Heather, the Totality

By: Matthew Weiner

Narrated by: Matthew Weiner

Named a Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year: The explosive debut novel about family, power, and privilege from the creator of the award-winning Mad Men.

Mark and Karen Breakstone have constructed the idyllic life of wealth and status they always wanted, made complete by their beautiful and extraordinary daughter Heather. But they are still not quite at the top. When the new owners of the penthouse above them begin construction, an unstable stranger penetrates the security of their comfortable lives and threatens to destroy everything they've created.

Critic reviews

"Weiner deftly exposes the weirdness of mundane life changes" and "chillingly reminds us of how unstable the ground is that we take for granted beneath our feet."—Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air

"creepy, unsettling...and queasily seductive"—USA Today

"Beyond its chilling portrait of America's social and economic divide, the novel raises a number of thorny questions... Weiner writes with maximum economy"—Associated Press

"You'll devour it in a single, heart-racing sitting."—People

"slim but it packs a substantial punch"—Seattle Review of Books

"The Matthew Weiner of Mad Men makes himself known in Heather via sharp and complex character insights...the novel transcends the status of a mere sleek, domestic thriller, and contributes meaningfully, unexpectedly, to resistance."—The Millions

"A sharp, slim page-turner, though much simmers underneath the surface of Weiner's deft prose."—BookPage

"Weiner's award-winning writing and producing of such renowned television shows as The Sopranos and Mad Men is neatly evident in his quietly thrilling debut novel. Written in descriptive and illuminating scene-like snippets-though nearly free of dialogue-this one-sitting read concerns the eerily shared delusions of a privileged Manhattan family and a man who stalks the periphery of their lives...The sense of doom is sharply rendered, characters are well developed, and their motivations are finely wrought. Readers will hope for more book-form fiction from Weiner."—Booklist

"A sharp, character-driven debut novel that examines class and parenting with equal power,"—B&N Reads

"Weiner has created a very contemporary and creepy little novel about a teenaged girl and a fervent admirer. Rife with observations about Manhattan's elite, Heather is both unsettling and satisfying."—Literary Hub

"viscerally real and totally chilling, this is a fantastic book."—Bookreporter

"A page-turning thriller...we highly recommend reading it in one sitting so you can soak it all in."—Popsugar

"Fans of Mad Men will find familiar themes lurking in the show creator's debut novel."—Harper's Bazaar

"Heather, The Totality is a tour de force of control, tone and razor-slash insight. In its clear-eyed anatomist's gaze and its remarkable combination of empathy and pitilessness I hear echoes of Flaubert and Richard Yates, with a deeply twisted twist of Muriel Spark at her darkest. I could not put it down."
—Michael Chabon, author of Moonglow

zippy, fast moving story

Quick read. unusually short novel at at 144 pages I believe. The plot moves quickly and one gets a true understanding of the characters despite the novels brief length. I would have liked more, which I suppose is a good thing. The ending works quite well but it felt just a bit rushed or that we should stay with the characters longer. It isn't surprising that the writer writes for television as that comes through in the pacing. While the author is not the absolute best voice I've heard on audible, he was very giid. Overall, a very satisfying read.

Captivating from beginning to end

While this story is brief, the character development is incredibly robust and captivating. The writing reminds me of Murakami - the method of story telling is both intense and unique. Throughout the book, you are acquainted with characters in such an intimate way that the novel seems to bring new insight to human behavior. The story itself is completely immersive and really terrifying at times. I would recommend this to anyone who is drawn to character driven stories and appreciates wonderful writing.

A true legend is born!

Could have written by one of Weiner's heroes. It just that good! ❤️ Legendary stuff already.

Short but intense and entertaining,

What did you like best about this story?

I love and hate that it was so short. But many times we read books that are too long and too wordy. This book was entertaining from beginning to end and doesn't waste time on pointless tangents.

What about Matthew Weiner’s performance did you like?

I love when an author narrates their books because it really gets the point across. Not all authors can bring their story to life but this one hits the mark!

Wish he’d do a short story collection

I adored Mad Men and would read anything Matthew Weiner wrote. This is nothing like Mad Men, but much like an episode of Mad Men, it’s a compact and compelling story well told. Maybe better suited to a short story collection, but I’ll take whatever I can get. Though I’d have been happy to spend more time with the characters, I value economy in storytelling.

A voice actor might’ve given a “better” performance, but I appreciate the intimacy of an author narrating his/her own work. In this case, being such a fan, it felt like a private reading.