A review by addy_rose
The Heart by Maylis de Kerangal

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I'm so genuinely impressed by this book. I randomly grabbed it based on the cover recently and couldn't be more happy that I did. The Heart is a French translated novel about the importance of life and the importance of how our lives end. The writing is astoundingly beautiful and paints a really intriguing picture about how intertwined every persons' lives are and it really depends on your view at how much someone else's actions and life choices can ripple effect your own life. The overall theme of passing life from one person to another while also stealing the original person's life from their loved ones is discussed so gently and emotionless while also serving the moral dilemma with empathy and understanding. It's genuinely so impressive that this book can stand so solidly and the writing be so beautiful even after translation, nothing was lost and it is just overall a very powerful read.