561: A Funny Contemporary Story of How Three People Move One Life

by Katherine Heiny

From the author of Standard Deviation comes a wryly tender story of crises and cardboard boxes; of marriage and moving on.

*Includes a free extract from Katherine Heiny’s debut novel, Standard Deviation*

'Just as Jane Austen believed that four people cannot comfortably walk abreast, Charlene believes that three people cannot amicably move one person's belongings. At least not when two of the people used to be married to each other, and the marriage resulted in a bitter divorce in order for one of them to marry the third person'

When Forrest's ex-wife Barbara calls on him to help her move out of the home they once shared, his second wife Charlie finds herself carrying not only dozens of boxes, but also the weight of their shared past. Barbara and Charlie first met twenty years ago when they volunteered at a suicide crisis hotline, and one night in particular is seared into Charlie's memory…

From the author of Standard Deviation comes a wryly tender story of crises and cardboard boxes; of marriage and moving on.

Genres: Fiction

54 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 2, 2018

About the author

Katherine Heiny's fiction has been published in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, Narrative,Glimmer Train, and many other places. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Anni]

This ended far too soon!
I was happily reading on Kindle and suddenly, without any by-your-leave, Heaney left me dangling in mid air like Wily Coyote chasing the roadrunner off the cliff edge.
Apart from that, it’s a sweet taster for her later feel-good novels.

[Jodi (on semi-hiatus)]

Very short, but very impactful and memorable (although it left me with questions at the end). I want to read more from this author!

[Cassidy]

I WANT ALL THE KATHERINE HEINY!!!!!! I’m a huge fan girl of her short story novel Single, Carefree, Mellow and her novel Standard Deviation. This baby novella was too short and I wanted to know so much more about the characters but it was a nice lil treat until she publishes her next novel.

[Dani Mendonca]

Aceito qualquer migalha que essa mulher tiver pra oferecer

[Trish]

This was a very brief but insightful story that was over before I knew it. Maybe it’s because I’m reading her works back to back, but compared to the thoroughness of Standard Deviation and Early Morning Riser, 561 is just a taste, barely a glimpse of what Heiny excels at: writing about the complex and often hilarious relationships between a woman, her husband, and her husband’s ex-wife.

I think for future novels I’d like to see Heiny venture out of her comfort zone and write about a different sort of family/marriage dynamic. Or maybe stick to what she knows but from the perspective of the thwarted, left-behind ex-wife instead.

This short story/novella would serve as an excellent intro to Katherine Heiny if someone is curious about her writing style and themes she explores.

[Gaurita]

The only thing I didn’t like about this book is that the reading experience last for so short a time. The book is the quickest read but it’s all things Katherine Heiny-witty, funny and clever.

[aimen🍉]

reading this was like having someone gently flick my snow globe of a mind, causing unfrequented memories to resurface.... much like falling snowflakes ...left me feeling all warm & fuzzy

[Aoife Cassidy]

Nice little short story by Heiny about a couple helping one of their former spouses pack up her belongings before a house move. I read it in 30 minutes and enjoyed it a lot.

I really love Heiny’s writing; it’s sharp, observant, witty. Sometimes however, her jokes err on the side of being offensive. There’s a joke about “gypsies” in this one that just felt unnecessary- she’s funny enough without having to resort to racist tropes. I recall something similar in Early Morning Riser.

Looking forward to reading her new book out in April.

[Susan]

Super quick read but rewarding

I had put three Katherine Heinz books on my kindle after reading a favourable review of her latest , the review described her as the writer I recommend to my closest friends . I started reading 561 and read for half an hour but had to break off to get on with things , The next morning before I even got out of bed I finished reading it . Engaging and interesting and certainly looking forward to the next one .

[Tobias Wilson]

Look did I just read this because it's basically a short story and I wanted to fudge my numbers towards the end of the year? Yes absolutely but it's wonderfully written, I genuinely laughed out loud loads. I'll definitely be picking up her novels.

[Beth]

Great- but I didnt realize it was a short story!

[Live To Read]

Too short 😊

[Deece de Paor]

Contrary to my normal complaint that was way too short

[Vicki Duncan]

I didn’t realise this was a short story until I started and this left me wishing it was a full size book!

[Alistair James]

3.5 stars, rounded down

[Um mar de fogueirinhas]

She’s done it again: interesting and real characters full of layers.