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A Heart That Works

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A Heart That Works

By: Rob Delaney
Narrated by: Rob Delaney
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE BRITISH RADIO ACADAMY ARIAS AWARD FOR BEST AUDIOBOOK

The comedian and star of Catastrophe's devastatingly moving memoir about his young son's death.

In this devastating, beautiful and deeply moving memoir of the loss of his son, Rob Delaney explores what life really means, and why it matters.

When you're a parent and your child gets hurt or sick, you not only try to help them get better but you also labour under the general belief that you can help them get better. That's not always the case though. Sometimes the nurses and the doctors can't fix what's wrong. Sometimes children die.

Rob's beautiful, bright, deeply alive son Henry died. This is the story of what happens when you lose a child, and everything you discover about life in the process. Why does he feel compelled to talk about it, to write about it, to disseminate information designed to make people feel something like what he felt? What his wife feels? What his other sons feel? Done properly or well, it will hurt them. Why does he want to hurt people?

Because, despite the death of his son, Rob still loves people. For that reason, he wants them to understand.

©2022 Rob Delaney (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Entertainment & Celebrities Grief & Loss Personal Development Relationships Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Emotionally Gripping

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Critic reviews

This book is so rich with grief and love and pain and humor and an incandescent, purifying, flame-throwing wrath. Though Delaney can't bring Henry back, he can - and does - show enough of him to the world to make a reader see him a little bit, know him a little bit, and fully love him. What an unbelievable gift (Lauren Groff)
What a read. Its beauty and pain and humour and anger will help many people. This is a beautiful monument (Richard Osman)
The weaving of the joy and pain, the love and loss, the absurdity of grief, is done so beautifully. It feels like a message in a bottle, a despatch, a communication from the depths of suffering and despair that ultimately brings a message of great hope (Cathy Rentzenbrink)
All stars
Most relevant  
He has shared such an intimate, funny and devastating narrative around the death of his child. I feel like I know wee Henry a little bit! I’ll recommend it to everyone.

Devastating and beautiful

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I wish this book had never needed to be written but I’m so grateful it was. Thank you for reading it for us Rob. Beautiful, heartbreaking, honest and a true celebration of the love of Henry.

I will remember this book forever

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This book was short. I describe it that way to start just because describing its content is tougher. It is one of the most striking contrasts of sad, depressing and profound meets funny, beautiful and simple. It’s about loss and love in equal measures.

Contrast

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I listen to audiobooks on my daily walks. A Heart That Works was so moving that I often had to extend my walk because I wasn’t ready to press “pause”.

Beautiful and heartbreaking

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Beautifully written - a wonderful tribute and legacy. Don’t be put off by the devastatingly sad subject matter - there is a lot to rejoice in this book - and there is humour too. A modern classic.

Wow!

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I feel bad giving the story line 5 stars because it’s an horrendous story, your poor boy! I have sobbed listening to your story, your reality, written and told brilliantly - thank you.

This book will stay with me.

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Rob speaks openly about his feelings, which I really admire. His candid vision of life with his son, and then what life without his son would be like was refreshing. Perhaps not during, but this book could be available in NHS peads family rooms, for those going through the same thing, to show them the value of family. Thanks Rob, for sharing Henry’s story

Powerful, moving, honest

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They say ‘to know them is to love them’ about people with gorgeous souls. In Henry’s case to learn about him is to love him. This was a moving book.

Beautiful

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As someone who has had a sick child but is lucky enough to have him survive. This book resonates in parts and makes me thankful in others. It also makes me laugh. Fantastic.

Beautiful Sad and funny

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I don’t really know how I managed to listen to this, it’s just so sad, but somehow it’s also beautiful and hopeful. One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever listened to. I’m so glad I did.

Just beautiful

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