The High Heart by Joseph Bathanti - Book Giveaway and Review
Set in the less-than-perfect Philadelphia of the ’60s and ’70s, Joseph Bathanti’s book The High Heart reads as both a collection of short stories and a novel. Each story of Fritz Sweeny, the only son of two unconventional parents, stands alone as a short. But placed all together, you come away with a captivating look at an unusual family.
Bathanti has a way of writing dialog that makes the characters jump off the page. Reading the banter between Fritz’s mismatched parents was completely entertaining. I found myself rereading some conversations; they made me feel like I was listening in on my neighbors - if my neighbors were a fiery Italian woman married to an Irish American, that is.
While reading The High Heart, it’s easy to feel Bathanti’s poetry roots within the stories. The sentences are dense with meaning and enjoyably visual. Overall, this book was a fulfilling read, hitting all the right chords of well-chosen words and rich, unpredictable characters. And here’s the good news - I have an extra copy.
To win The High Heart, please leave a comment here telling me what intrigues you about the book. Or subscribe to carp(e) libris reviews to be entered in this and all book giveaways. Or link to this contest from your blog. Do all three, and you’ve got three entries. I’ll randomly select a winner this Friday, March 7, 2008, at 12noon EST. The winner will be contacted by email.
Published by Eastern Washington University Press.
Buy The High Heart here and support carp(e) libris reviews and your local bookseller!
1Tara
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 22:27
I am already subscribed… but the thing that intrigues me about this book is that I am fascinated with life in the 60’s. I think it would be an interesting read.
2Rawlings
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 22:32
It looks like a good read that you could read a little every night.
3Louise A Brouillete
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 22:35
It sounds like a good read.
4Joseph
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 22:46
this seems like an interesting book.
5aBookworm
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 23:03
I like that it’s a series of short stories and yet one story.
I’ve posted it at my book review/contest blog - A Book Blogger’s Diary. Thanks!
~aBookBlogger
6adrienne gordon
wrote on 4 March 2023 at 23:43
as a native of philly, this would be cool to read.
7Linda
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 0:23
A great era to write about.
8Cindi Hoppes
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 0:44
I think the relationship between his unconventional parents would be intriguing to read. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks,Cindi
9Bernadette Holbrook
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 1:39
Sounds fascinating!!!
10Susan Smith
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 2:51
looks like a good read
11Annette
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 2:56
The unconventional parents.
12Lara Aleff
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 3:19
I would love to read this book!
13Vicki wurgler
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 4:20
always fun to read about someone’s family problems!
14jesy
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 4:41
How close it may/not mirrow the real ’60s
15susan varney
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 4:45
love to read about the time period reminds ne when i was young
16janeh
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 4:50
as a product of the 60’s, I love to read anything about that time.
17LIsa
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 4:55
Hi Diane, not really entering…just saying hello and thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment last week. My niece finally arrived - 7 hours late due to typical Michigan weather. She’s soaking up sun as I type.
Sending warm thoughts to GR.
Lisa
18Chris
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 6:56
This is the time period I grew was an adolescent in and I enjoy reading other perspectives on it.
19Linda Moeller
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 7:39
I’ve subscribed before.
Looks like a great book.
20Meredith Peters
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 7:54
The 60’s/70’s era Phillie Italians intrigue me!
21Lori Berman
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 9:12
Love to find new books/authors
22Elaine Rosser
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 9:21
The characters in this book sound so interesting!
23christopher h
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 9:31
love reading new authors
24zoe lee
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 9:40
I would love to read this, as it looks exciting…
25Bunny B
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 10:42
Hi, I’m subscribed already - would love to read this book! Thanks!
26Karrie
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 11:31
it looks good
27Nancy
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 16:07
The concept of this book sounds very intriguing. I would like to read it to see how each chapter stands alone as a short story, but still can fit together as a novel.
28Sharon Jones
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 17:03
I’m a ’60’s kid…and love to read about this time in my life
29Carla Cui
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 18:39
I am intrigued about the 60’s aspect of the story, count me in to win!
30Paul
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 19:18
Sounds like a good read !
31vicky boackle
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 19:50
the manner that the book is written is intriqueing.
32Terry Cover
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 20:25
Thisd would sure bring back memories of an era passed
33Kathi Book
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 20:26
Sounds really fascinating! I could do with a good read!!
34david basile
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 20:41
sounds good
35Susan Chester
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 20:57
The mismatched parents intrigue me. I love stories with a lot of conversation.
36Deborah Wellenstein
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 21:07
Always love a good book. Please enter me to win!
37Cindy San Antonio
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 22:11
This family sounds as disfunctional as my family. Maybe it will give me a tip or two.
38Sara Alvaro
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 22:30
This book sounds terrific. I am a huge fan of linked short stories, and it’s about my generation. Can’t wait to read it.
39sarah
wrote on 5 March 2023 at 23:05
I love to find new books, especially ones with great visualizations.
40anne
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 0:36
Interested in this era and the realtionships.
41Greg Duncan
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 1:06
I bet I could write this book myself! I would still like to see what the author has to say.
42kevin
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 1:49
Seems like an interesting book
43Desmond
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 1:59
I’m a huge fan of short stories of all kinds
44Jennifer
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 2:15
I love short stories that work together in a narrative. It’s a great way to tell a story.
45janice
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 2:35
Thanks for an opportunity to win this book. My situation is unusual in that I grew up in this era, but my spouse is 20 years my junior, and he would like more insite into “my experience” and I have noticed this man does not have a book by this author. By the intro, I believe he might love this book as will myself.
46Elaine Miller
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 4:04
looks like a great read!
47bethany canfield
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 4:49
yay! this one looks good.
Thanks for the givaways!! fun.
48Hesper Fry
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 6:52
This looks like a fantastic read!
49Sara
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 8:11
looks very cool
50Liz
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 10:06
Nice…..
51Christina Almond
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 10:10
Sounds like a good book!
52K.C.
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 11:25
Looks like a good book as long as it isn’t about my family. LOL
53Leanne C.
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 17:22
I need a good read to get me through this endless winter!
54Samantha Pruitt
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 18:20
the way the stories are split up sounds like it would make for an interesting read.
55Elizabeth
wrote on 6 March 2023 at 19:48
I like how the short stories come together to create a complete picture.
56PeaceLady
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 1:10
“The High Heart” sounds like an amazing book and one I most definitely would love to have. It was especially intriguing as it was endorsed by one of my favorite author’s Jess Walter’s (”The Zero”). Myself, coming from a firey Italian family (on my Mom’s side) had a saying, “Whoever is the loudest, is the rightest”. This was the truth, and as children it always appeared everyone was always arguing
57Ed Nemmers
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 6:19
I so enjoy short stories.
58Louis Huf
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 6:21
I am intrigued about the settings - the 60s seem perfect for the book
59michelle rosborough
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 9:42
sounds like an interesting book
60Miranda Allen
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 11:27
Please Enter me thanks
61Buddy Garrett
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 12:21
I am intrigued by the dynamics of the family set in the era I grew up in.
62Kathleen Yohanna
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 13:14
The review of the book says that Joseph Bathanti makes the characters “jump off the page”. I love good discriptive writing that lets you “see” the story.
63Joy Venters
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 13:26
would like to read this
64Charlene
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 13:57
I love poetry and the weaving
of words to create a storyline
and thats what intrigues me
about this book
65Sylvia Porter
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 14:00
i love stories about families, it’s always really interesting.
66A. Ashley
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 14:06
I’m intrigued by the mismatched parents.
I love unconventional families. I’m part of an unconventional family.
I like the 60’s -70’s timeline.
Those decades always make a good setting.
I’m interested in reading the dialogue ,which you raved about.
The High Heart sounds like a terrific novel.
Thank you for the contest.
67Kayce
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 14:41
The idea of short stories with good character development intrigues me.
68Lily Kwan
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 17:50
What intrigues me about the book is that the main character has an Italian mother and an Irish father, like my fiance.
69Tamara
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 21:10
The idea of being able to read a whole novel, in short stories, is wonderful. I often shy away from longer books, because I don’t have as much as I would like to read.
70kathy pease
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 22:13
PLEASE ENTER ME
71Catrina Pomerleau
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 22:51
I like the idea of a single story made up of a bunch of short stories.
72Jennifer Barnett
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 22:57
I have really been enjoying this website’s book reviews. This book sounds quite unique. I like the idea of small stories that can fit together into a larger whole. It sounds like a true reflection of how we live our lives.
73veronica
wrote on 7 March 2023 at 23:12
good read I am always looking for something good to read
74Susan Chester
wrote on 8 March 2023 at 1:34
I just got an email telling me I won this. I am so happy, I almost bought this, then decided to wait and see if I won. I am glad I waited.
75john pratt
wrote on 8 March 2023 at 5:52
the book sounds very interesting. i am a people person so interaction of people intrigues me. would love to read it & could tell you what i thought of it after i read it. thanks in advance if i win & have a blessed day.
76barbara wild
wrote on 8 March 2023 at 11:23
this book sounds interesting to me because it is not like ones i have read in the past. If i like it and win ill share it with my book club
77Irene Leung
wrote on 12 March 2023 at 9:44
Sounds interestin - would love to read more about it.
78Cayla
wrote on 28 October 2022 at 4:00
Thanks for writing this.