A Heart That Works
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4.5 • 184 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
New York Times Bestseller * New Yorker Best Books of 2022 * Entertainment Weekly Best Books of 2022 * USA Today Best Books of 2022 * Time 100 Must-Read Books of 2022 * Mother Jones Books We Needed in 2022 * People Fall Must Read * 2022 BuzzFeed Fall Reading Pick * New York Post Best Books of 2022 * New York Times Editors’ Choice
This is the story of what happens when you lose a child, and everything you discover about life in the process, by the star of the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe.
In 2018, Rob Delaney’s two-year-old son, Henry, died of a brain tumor. A Heart That Works is Delaney’s intimate, unflinching, and at times fiercely funny exploration of Henry’s beautiful, bright life and the devastation of his loss—from the harrowing illness to the vivid, bodily impact of grief and the blind, furious rage that followed through to the forceful, unstoppable love that remains. In the madness of his grief, Delaney grapples with the fragile miracle of life, the mysteries of death, and the question of purpose for those left behind.
Profound, painful, full of emotion, and bracingly honest, Delaney’s memoir offers solace to those who have faced devastation and shows us how grace may appear even in the darkest times.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Delaney (Rob Delaney: Mother. Wife. Sister. Human. Warrior. Falcon. Yardstick. Turban. Cabbage.), cocreator and costar of the sitcom Catastrophe, recounts the death of his toddler son, Henry, and the aftermath in this heartrending memoir. In 2014, Delaney and his wife, Leah, moved to London for his work; two years later, Henry was born. Toward the end of his first year, Henry underwent an MRI, and a brain surgeon discovered a tumor near his brain stem. Following a successful surgery to remove the tumor, Henry lost the ability to swallow and received a tracheostomy, and health complications kept him in the hospital for 14 months. After Henry finally went home, Delaney writes, he basked in the "unalloyed beauty of his personality." But it was a short-lived idyll: Henry's cancer returned, and he died several months later, at home in Leah's arms. Delaney is reflective ("It physically pained me to sign the consent forms each time he got chemo"), and his raw emotionality captures the enormity of his loss ("I was ready to love this boy forever"). Profound, crushing, and wrenching, this account of a father's love takes the full measure of grief.
Customer Reviews
Charming, Heartwarming
Started following the author after seeing him in Bad Monkey (AppleTV+) and Dying for Sex (FX/Hulu).
Rob Delaney is a gem of a human being and little did I know of his personal journey. This was an ultra touching recount of pain and sacrifice - all I want to do is hug this man.
Funny, deeply moving, a must read for all parents, really
As a mom, I was almost afraid to read this book, that it would just be too sad. But Rob’s humor and honesty… it just made me grateful to know what love for your child feels like, I felt strengthened to deal with whatever terrible things could happen to me and my little family - we don’t consider death and tragedy and process it openly enough. But it’s healthy to regard it regularly and know we aren’t alone in our shared vulnerability.
So heartbreaking
Such an excellent book. I really feel like he makes you think and feel the way he did during this situation. I also found it funny and sweet at times. Rob’s perspective on death and grieving is unique and this book is one I won’t forget!