Explore our new BookBrowse Community Forum!

What readers think of Where The Heart Is, plus links to write your own review.

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Reviews |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

Where The Heart Is by Billy Letts

Where The Heart Is

by Billy Letts
  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Readers' Rating:
  • First Published:
  • Jun 1, 1995, 357 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 1998, 376 pages
  • Genres & Themes
  • Publication Information
  • Rate this book

  • Buy This Book

About This Book

Reviews

Page 6 of 8
There are currently 64 reader reviews for Where The Heart Is
Order Reviews by:

Write your own review!

Megan

I read this book for an autor of the week for my moms 10th grade English class. Its a great book its fast easy reading. The only thing is im having trouble picking out the conflict and climax for my oral presentation. Any comments or ideas?????????
tullius

meh.
I bought the movie tie in edition at a second hand store so I didn't realize it is more of a young adult genre but I needed something to read on the plane. I'm a little troubled by the depiction of teen pregnancy, that strangers will open their homes and take care of you, ect.

Also some of the details were unbelievable almost ridiculous. Not too many ponds, barns (burnt out or otherwise) or mosquitos in the NM desert that I've ever noticed. You can't skip out on motel bills, they make you pay in advance and show ID, for at least my entire adult life, I'm 50. Pushers and bennies- was this written in the 1950's? You don't "gobble" 8 balls. An 8 ball isn't a pill its several hundred dollars worth of cocaine, yes even in the 1980's.

Reading the other reviews I'm shocked some teachers posted they are using this in school. I'm no prude but this is not what I consider quality literature. Stick with Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Melanie G.

I felt Tricked!
There should be a warning label on this book about a terrible rape scene between a man and a young boy. Why was this included? It made me physically ill and I sobbed and had trouble sleeping. Please don't tell me that we are becoming desensitized to child abuse...What a world we live in.
Chloe

I am only ten eyars old, but this didn't stop me reading the book in 2 days flat! It's hard to explain why t's so magnificent, you can't understand until you read the book yourself. I thought the movie was outstanding, but when I read the book, that was something else! Reading the book is an experience you just can't afford to lose!!!


Erin
I first heard about this book from a high school English teacher. She
had recommened it to her classes and so I decided to read it. I fell in
love with the book. I have read it at least 10 times since the first
time and just can not get enough of it. Being from a small Oklahoma town
myself, I know these characters in my life. They are every day people
who would put their lives on hold to help someone else. This book show
what true Oklahomans are all about. It captures the Oklahoma spirit in
every way and every form. You get to know these characters as if they
were real people. You feel what they feel. You cry, laugh, get mad,
your heart breaks and your heart heals right along with them. My only
questions is How could you not love this book?


Letts Fan
This book is like a short story in a novel size cover. You can't help but
fall in love with all of the characters. Letts does a great job of writing about
small town folk with big time hearts. Letts' book The Honk and Holler Opening
Soon is also an excellent reading choice for anyone who loved Where The Heart
Is. I would love to see more novels from Letts.


holly sabourin
I was intrigued how a young woman at the tender age of 17 was able to just pick up and start a whole new life of unfamiliarity by herslf. She was able to raise herself and her daughter Americus, whose name had a great significance to it along with the other main characters in the book. the movie was okay. the book was great.


nada
This book is one That I will remember for many years to come! The way that Lett's portrayed Novalee made me unable to put this book down! it was as if it grabbed me and wouldn't let me go! my mother bought me this book and I fell in love with it after reading the first sentence and the more sentences I read the more I grew to love it! this is truly a fine piece of literature that I am sure will be enjoyed by people of all ages , classes and races infect I lent it to my 12 year old sister and she too fell in love with it I was however disappointed with the movie! I suppose it was because after reading the book I had such high expectations for the movie! I would give this book a 10.5 out of ten!

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: Our Evenings
    Our Evenings
    by Alan Hollinghurst
    Alan Hollinghurst's novel Our Evenings is the fictional autobiography of Dave Win, a British ...
  • Book Jacket: Graveyard Shift
    Graveyard Shift
    by M. L. Rio
    Following the success of her debut novel, If We Were Villains, M. L. Rio's latest book is the quasi-...
  • Book Jacket: The Sisters K
    The Sisters K
    by Maureen Sun
    The Kim sisters—Minah, Sarah, and Esther—have just learned their father is dying of ...
  • Book Jacket: Linguaphile
    Linguaphile
    by Julie Sedivy
    From an infant's first attempts to connect with the world around them to the final words shared with...

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Pony Confidential
    by Christina Lynch

    In this whimsical mystery, a grumpy pony must clear his beloved human's name from a murder accusation.

Who Said...

A library is a temple unabridged with priceless treasure...

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

F the M

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.