A Heart That Works: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER as heard on R4's Desert Island Discs

A succinct yet thorough account of thoughts, trials & tribulations that no one should have to bear, and yet a tribute and celebration of such precious moments, that will echo with all who have experienced any form of grief.Soulful, charming, tear-jerking, and yet Delaney's wit works to sugar and put his own flavour to it.

I have just finished reading Rob's book. Reading an account of a person's darkest, most traumatic times, you detect the ins, outs and workings of a person's mind, and I'm a huge fan of Rob's mind. Rob is an incredible, natural writer - poetic, uses beautiful metaphors, with a brutal honesty that makes you soak up everything he is telling you - he's a very reliable narrator. When he says 'f*** those people who think this way,' I nod enthusiastically. This, of course, wasn't an easy read, and you need to take a break to process what you've just read. I don't think talking about death, especially child death should be a taboo topic, and this book is helping those families who face a similar battle and have to endure others' insensitivity and ignorance when they tiptoe around a subject that makes them uncomfortable. People are scared of others in pain like it's contagious. If someone has to endure the agony and pain of losing a child in this drawn-out hell, the least I can do, and others can do, is share in their pain, read, sob, and listen alongside them. It's the very least and we owe it to them. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I heard Rob on Radio 4 speaking of Henry's loss, and naturally, I cried. But, in my ignorance, I didn't fully comprehend the entirety of the loss; Henry's disabilities, daily, monthly struggles, deterioration; his courage and desire to live...The trauma Rob and Leah had to process, with each setback piled on top of them. There are moments in this book that are truly torturous, and with Rob's writing, you feel it viscerally - you recoil and flinch, feel sick and despair at the world for slowing this to happen. However, there are moments of joy - the dog visit in the hospital, sitting under the stars with Henry, afternoon naps with blissful music - the countless members of staff who are angels in the comfort they bring. The family comes together, splitting the care of Henry between them, bathing Henry in love (literally and metaphorically). The writing is philosophical - it tries to find a purpose in hopelessness and does. The book gives hope and gives a voice to parents of sick children. Those experiencing grief but can't articulate it can find solace in the words of this book. It is physically providing funds to incredible charities. It changed my perspective permanently for the better, almost in a spiritual way. It shows you what's important, what truly matters. Child Grief is relentless; it is pain and it is hopeless longing for what was and the potential of a beautiful, meaningful life that was never given the opportunity to grow and thrive... Early on in the book, Rob says to the reader that we'll remember Henry but then forget and get on with our lives. Whilst I cannot promise I'll be thinking of Henry every second of every day like I know Rob and Leah spend their waking hours doing. But, I can promise that I'll never forget Henry and his short yet long life. Long in the sense of the impact his little life has made on me and thousands of others who have read and lived his story.

Loved how savage and raw and moving and joyous it was to read their journey as a family. To voice those brutal angry feelings that grief bring up is so brave and wondrous and normalising. Lost my second Dad this year and my cousin and this book helped me to feel joy and laugh and cry and rage at the injustice of life. A great and necessary and inspiring read.

For Henry:I was initially motivated to buy this book because I loved Rob's work on Catastrophe. Given he was part of the two person writing team on Catastrophe, it was clear he was a very talented writer who puts a lot of himself into his work.Anyway, I have to admit that the subject matter of his book didn't really appeal much - but as I follow him on Twitter, I was moved to buy it anyway. Given the profits are going to some amazing children's charities it felt like giving a donation and getting a gift in return. Bargain. Good feels and a pressie.The book itself it just amazing. I found myself blasting through it in a weekend, reading a bit, having a good cry, reading a bit more. It was filled with honesty and tragedy and humour and lots of other stuff too. It gave real insight into what to my mind (even as a childfree person) must be the biggest tragedy to be suffered by any sentient being, the loss of a child.In conclusion, buy this book. Keep a hanky nearby for when you read it. Maybe have something comforting to hand also, like chocolate or a friend. It's beautiful and deserves to be read.I wish Rob and his family joy.

I bought this for my husband as he’s a huge Rob Delaney fan. The subject matter is so very close to home for us though, having also lost our son. Even down to staying in the same building as Rob did for the Great Ormond Street parents. I have not yet felt strong enough to read it. Twelve years on and I am still so easily transported back to those times. The sounds, the smells, the things we saw our beautiful boy go through. My husband though read the book over two days and it was what he expected. Deeply moving, honest, tragic, mixed in with Rob’s humour. He said he identified with so much of it and it was often like seeing his own thoughts and feelings written in print.This is such an important book. Child death is a taboo subject still and is not talked about enough. Twelve years on and we still talk about our son daily. You never forget. You never ‘move on’. You just adjust your life to what it has become and try to find some form of happiness again to bring colour back into your drained world.Rob, you are so brave to bare your soul like this. I salute you and will read it myself when I am feeling strong enough. Until then though, thank you.

I ordered this book after hearing a ten minute snippet on radio four. I thought it sounded full of real emotion and I was right. Rob Delaney manages to convey his heartbreak at the death of his son without "schmalz".I think the BBC must have edited it a bit because I didn't hear a single use of the "F" word, whereas the work appeared, I would estimate, an average of once per page. I found this somewhat off-putting (hence the absence of the fifth star) but I know that lots of readers will not be affected as I was.It's a story of bravery; on the part of baby Henry and the rest of his family and it illustrates how that emotional courage and honesty can help a family to hold things together in almost impossible circumstances. Above all (sorry for this cliche), it is a story of love.

Started crying less than twenty pages into this and didn’t stop until long after I’d finished. Read the entire thing in one sitting because it’s a short read but it’s so powerful. Hats off to Delaney for sharing his grief so openly.

I’ve been a fan of Rob Delaney’s since catching the first season of Catastrophe several years ago. Hearing of his son’s cancer and how willing Rob was to speak publicly about it was touching. Recently, after hearing Rob on a podcast (Fresh Air maybe?) I immediately bought the book, and read it in one sitting. Delaney is such a kind soul and so appreciative for the love and people he is surrounded by, it was a lovey read for such a gut-punching, life-altering event.The comedic bits had me laughing out loud and reading passages to my husband sitting nearby.As someone born and living in the US, I will say I am glad their family was able to receive such terrific health care, and really hope we are able to create a system like that over here one day.

This is a must a read.tears pouring down by page 8 I couldn't contain myself.and I am someone who hardly cries.I felt Rob's shattered heart through his words in this beautifully written book.Buy it now!

Beautifully written account of such an ugly time in the life of a human being.

It is a beautiful story that made me cry and then consider how lucky I am to not have had these problems. My heart goes out to those that have suffered in the manner described In the book, the author writes about it courageously.

Devastating story of Rob's son, I lost count of how many times I cried reading this.