Luisa Cracht’s books, in particular, are very popular in the United Kingdom. Her novels and stories are not only highly informative but are often written with an enjoyable sense of humor that makes them very appealing reading materials for children and adults alike. Her most well-known creation, however, is undoubtedly “The Heart Mender”; a picture book that follows the misadventures of a widower named Max Handerson (played by James Belushi) as he attempts to adjust to his new status as father and wife. The novel’s storyline might appear simplistic in comparison to the topics it covers (marriage, divorce, children, and so on), but the entertaining writing style and the touching characters make it a light read for all ages.
Max and Flo Handerson have been married for five years when their son Diego (nicknamed Foof) suddenly falls ill with a rare and incurable illness. The only doctor who can cure him is Mrs. Emili Huff; a French-speaking, Catholic-turned-atheist who refuses to accept the death of her son. For reasons that are later revealed, the couple is told that their son will die if they do not leave Florida and go to France to be raised there. When they decide to go ahead with their relocation, they are caught up in a variety of romances, and several of them develop over the course of the following year. It becomes clear to the reader that this is a book about marriage, but its main theme is one of how people can come to terms with their differences and move on with their lives after a long marriage has ended.
The novel is timely in its discussions of family relationships, premarital sex, and divorce. It touches on various subjects that are of vital importance to many young couples today. Although it does not answer every question or solve every problem, it will make some reading more satisfying than many other works on the subject. The Heart Mender remains on every best-seller list, proving just why it is one of the best romance books ever written; its positive message is one we all need to know.