Cheap The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (Book) (J. T. Leroy) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

Ten stories that wil leave a mark
This is by far one of the most disturbing, yet remarkable books I have ever read. When I started it, I didn't know what I was getting myself into, and I was shocked, even repulsed by some of the horrific details that leapt out of the pages at me, but I had to keep reading. This book doesn't sugarcoat Jeremiah's traumatizing experiences, nor does it offer euphemisms to spare the readers sensitivity; it's completely uncensored.
What makes the story really unique is the childlike perspective from which appalling events are told. It's amazing how complicated the book is, despite the simplicity of the language. We're able to discover the inner-workings of Jeremiah's twisted mind, which is exposed to such atrocity at a young age. The ironic part of the story is that Jeremiah's just searching for love and acceptance, but everywhere he turns he runs into abominations of human nature. His lack of love has serious consequences.
I don't think the book intends to shock or offend, even thought it may do so, but it just offers a brutally honest recount of such a perverse childhood, and how it affected the character as an adult. The accounts of the physical and emotional abuse he experienced are so candid and raw, you ask yourself how J.T LeRoy could have had the courage to put them on paper. LeRoy's ability to transmit pure emotions through the graphic nature of his book is amazing, especially since this book was written by the time he was 21, and if these events actually happened to him, it makes his achievement even more astounding.
The book reveals that terrifying things like the ones depicted can and do happen, even if people like to pretend that they don't. These ten stories may shock you, disgust you, or disturb you, but they will certainly leave a mark.

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The Wait is Over!!!
In my very positive review of J.T. LeRoy's first book, "Sarah", I said, "he would have to go a long way to top this debut novel when he writes his next book." Well, J.T. you've certainly came through with another gripping, heart-wrenching masterpiece. If these 10 autobiographical stories don't get to you, and make you want to help every abused child you can, than you have no heart or feeling. All of these loosely connected stories tell of such horrible abuse he suffered while growing up, it's just too hard to imagine his pain. It's really hard to get through this book, but you just can't stop reading it because you get this helpless feeling inside knowing that no child should ever have to suffer like he did.

The book is so beautifully written, it's hard to believe J.T. has only been writing for such a short time. It's very mature, lyrical writing for a writer so young. This story is like a bad nightmare you can't wake up from, it's that shocking. All of the sexual abuse, torment, suffering, and cruelty from his mother should have never happened. This is a book you'll never forget! One good thing that came out of all of this, we now have one of the most promising new writers to look forward to in the future. Don't miss this one!

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Brutal Crap.
Maybe I'm just totally desensitized. Maybe the fact that I lived through some shocking abuse myself for my entire childhood makes me feel less than compassionate toward LeRoy. As he continues to publish, we get the feeling that he just needs some major psycho-therapy, not that he's the one to watch. Personally, I don't feel comfortable with older people who write as poorly as he does calling him the voice of my generation. The sentences are incredibly straightforward, to agree with one reviewer, but they're watery. LeRoy has a way of alienating readers from his memories instead of pulling them in. (Peas falling out of his clothes? I sat there racking my brain for some intelligent symbolism going on, but I gave up.) This is just a collection of undeveloped memories. It's like looking at someone's film negatives instead of looking at the pictures themselves. It's not shocking, though, and it's hardly brutal. If you want brutal, go volunteer a few hours at your local women's shelter. If that's what you're after- brutal honesty about issues of abuse, go get it straight from the sources, from people who won't doll it up and hack it into pieces to make a buck off of it. When LeRoy starts writing from the heart, I'll start reading him again.