The Heart Broke In by James Meek was my latest selection from the Willoughby Book Club and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I have been meaning to read The People’s Act of Love, also by Meek, since it came out in 2005 and have just never gotten around to it. So I dove into The Heart Broke In and devoured it. It is an almost perfect novel about modern times.
The story is set in London and circles around Ritchie, an aging rock star, and his extended family. Ritchie’s sister, Bec, is the polar opposite of him – a scientist and a scholar – and yet they both find themselves faced with fame. How each of them reacts to it and how they protect themselves and the people surrounding them is most revealing. Each has their own secret that they do not want to be uncovered.
The strength of The Heart Broke In is in the way it brings together many of the themes that characterize modern life. Throughout Bec is struggling with doing the right thing, whereas Ritchie is striving to get ahead. There is the clash of fame, fortune and colossal success with morality, being true to one’s ideals and loyalty.
Who would like this book? This is a big book dealing with big issues but told in a very readable way. Because of the setting and the broad scope of the novel it reminded me of Capital by John Lanchester. A decidedly more American comparison would be The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, though I hesitate to say that since some people have such a visceral reaction to him.
Added bonus: Cruise on over to Joy’s Book Blog for her new feature British Isles Friday, where this post will be cross-posted.
52 books or bust 
This sounds good. I enjoyed The Corrections, ( I don’t get the reaction he provokes really) and Capital is in my pile to get read someday – so will look out for this.
I don’t get why people have such strong reactions to The Corrections either. Even if i didn’t like it, i don’t think i would oppose it so strongly.
Me neither. I notice a similar thing in reactions to Rushdie who I love. Some of the comments on him are almost vitriolic! I do get that some people might not like the work of either of them but I don’t get why that translates into the kind of extreme reactions they seem to generate!
This tackles some themes that really fascinate me — and, of course, I would love the setting in London!
Great pick for British Isles Friday.
This sounds very good! I think the story being about two characters appeals to my love of books with parallel story lines and the issues dealt with in this book sound fascinating.
I really recommend it.
I loved this book (and you must read The People’s Act of Love – it’s stunning and very different). Ritchie and Bec are so different – yet linked by blood, and the big themes – very timely.
I know. The People’s Act of Love has been on my list forever. But there are always so many good books.
I liked some of this book, but not all. It was a mixed read for me. Some of the time I didn’t even care not reading on, but other times I was really into it. 🙂
What parts didn’t you like?
I don’t remember now. It was a long time ago that I read it. My review is here: http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/book-review-the-heart-broke-in-by-james-meek/
I’ll check it out later today.
An almost perfect book, huh? High praise, indeed! TPAOL has been sitting on my shelf for ages, waiting to be read, but I get the feeling I would like this one better. BTW, I love your “Who would like this book” section in your reviews, always really well-thought out and I do think you hit the nail on the head with them. -Tania
Thanks a lot Tania. I appreciate that. Like you I used to work in a bookstore and I think it is a skill that comes with the job.
Pingback: Top Ten Tuesday: The Best of 2014 (so far) | 52 books or bust