The Heart of Everything
Published on 5. January 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-4447-9417-5 (ISBN)
Description
The Heart of Everything is a taut and compelling account of the nature of family relationships and the uneasy grasp of the past over the present. Perfect for fans of Anne Tyler and Maggie O'Farrell.
Mags Jensen begins her day as she always does - with a list. Once it is complete, she lays the table for lunch, spritzes perfume on her wrists and shuts the front door behind her.
That afternoon, her daughter Anita is irritated to discover the house empty. But as afternoon turns to evening, irritation turns to fear, her mother's recent tests for early-stage dementia looming in Anita's mind.
As the hours tick by with no word from Mags, the siblings are summoned home to join the search. Over several days, old tensions rise to the surface, harking back to an earlier tragedy that splintered the family. Powerful revelations take hold between the siblings, and their efforts to find Mags become increasingly frantic, as they are forced to ask: will they ever see their mother again?
Mags Jensen begins her day as she always does - with a list. Once it is complete, she lays the table for lunch, spritzes perfume on her wrists and shuts the front door behind her.
That afternoon, her daughter Anita is irritated to discover the house empty. But as afternoon turns to evening, irritation turns to fear, her mother's recent tests for early-stage dementia looming in Anita's mind.
As the hours tick by with no word from Mags, the siblings are summoned home to join the search. Over several days, old tensions rise to the surface, harking back to an earlier tragedy that splintered the family. Powerful revelations take hold between the siblings, and their efforts to find Mags become increasingly frantic, as they are forced to ask: will they ever see their mother again?
Reviews / Votes
A wise novel that watches itself deeply, hiding its secrets, then spilling them spectacularly. The Heart of Everything is a wonderful, memorable book - a tour-de-force. - Frank McGuinnessHenrietta McKervey's second novel ... marks [her] has one to watch in Irish fiction. - Stellar magazine
The Heart of Everything confirms McKervey's talent for creating realistic portraits of Irish life in an engaging and highly readable style ... there is an emotional truth and authentic irresolution to the novel that will satisfy even the most cynical reader - Sunday Business Post
What impresses most in [The Heart of Everything] is the quality of the writing, the striking images and witty turns of phrase ... it's a page turner ... [Henrietta McKervey is a novelist in the early stages of her career, brimming with promise. She has wit, imagination and an understanding of human beings, which are the hallmark of the true novelist. - Irish Times
Beautifully yet simply written, fuelled by perceptive observations and raw honesty, this novel will delight fans of Anne Tyler and Maggie O'Farrell ... leaves you thinking about the characters long after the last page is turned - Sunday Independent
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Castleknock
Ireland
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
224 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4447-9417-5 (9781444794175)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Henrietta Mckervey
The Heart of Everything
E-Book
03/2016
1st Edition
Hachette Books Ireland
€4.49
Available for download
Person
Henrietta McKervey is from Belfast and lives in Dublin.
She is the author of the acclaimed literary novels What Becomes of Us, The Heart of Everything and Violet Hill. A Talented Man is her fourth novel.
@hmckervey
www.henriettamckervey.com
She is the author of the acclaimed literary novels What Becomes of Us, The Heart of Everything and Violet Hill. A Talented Man is her fourth novel.
@hmckervey
www.henriettamckervey.com