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Heather, The Totality: Not For The Faint of Heart // ARC Review


SYNOPSIS

The Breakstone family arrange themselves around their daughter Heather, and the world seems to follow: beautiful, compassionate, entrancing, she is the greatest blessing in their lives of Manhattan luxury.

But as Heather grows-and her empathy sharpens to a point, and her radiance attracts more and more dark interest-their perfect existence starts to fracture.

Meanwhile a very different life, one raised in poverty and in violence, is beginning its own malign orbit around Heather. Matthew Weiner-the creator of Mad Men-has crafted an extraordinary first novel of incredible pull and menace. Heather, The Totality demonstrates perfectly his forensic eye for the human qualities that hold modern society together, and pull it apart.

Author: Matthew Weiner

Page Count: 144 pages

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: Little, Brown

Release Date: November 1, 2017

MILANA'S REVIEW

Do you ever dive into a book without really knowing what it’s about? This is a rare occurrence for me and I usually do so when a friend who loves the same reads as I do recommends a book. With this one it was a different story. I received the ARC and thought, why not! It was shorter and I had a pocket between my next read.

Reading this short story made my skin crawl. I had an idea of where it was going but was still surprised by the ending. The sinister feel of the plot had me racing to finish it. When I started this one I felt like I couldn’t really swallow until I finished it, due to the giant lump of unsettlement in my throat. Having said all that I liked it, I truly did, I just couldn't figure out why exactly I was so creeped out.

I really liked the way it ended even though it was disturbing to me at times. I’m surprised such a story came from the writer of Mad Men but that is what’s best about writing! Writers can experiment in a way no other profession can, it’s beautiful really.

Thanks Hachette Book Canada for sending me the ARC. Check out Heather, The Totality if you’re in the mood for something different.


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