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The Weight of Him
The Weight of Him: A Novel | Ethel Rohan
"First-time novelist Rohan shows impressive acuity in portraying the many facets of Billy's and his family's grief." --Booklist At four hundred pounds, Billy Brennan can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved foods colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billys beloved son Michael takes his own life. Billy determines to make a difference in Michaels memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide preventionhis first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billys dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on. Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he rescues from disposal at the local toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of his pain, suffering, and the brokenness around him, that he and others will be able to realize the full rescue and change they need. Set in rural, contemporary Ireland, Ethel Rohan's The Weight of Him is an unforgettable, big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.
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Beatlefan129
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Billy Brennan is carrying the physical weight of 400 lbs and the emotional weight of his son‘s suicide #carrythatweight #beatlemaynia

CouronneDhiver I enjoyed that book a lot! 5y
Eggs Nicely done. Stacked! 5y
69 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Shadowfat
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Pickpick

Sorry it took so long for me to finish this, it was a more serious read at times so I had to pace myself. Even so it was well written and I enjoyed it. I'll send it out either today or Sat. to you @Beatlefan129 . #lmpbc group g @EliNeedsMoreShelves @rjsthumbelina

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rjsthumbelina
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Mehso-so

Read for #lmpbcround4 #groupq I liked this book more than I expected to! Found it to be a heartfelt look at trying to grieve and move on with life, but some of the weight loss stuff bothered me. It seemed to lean a little toward #fatshaming. But worth the read for the rest of it, I think. @Shadowfat this will be headed your way this week! @EliNeedsMoreShelves @Beatlefan129

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EliNeedsMoreShelves
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Okay my LMPBC group members - I have some books I'm contemplating for our upcoming round. Does anyone have any thoughts? I'm excited to get started! #LMPBC #GroupQ @Shadowfat @Beatlefan129 @rjsthumbelina

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rjsthumbelina I'm no help, but I'm up for any of them! 🙃 5y
rjsthumbelina @EliNeedsMoreShelves @Beatlefan129 question: I have seen a few people already mailing their #lmpbc books. I thought we were supposed to have them out by month's end?? 5y
Beatlefan129 @EliNeedsMoreShelves @rjsthumbelina I believe the email said that this is round 4 so we are to have started reading on November 1st to mail out by the end of the month (edited) 5y
rjsthumbelina @Beatlefan129 that's what I thought too! I guess as long as we're on the same page 5y
EliNeedsMoreShelves @Beatlefan129 @rjsthumbelina @Shadowfat I checked the email and it definitely said mail at the end of the month. I think there might be multiple rounds going on at once? But ours is just getting started, so we're all good. I'm starting my book this weekend! 5y
19 likes10 comments
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Bookish_B
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Mehso-so

This is a rather quiet, slow moving story of suicide, obesity, grief and family. I enjoyed the second half more than the beginning, definitely appreciated it, but unfortunately didn't love it.

CouronneDhiver I read and reviewed this one recently ... loved the slow pace! 6y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookish_B
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More book mail because honestly, if Barnes & Noble sends me a coupon, I can't imagine not using it! And then, I can't seem to use it on just ONE thing! 😱🤓

tammysue Nice! 😍 6y
CouronneDhiver Ooo! I just finished (and reviewed) “The Weight of Him” recently - definitely recommend 6y
48 likes2 comments
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AbstractMonica
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I‘ve been on a bit of a reading hiatus these last few months, and I finally felt the urge to pick something up. I started this one last night, and I‘m already loving it... a very heavy subject, but beautifully written.

CouronneDhiver I have this one! Looking forward to your thoughts 🙂 6y
AbstractMonica @CouronneDhiver have you read it?? 6y
CouronneDhiver Not yet! Soon, I hope 6y
10 likes3 comments
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Bookishgal71
Pickpick

This was a good read. Inspirational and very sad. Realistic fiction about loss, profound grief and moving on.

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roneea
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Bought myself some exciting reads to make it through what I already know is going to be a crappy week at work. Thinks are looking pretty good now 😉

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SavidgeReads
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Panpan

This actually very short book has taken me weeks to read because it‘s made me so cross each time I‘ve picked it up again yet somehow I hoped it would pick up. Nope. This is a tale of a man who after his sons suicide decides to loose half his 400 pound weight to make a statement and amends. Many people will love it. I found it moralistic and manipulative.

Lacythebookworm I was afraid of that. 😖 6y
39 likes1 comment
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Skybariline
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Pickpick

This book tackles, and does justice to, the major topics of suicide and obesity. It is an emotional read that explores the two main themes through relationships between family members and life in a rural, contemporary Irish community.

Cinfhen Sounds interesting 🤓 6y
26 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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thereadingwomen
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Pickpick

It's almost time to announce the Reading Women Award non-fiction shortlist, but before we do, here's another pick from the fiction shortlist. We were both pleasantly surprised by THE WEIGHT OF HIM by Ethel Rohan. She's a wonderful writer. ⠀

“It‘s not often that you find a novel that addresses weighty topics like teen suicide and obesity with such poise and tenderness. ”⠀

79 likes8 stack adds
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Pogue
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Pickpick

What an amazing book. The author really conveys the anxiety and guilt that survivors face. If you are looking for a happy ending this is not the book for you. Some people in my book club had a problem with the way the book ended, but I don't think there was any other way to end this one.

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kdwinchester
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In case you hadn't heard, @thereadingwomen curated a box for @quarterlane! @autumnprivett and I each chose 1 fiction and 1 nonfiction book. If you've ever wanted a group of books that represented our personalities, this is it. Reading Women perfection. ❤️ Find out more info over on #quarterlane's website.

https://www.quarterlanebooks.com

Booksnchill @kdwinchester just discovered your booktube and your podcast and am loving both! Just bought Shelter because of you guys!!!❤️❤️👍 7y
Litlady Looking forward to this box!! ❤️📚😀 #TheReadingWomen rock!! 👍🤓 Love #Thebookcorgi, too‼️🐶🐾🐶🐾🐶💕 (edited) 7y
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thereadingwomen
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We had the chance to chat with the lovely Ethel Rohan about her novel THE WEIGHT OF HIM. It's by far one of my favorite reads of the year and we loved getting to ask her about the story's origins and the process of writing about suicide. Download it wherever you get your podcasts or listen online.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-women/id1118019442?mt=2&i=1000390327...

85 likes9 stack adds
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kdwinchester
Weight of Him | Ethel Rohan
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Here's a sneak peek at our next author interview for @thereadingwomen. Stay tuned!! 🤓📚🎧 #podcast #comingsoon #authorinterview #ethelrohan #theweightofhim

melissajayne Off to subscribe 7y
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lauralovesbooks1
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Pickpick

Rohan tackles some really tough subjects in this one --suicide, food addiction, the struggle to live up to our perceptions of other's expectations and the difficulty of connecting emotionally when life seems to fall apart. Rohan managed to pull off a novel that was both touching and heartbreaking without feeling exploitive or over the top. I appreciated that she left loose ends and complexities and didn't tie it all up with a bow at the end.

shawnmooney Wonderful review! I've been curious about this for a while, and feel more confident that it might be for me after reading your review. 7y
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thereadingwomen
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Pickpick

Day 21: #ReadingWomenMonth We have a new episode! In Ep. 24, we discuss THE WEIGHT OF HIM by @ethelrohan and THE ESSEX SERPENT by Sarah Perry. THE WEIGHT OF HIM is a compelling read about Billy, who has lost his teenage son to suicide and decides to lose half his body weight (200lb) as a way to raise money/awareness for suicide prevention. It's beautifully written and definitely in my top favorite books of the year. - A https://goo.gl/Vm8Rwn

mavenofmayhem The title led me to believe a different type of story. Sounds like a very original idea. 7y
thereadingwomen @mavenofmayhem Same here. It is wholly original and surprisingly good. - A 7y
bookishrose Why do you have so many great book recommendations!? Another one for my wishlist. Thanks for the tip! 7y
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thereadingwomen @bookishrose that's what we're here for. 😉 7y
Jess_Read_This Great podcast, ladies! I was so happy to hear the discussion on the Essex Serpent! I've been meaning to read it for awhile now. 7y
thereadingwomen @Jess_Read_This Many thanks. ☺️Glad you enjoyed the discussion. The Essex Serpent was on my list for forever and the podcast was a great "excuse" to read it. - A 7y
Joanne1 Life has been crazy busy the last few weeks so I'm behind on many podcasts. Today I'm catching up on all the reading women I've missed. You're killing my TBR! This one sounds amazing. 7y
thereadingwomen @Joanne1 it is amazing. And we also have an interview with her coming up soon. Thanks for being a faithful listener. 😘 - A 7y
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autumnprivett
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Pickpick

This book is one of the best surprises of the year. It's the story of Billy, who decides to lose half of his body weight after his son commits suicide. But it's so much more than that. This book is beautifully and thoughtfully written. All the stars.

BiblioVirgo This sounds so good 😍 7y
autumnprivett @BiblioVirgo it's one of my favorite books of the year. And my blurb does not do it justice. 7y
Bellajo I have a question from writer to writer how do you get out of a writer's block? 7y
autumnprivett @Bella1217 For me, I usually take a break from writing and go outside or look at art or do something to get my brain moving again. But sometimes I just have to plug through. I've head lots of famous authors say that discipline is the key to overcoming writers block. Hope that helps. 7y
Mansinegi how to use this app 6y
133 likes34 stack adds5 comments
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kdwinchester
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One of my favorite reads this year is THE WEIGHT OF HIM by Ethel Rohan. It's such a meaningful book that's perfect for #summerreading. I won't say too much here; @autumnprivett and I discuss this book on @thereadingwomen podcast as one of our selections for June. Check it out!
#ReadingWomenMonth #BeachReads #Podcast

https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/6/7/ep-23-the-clay-girls-of-the-cl...

94 likes8 stack adds
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shawnmooney
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Kendra and Autumn totally sold me on this novel in this week's episode of @thereadingwomen podcast. I was walking while listening and so I'm not 100% sure but I think they're discussing it on an upcoming episode.

Redwritinghood I won a copy of this on GoodReads recently. Yet another book on my TBR pile I'm looking forward to reading. 7y
thereadingwomen We are indeed! 😊 7y
35 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
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#bookmail Looks interesting but not my thing. It will probably go in my stack for the next library conference.

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NoleyReid

"Blame, the truth, it was something you had to feel for yourself."

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NoleyReid

"It would never grow old, this kind of ecstatic descent." (losing weight)

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NoleyReid

"He wasn't just suffering the physical pain of hunger, either. There was something more. He felt what he could only describe as a grief for food . . ."

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NoleyReid

"The fast food pushed against Billy's stomach, bloating, hurting. He thought about bursting wide open and how good that would feel."

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post! A highly acclaimed recent release. 400-lb. Billy Brennan loves his food. Then his son commits suicide, & he sets out to make a difference in his son's memory, & undergoes public weight-loss campaigning to raise funds for suicide awareness. His family wants their privacy, but he finds allies: his community, a co-worker, a filmmaker, & the sub-quality toys he brings home from work. Inspirational. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Alfoster This was a good one! Don't think he ever ate tater tots though😳! 7y
Moray_Reads I need to add that this font is one of my current #bookishpetpeeves, it's everywhere! 7y
MrBook @Alfoster 😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! Then it loses a star by default 😉. @Moray_Reads Yesss! I completely agree! #KindredSpirits 7y
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Moray_Reads @MrBook I'm glad I'm not the only one who develops irrational hatreds for these things! 😂 Seeing this font puts me off books before I even pick them up 7y
MrBook @Moray_Reads I concur 😊👍🏻. 7y
bookaholic1 Sounds so good 7y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 7y
91 likes7 stack adds7 comments
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Carolineleavitt

Listen in as Ethel Rohan talks about The Weight of Him with me! Carolineleavittville.blogspot.com

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BethFishReads
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Grief, body issues, family -- set in Ireland (a weakness of mine). Worth adding to your list.

Libby1 This sounds good. I've added it to my TBR. Have you read Heft? 7y
Libby1 What are your favourite reads based in Ireland? 7y
BethFishReads @Libby1 I have Heft but haven't read it yet. I like Edna O'Brien, Ken Bruen, Ummm I'm drawing a blank. But I swear I read Ireland books. 😬 7y
Suet624 I'm with you about Ireland. 7y
44 likes5 stack adds4 comments