deedoodah98's review
1.0
✧ L E T M E S U M M A R I S E ✧
In Out of Heart, Adam learns that his grandfather has not only died but has donated his heart without telling the rest of his family. The recipient, William, has no real family and finds himself without any purpose. Until he meets Adam’s family who are all a little bit different in their own ways. But maybe William, who has unknowingly took so much from Adam’s family, has a lot to offer them as well.
✧ W H A T W O R K E D W E L L ✧
Out of Heart provides quite a genuine representation of life in Britain, and focusses on Muslim culture throughout the story. It was quite interesting to see the processes that Adam had to be apart of once his grandfather died, and just how different the grieving process is in other religions and cultures.
✧ W H A T N E E D E D W O R K ✧
I actually stopped reading this book for over a week because of how boring the whole thing was. Between incredibly short chapters and random pauses (and some thrown in facts about the heart), I really struggled to read this book. That’s very disappointing considering the whole book was only 272 pages long.
There was nothing to really draw me in as a reader and keep me hooked. As the characters were pretty flat, there was a lack of real depth to them and I just struggled to form any connections with them.
This is definitely more of a personal gripe, but Adam’s interaction with Cans was just so cringe. As someone who has grown up in British culture, I appreciate that slang has a large place in teenage boys lives – but the use in the book was just really, really awkward and I didn’t enjoy their dialogue at all.
✧ W H A T T H R E E W O R D S ✧
Boring, boring, boring.
✧ T O C O N C L U D E ✧
I’m quite sad at my conclusion for this one as it was a book I really wanted to enjoy. I found that at times, the writing of Out of Heart was beautifully poetic. However, the lack of development in other areas and the fact the book was hard to get through just couldn’t overturn my dislike of Out of Heart. I would like to see more transplant representation in YA however, so it was great to see that here.
⭐
thewritebooks's review
3.0
Though this book wasn’t right up my street, I did love the way it was written. It wasn’t prose or poetry but the way the story read gave me that feel.
There were quite a few deep aspects to this book to beware of TW for domestic abuse, hospital scenes (organ donation), and death. I felt it was a shame the book was so short because there was so much to cover- a longer novel could’ve gone into more detail.
I loved the relationship between our two protagonists and how they almost immediately struck up a strange bond- sort of friends, sort of not. This has been on my TBR for ages so I’m glad I finally read it!
There were quite a few deep aspects to this book to beware of TW for domestic abuse, hospital scenes (organ donation), and death. I felt it was a shame the book was so short because there was so much to cover- a longer novel could’ve gone into more detail.
I loved the relationship between our two protagonists and how they almost immediately struck up a strange bond- sort of friends, sort of not. This has been on my TBR for ages so I’m glad I finally read it!
r0bin_05's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Islamophobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Body horror
valleylore's review
3.0
3/5.
This story, which I devoured within two hours, was pleasantly surprising. With its realistic characters who experience some truly difficult moments aid in making it such a delightful book to read. The simplicity of the plot is also easy to appreciate. There's no unnecessary entanglements or chapters shoved in to make up a word count. It's just a lovely, breezy book that touches on some of the more painful topics in life. Death, organ donation, racism, friendship, love and poverty are just the start!
However, I do find it quite off putting that some of the characters do not seem to have been fully fleshed out. Laila, Adam's grandparents and William could all do with a bit more personality, in my opinion. Additionally, a tad more insight into both Farah's illness and her way of communication would be grand, too.
In saying that though, the overall presentation along with the choice of quotes and facts within were absolutely lovely and a great touch! It's clear that a lot of attention went in to designing its appearance and it most definitely paid off.
This story, which I devoured within two hours, was pleasantly surprising. With its realistic characters who experience some truly difficult moments aid in making it such a delightful book to read. The simplicity of the plot is also easy to appreciate. There's no unnecessary entanglements or chapters shoved in to make up a word count. It's just a lovely, breezy book that touches on some of the more painful topics in life. Death, organ donation, racism, friendship, love and poverty are just the start!
However, I do find it quite off putting that some of the characters do not seem to have been fully fleshed out. Laila, Adam's grandparents and William could all do with a bit more personality, in my opinion. Additionally, a tad more insight into both Farah's illness and her way of communication would be grand, too.
In saying that though, the overall presentation along with the choice of quotes and facts within were absolutely lovely and a great touch! It's clear that a lot of attention went in to designing its appearance and it most definitely paid off.
katsbookishthoughts's review
5.0
I didn’t expect to enjoy this but I found it a refreshing look at the issues around transplants and the other things that families who are linked to them have to deal with. I found it a light read which pulsed with vitality. The ending came out of the blue and I wished it had finished differently. I also enjoyed seeing the story arch. Not everything is sorted, it couldn’t be, and some of the challenges are only being looked up to now but it is good to see that things are getting better.
zabukage's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thebooksareeverywhere's review
4.0
https://thebooksareeverywhere.com/2017/04/18/arc-review-out-of-heart-by-irfan-master/
Disclaimer: I have been provided with a proof copy by Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my review or opinion in any way.
To put it simply, this book is unlike any I have ever read before. The writing is unusual, the characters are different, the setting is one not often used and the whole concept is one I would love to see more of.
I love the mixture of writing – it was extremely clever in structure. We jumped from different characters viewpoints, between prose, story and sketches. This book really stands apart in many ways, and above all, it intrigued me.
We dive right into the story, and I will admit that it confused me slightly. To be thrown into a characters life is a lot to take in – and I didn’t understand everything straight away! But the pure difference of this book made me want to carry on and find out more about the people this story follows. I wanted to understand.
On the subject of the confusion, I’d say that’s the only bad part of this book. Although much of it becomes clear as the story unfolds – some things were a little misty. One that stood out to me, for example, was the age of William. I thought he was not much older then Adam, and then I found out he was around the age of Adam’s parents. I liked this feature a lot, as it showed the unimportance of age, but I wish it had been clearly stated earlier in the story.
This book holds a lot of meaning. It talks about things many YA novels don’t – abuse, depression, illness, mental health and race. I love the way this book explored nationality and I felt some of it directly related to situations in some communities here in the UK.
I felt Adam’s story really demonstrated the need for equality, and I wish we had more of that. It really struck a chord with me, and reminded me the real importance for stories like this to be told.
A lot of things in this book felt important. The need to stand up for others and stand together. The longing to support others in their times of need. The need for love among those who are quiet, who are loud, who are different in appearance and age and backgrounds and personality and race. The need for love among all.
☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
4 out of 5 moons
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
Disclaimer: I have been provided with a proof copy by Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review. This has not changed my review or opinion in any way.
To put it simply, this book is unlike any I have ever read before. The writing is unusual, the characters are different, the setting is one not often used and the whole concept is one I would love to see more of.
I love the mixture of writing – it was extremely clever in structure. We jumped from different characters viewpoints, between prose, story and sketches. This book really stands apart in many ways, and above all, it intrigued me.
We dive right into the story, and I will admit that it confused me slightly. To be thrown into a characters life is a lot to take in – and I didn’t understand everything straight away! But the pure difference of this book made me want to carry on and find out more about the people this story follows. I wanted to understand.
On the subject of the confusion, I’d say that’s the only bad part of this book. Although much of it becomes clear as the story unfolds – some things were a little misty. One that stood out to me, for example, was the age of William. I thought he was not much older then Adam, and then I found out he was around the age of Adam’s parents. I liked this feature a lot, as it showed the unimportance of age, but I wish it had been clearly stated earlier in the story.
This book holds a lot of meaning. It talks about things many YA novels don’t – abuse, depression, illness, mental health and race. I love the way this book explored nationality and I felt some of it directly related to situations in some communities here in the UK.
I felt Adam’s story really demonstrated the need for equality, and I wish we had more of that. It really struck a chord with me, and reminded me the real importance for stories like this to be told.
A lot of things in this book felt important. The need to stand up for others and stand together. The longing to support others in their times of need. The need for love among those who are quiet, who are loud, who are different in appearance and age and backgrounds and personality and race. The need for love among all.
☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
4 out of 5 moons
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
zohal99's review
3.0
I love that the family is a Pakistani Muslim family living in England. I loved the premise. However, add 200 pages to this book and it would have been much more well-developed. This story, as it stands, was completely underdeveloped which stops it from packing a more emotional punch.
ALSO ... William was not a teenager. I read 200 pages about him ... and after reading reviews I realised he was an old man. That makes so much more sense. However, it also shows that he was not written well if he read like a teenager.
ALSO ... William was not a teenager. I read 200 pages about him ... and after reading reviews I realised he was an old man. That makes so much more sense. However, it also shows that he was not written well if he read like a teenager.
tessachasereads's review
5.0
"Your heart is the size of your clenched fist."
Out of Heart is heartbreakingly beautiful. Intermingled with the narrative of the story are the linear thoughts of characters, and plays on important words in the story, such as "heart". They give the story a poetic feel, which elevates the pathos of the narrative, and makes you cry.
I absolutely loved this story and the pure emotional weight it carries. It is very character-centric with very little actual plot, which makes it all the more powerful.
William finds a family, Adam finds someone who stays,
and Icarus falls from the sky.
Out of Heart is heartbreakingly beautiful. Intermingled with the narrative of the story are the linear thoughts of characters, and plays on important words in the story, such as "heart". They give the story a poetic feel, which elevates the pathos of the narrative, and makes you cry.
I absolutely loved this story and the pure emotional weight it carries. It is very character-centric with very little actual plot, which makes it all the more powerful.
William finds a family, Adam finds someone who stays,
and Icarus falls from the sky.