Heft Audiobook

" This book totally drew me in, I loved the characters and the stories, but must say, was a bit disappointed in the end wanting more. I suppose had I read all the literal translations and after thoughts at the end, I may have gotten there... so may go back to do that...Overall, glad I read it..Quick and easy read. "

" Told from two perspectives, one a teenage boy with an alcoholic single mother. The other, an obese, recluse who has been penpals with the boy's mother for years. The common bond is the yearning each of these characters has to be part of a family. We are brought along on their journeys of self-discovery. I highly recommend this as an affirmation that life is what we make it. "

" I found it an interesting point of view of someone who has chosen to be a shut in rather than deal with painful life experiences. "

" The story of two misfits that won over my heart. "

" I actually only read about 1/2 of this. Frankly, it was boring. I got about 1/2 way through and there still wasn't any plot. The main character, a very overweight former teacher obsesses about a friendship with a student he had for a few months many years ago. This student had a child who we don't meet until about 1/3 of the way through the book. He is currently a teenager who is good at baseball. By the middle of the book that's all that happened except for an event I won't reveal for those who still want to have a go at this. "

" I think this will make it to my 2012 favorites list. I don't think a sequel is forthcoming, but that's how attached I feel to the characters. There are two narrators--a reclusive, morbidly obese older man and a teenage athlete, and eventually their stories intersect. "

" Interesting characters - people I would like to talk to. Good read. "

" Thoughtful writing with a well-paced story that unfolds without showing its seams yet still affecting and emotional. The characters are not caricatures and as much as you might imagine you would not connect or be friends with them on paper, they grow on you. "

" Another book club book that I didn't even know what it was about when I started. Really enjoyed the story and the characters. "

" Loved this audiobook. Such flawed and believable characters. I grew to love them all and could not stop listening. Such a lovely, bittersweet story. "

" I liked this book. The writing style was a little odd and bugged me at times but overall it was a good story line and really made you feel for the characters. "

" Found on the Ladies Home Journal recommendations. It was an interesting take on obesity and making people understand how people end up the way they are. It was equally as intriguing to see how the characters were unknowingly tied together. Well written. "

" I absolutely adored this book! Each character had their own loneliness to deal with, yet their lives intersected and it made for a wonderful read. "

" I really liked this. I was definitely left wanting more but the ending still felt right. "

" I'm mad that this is over. Mad! I was 64% in when I started tonight, and I finished in less than three hours, and I demand more! I just identify with so many characters in this novel. Hrmph. "

" Strange, and wonderful ... I was invested in those characters, and I'd have given it 5 stars if it had ended as it should. "

" Review to come. But wow, this book is going to stick with me for a really long time. Heartbreaking, beautiful, poignant, and the end is SO worth it. gahhh Going to be hard to review this one ! "

" The "connection" between Arthur and Kel is different than I expected, and the impact they have on each other's lives is the greater for it. It took me a minute to buy Liz Moore's voice as Arthur (in a way that it didn't with Kel), but she finds her footing early on and then doesn't falter. "

" I fell in love with 500 lb Arthur Opp. What a beautifully written character. And his polar opposite Kel Keller - this book touched me deeply and I could have read on and on. Loved it. . "

" This is what fiction is for - to see ourselves and lives of those around us in a more perceptive way. This book creates characters that are unforgettable and gets into their interior lives. "

" good but very sad and depressing. "

" He it not been suggested by an author I love, I might never have picked this up. A sad and lonely story, with the possibility of hope and love. Very good read. "

" Fantastic book, couldn't put it down. Great character development, loved everything about it. Want more! "

" I really liked the characters... But UGH! Soooo depressing! "

" There are some loose ends. "

" I enjoyed this book... Plain and simple. It was an easy read, I was attached to the characters and wanted to know how it would all play out. Nothing new or earth shattering in this book and fairly predictable but overall I was glad I read it. :-) "

" Loved it!! The characters were vividly drawn and I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. The best I've read in 2013. "