won't soon forget. Such suffering he endured. Great novel for adults. Excellent writing and story telling!
May 28, 2017
Exceptional. I loved this book and read it in a day as I was so eager to know how it would end. And really couldn't predict what the ending would be. It is so poignant, so raw, so tender, I absolutely loved it. Buy it. Read it. That is all.
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