Heart of Junk by Luke Geddes

Title:  Heart of Junk

Author:  Luke Geddes

Read by:  Samantha Desz, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Rebekkah Ross, and Jacques Roy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 7 hours and 43 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

The Heart of America is an antique mall in Wichita Kansas and the inhabitants are a motley crew whose personal possessions have taken an outsized roll in their lives.   Keith is one of the owners of the mall and he has its future hinging on Mark and Grant of “Pickin’ Fortunes” stopping by and showcasing the mall on his show.  The great recession has gripped America, and is leaving an impact on everyone.  His wife has squandered any money they had collecting pottery including the money saved for their daughter Ellie’s college education.  Ellie is attending the local community college, working at Heart of America, and dreaming of leaving Wichita.  When a local child beauty contest contestant goes missing, Mark and Grant’s trip may be cancelled.  Where is Lindy Bobo and how will the Heart of America tenants deal with this setback?

I loved the humor and quirkiness of this novel. It was dark humor and satire, and very different from other novels I’ve read, and I loved it.  It is not for everyone.  The various tenants narrated different chapters and the audiobook had a different voice narrator for each one.  It was perfect.  I come from a family of collectors that loves antique stores.  My mother has had an antique booth.  I understand the fever of collecting.  My weakness is collecting books.

Margaret collects glassware and is very strict about the rules of the antique mall while pining for her friend Pattie who has left the mall.  To make things even worse, a couple, Lee & Seymour have taken Pattie’s old booth, and have filled it full of knick knacks, some of which are vulgar and others that don’t follow the rules, like an M.C. Hammer doll.  Lee & Seymour have returned to Lee’s hometown after going bankrupt out east.  Lee was once in a boy band in the 70’s.  Besides their shared vinyl collection, the spark has been lost in their relationship.  Delores collects Barbies and they speak to her.  Ronald has lost his wife.  The Heart of America and his postcard collection are all he has left.  Will this motley crew find Lindy Bobo and maybe themselves?

Overall, The Heart of America is a unique audiobook filled with quirky charters.  I loved the dark humor.