Title: Heather, the Totality
Author: Matthew Weiner
First published November 1, 2017
144 pages, ebook
ISBN: 9780316435307 (ISBN10: 0316435309)
Rating: 2.92
Overview
Heather Breakstone is the center of her family’s universe. They are wealthy Manhattanites who bask in her beauty, kindness, and charm.
But as Heather grows up, her sharp intuition and magnetic personality begin to attract dangerous attention. Meanwhile, a young man from a rough background is drawn into Heather’s orbit, his violent past threatening to shatter the Breakstone’s perfect life.
Matthew Weiner, the mastermind behind Mad Men, delivers a gripping debut novel that explores the dark underbelly of privilege and the fragile bonds that hold families together. With Heather, The Totality, Weiner proves himself to be a gifted storyteller with a keen understanding of the complexities of human nature.
About the Author
Matthew Weiner is a multi-talented American writer, director, and producer. He is best known as the creator of the popular AMC television drama series Mad Men, which premiered in 2007 and ran until 2015.
Weiner also made a name for himself as a writer and producer for the hit HBO drama series The Sopranos during its fifth and sixth seasons in 2004, 2006, and 2007. In 2013, he directed the comedic movie Are You Here, which marked his debut as a filmmaker.
Weiner’s impressive body of work has garnered him numerous awards, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on both Mad Men and The Sopranos. He won three Primetime Emmys for Mad Men and also received three Golden Globe Awards for the same series.
Mad Men was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row (2008-2011), while The Sopranos, with Weiner as an executive producer, won the same award twice (2004, 2007). In 2011, Time magazine included Weiner in its annual Time 100 list of “Most Influential People in the World.” In November of the same year, The Atlantic named him one of 21 “Brave Thinkers.”
Editoral Review
Heather, the Totality is a captivating novel written by Matthew Weiner, best known as the creator of the acclaimed TV series Mad Men. The hardcover version of the book was published on November 1, 2017, by Little, Brown and Company.
Weiners writing style in Heather, the Totality is tight and focused, with an emphasis on detail and understated but powerful emotions. This is a character study with minimal dialogue, with an almost cinematic focus on visual cues and internal monologues.
The themes explored in the book include the nature of love, class inequality, and the consequences of privilege. The novel is divided into three parts that are tightly woven together.
The first part introduces the reader to Mark and Karen Breakstone, a wealthy couple living in Manhattan. The story then shifts focus to their teenage daughter Heather, and her experiences growing up in a sheltered world.
Heather, the Totality engages with the reader in a deep and meaningful way, drawing upon our own experiences to create a sense of empathy and understanding. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, even the ones that we may not necessarily like.
One of the books strengths is its nuanced portrayal of class inequality. The Breakstones live in an extremely privileged world, a fact that is contrasted with the lives of other characters who are less fortunate.
This theme feels particularly timely in current political and social conversations about income inequality and the American Dream. The novel is not without flaws, however.
At times, the pacing can feel slow and ponderous, and the novels minimalist approach to dialogue may feel alienating to some readers who are used to more expressive or fast-paced storytelling. Despite this, Heather, the Totality is an essential read for those interested in literary fiction that explores complex themes with precision and intimacy.
It is a book that will resonate with readers long after the final page has been turned. Overall, I would give Heather, the Totality a score of 8 out of 10.
This is a book that requires a certain level of patience and engagement, but it rewards the reader with a profound emotional experience that is sure to stay with them for a long time.
