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A review by carriepond
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
In the opening chapter of A Heart That Works, Rob Delaney asks us to imagine our child is dead, providing specific details that twist the heart. "That is one thing grief does to me," he says, "It makes me want to make you understand. It makes me want you to understand. I want you to understand." Here, and in many moments throughout this devastating memoir, it feels as if Delaney is there, grabbing your shoulders, staring at you with a look of open grief tinged with an undercurrent of rage. I want you to understand.
As one might expect, Delaney's memoir about his son Henry dying from brain cancer before his third birthday is gut-wrenching, heartbreaking and, at times, nearly unbearable to read. It is devastatingly sad. For those unfamiliar with Delaney's work as a comedian, what might be unexpected is how truly funny it is. And it really is. The book is sad, joyous, full of righteous anger, and absurdly funny, sometimes nearly simultaneously. While reading this book, I laughed out loud, I smiled in recognition at Delaney's reflections on the joys of parenting and his deep love for his family, and I cried, almost crawling out of my skin with sadness.
This book is heartbreaking, yes, but it is also a life-affirming and honest portrayal of grief born out of devastating loss. A Heart That Works is a marvel and a gift. Thank you, Rob Delaney, for sharing sweet Henry with us.
As one might expect, Delaney's memoir about his son Henry dying from brain cancer before his third birthday is gut-wrenching, heartbreaking and, at times, nearly unbearable to read. It is devastatingly sad. For those unfamiliar with Delaney's work as a comedian, what might be unexpected is how truly funny it is. And it really is. The book is sad, joyous, full of righteous anger, and absurdly funny, sometimes nearly simultaneously. While reading this book, I laughed out loud, I smiled in recognition at Delaney's reflections on the joys of parenting and his deep love for his family, and I cried, almost crawling out of my skin with sadness.
This book is heartbreaking, yes, but it is also a life-affirming and honest portrayal of grief born out of devastating loss. A Heart That Works is a marvel and a gift. Thank you, Rob Delaney, for sharing sweet Henry with us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Child death, Medical content, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Cursing
Minor: Car accident, Vomit, and Alcoholism