Ethel Rohan

Ethel Rohan carefully deals with two enormous subjects at once in The Weight of Him. I will never forget this book for the great sensitivity and detail that she gave to this story. Both themes are close to me, I have a lifelong struggle with weight and also my brother died of suicide.

Big Billy Brennan is over 400 pounds is constantly hating himself for being so big yet good tasting food is the only comfort that really soothes and calms him down. Ethel Rohan emphasizes the involvement of the show more senses, taste, sight and texture in his consumption of his favorite foods. There is great intensity of pleasure when something that you eat delights your soul, Ethel got that right. She also got right the thoughts that go through a person's head as they are losing weight. She amazes me with her perception.

With the second theme, family suicide, she is again so on the mark. So many of the same thoughts ran through my head when my brother died. Why? What could I have done to prevent it? There must be a way to reach to people thinking of taking the ultimate step.

I highly recommend this book for both people struggling with losing weight and those who are grieving. I felt this author understands cares and feel better for reading this book.

I received an Advance copy of The Weight of Him from the publisher by a win from FirstReads. My thoughts and feelings in this review are totally my own. I thank First Reads for this advanced copy. show less

I was THIS close to giving this five stars, and I'm not even really withholding that fifth star -- I'm just keeping one in reserve. Overall, this book is brilliant, an absolute tour de force of tiny fiction, an onslaught of stories so tight, so dense, that they bruise you when they hit you.

Well, most of them. There are, I have to say, a handful (just a handful, out of thirty) that feel a bit, well, not quite unfinished but perhaps undeveloped. I hate to sound like a graduate workshop here, show more but they read more like scenes rather than complete stories, and I've never been much of a fan for isolated scenes (even when I resort to writing them myself).

But those are the stories that read most like a prose poem, and I love those and have argued frequently that, when you really get right down to it, there isn't much difference between prose poetry and flash fiction. And I'm perfectly willing to concede to these stories I feel dissatisfied with might not be the problem -- the problem might be me, and maybe I just need to reread them.

And here's what makes this collection so damned amazing: I really, really WANT to reread these stories. All of them. Even the ones I didn't quite get. And I fully suspect those few stories might wind up making me a lot happier on a second or third reading.

So here's that fifth star, over here on the bookshelf right next to Rohan's book, both of them waiting for me to read this book again and again. show less

4.5 stars.

The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan is a heartbreaking, poignant and uplifting novel of healing.

Following his oldest son Michael's inexplicable suicide, Billy Brennan wants to make his son's life and death matter. Billy's plan to raise money and public awareness about suicide is not well received by his family yet he does not let their lack of support stop him. Publicly vowing to lose 200 pounds, he puts up flyers and pledge sheets around town and embarks on his weight loss campaign. show more Despite a few initial setbacks, Billy comes up with a diet and exercise plan that he sometimes struggles to stick to but with his new friend Denis Morrissey's help, he begins shedding pounds. While his ambitious undertaking takes a toll on his relationship with his family, Billy remains fully committed to his cause. Will his efforts to raise money and public awareness for suicide prevention pay off? Can he meet his weight loss goal? Will Billy and his family heal from their terrible loss?

In the aftermath of Michael's suicide, Billy and his wife Tricia are both trying to understand why their son took his own life. Tricia just wants their life to return to some semblance of normal and she does not understand why Billy would do anything to bring more attention to their family. Their children are, of course, struggling just as much as Billy and Tricia. Fifteen year old John is angry and Billy is often a target of his furious outbursts. Twelve year old Anna tries to play peacemaker as her parents' relationship continues to deteriorate. Nine year old Ivor is a lot like his father and harboring numerous regrets over his self perceived failings, Billy tries to help his youngest son make healthier choices.

Billy's struggles with weight began during childhood and over the years, he has lost weight only to gain it back time and again. Having finally given up on diets a few years ago, his weight continues to climb as he binges on his favorite foods in secret. His relationship with food is complicated and at times, turning away from the comfort he derives from it is almost a herculean task for Billy. The passages that detail Billy's shame and low self-esteem from his excess weight are absolutely heartwrenching to read but they provide readers with a discerning glimpse into the struggles he is experiencing.

Equally devastating are effects that Michael's suicide have on Billy and his family. Everyone processes their grief differently but they are all grappling to understand why Michael took his own life. No one is able to pinpoint anything in his behavior that should have been a red flag which makes it very difficult for them to move forward in the grieving process. Trying to articulate their feelings for their loss is virtually impossible and Billy is helpless to bridge the growing distance between him and his family. Even more bewildering to him is their lack of understanding for his need to raise public awareness in an effort to prevent another family from losing a loved one to suicide.

The Weight of Him is an emotionally compelling novel that is fast paced and engaging. Ethel Rohan handles very difficult subject matter with sensitivity and provides readers with an insightful perspective about the importance of eliminating the social stigma that surrounds both suicide and obesity. An absolutely breathtaking journey of healing that is sad yet ends on a hopeful note. show less

3.5 Billy is a large man, over 400 pounds and also a very sad man. His family, three remaining children, his wife, is in tatters after the suicide of his eldest son, only 17. He can't help going over and over the things he did wrong, his son left no note, and no one noticed anything wrong, not friends, not family. Food has always been his comfort but he decides to make his son's suicide count for something, to make a difference in suicide prevention. So with virtually no family support Billy show more sets off on a quest, a goal.

One can't help but feel for Billy, his story, his efforts, but in this too lies the problem. The other characters are virtually lifeless, his daughter rarely mentioned, Billy is the story and for me it became repetitive. Looked forward to his interactions with his youngest son, who was the second most complete character, and these showed growth in the both of them, father and son. A second chance in a way. Don't get me wrong this is a good story, a heartfelt one, just wish it had been a little more widespread, included a wider view.

ARC from Netgalley. show less