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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 Mental Health Awareness Personal Development Relationships Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty

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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
I listened to this book mostly whilst holding my nearly one year old to sleep in the night, listening to this I held her tighter.
This book is raw, the pain is visceral but it’s beautiful.
It is a celebration of a wonderful little boy and of love.
I cried and laughed throughout.
I was so grateful to Rob too for praising the NHS and social care within this and highlighting the issues they face.
I would recommend this book to anyone.

Beautiful, heartfelt, heartbreaking

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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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Amazingly honest, raw, funny at times,
Such honesty is rare
Thankyou for sharing this THANKYOU

Amazing

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I never review anything, but I felt compelled to leave a review of this book. It’s so moving I had to fight not to cry the whole way through it. As well as being humorous (somehow) at times. I don’t have children but the way Rob talks about his children makes me think I should.

One of the most moving books I have ever read

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Beautiful book and a very brave reading. Henry sounds like a dude and more people should get to know him through this book.

A beautiful tribute

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