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KatieMc

KatieMc

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Heft: A Novel

Heft - Liz Moore Refreshing and unexpected

We expect our movie and television characters being beautiful, successful, or rich. Even when they are ordinary people, they often have beautiful homes and wear great clothes. Literary characters are also often rich, successful, charismatic, or beautiful; if not, they possess amazing talents, powers or secrets. If there wasn’t something compelling about our protagonists, how could we possibly identify with them? Root for them? Engage in their story? Meet Arthur Opp, a 550 pound shut-in who hides from a world that he knows will bring him disappointment and takes comfort in eating. Arthur is not too far off from someone who you might find on Hoarders or Dr. Phil, someone whom you might feel pity and wish they get much-needed help. Amazingly, the author, writes Arthur Opp so that you understand him, empathize with him and want to get to know him. We follow Arthur as he begins to make some changes in his life and eases away from his self-imposed exile.

Arthur’s life changes are triggered by parallel story in the book that follows Kel Keller, a high school senior and promising ball player who is in need of help. While Kel is young and has some promising prospects, he also has been dealt a crappy hand and must play the adult caring for his sick and alcoholic mother. Charlene Keller, Kel’s mother and Arthur’s former student, is the connector between their parallel stories.

So how do things turn out? If you must know, Arthur doesn’t get lap-band surgery, become a vegan, or lose lots of weight. Kel doesn’t become a pro ball player, but he just might go to college. . This is a character driven story which makes what happens less important.