Book Review: ‘Aside From My Heart, All Is Well,’ by Héctor Abad

Why It Matters

The novel revives debate on clerical authenticity and modern faith, offering a nuanced portrait that resonates amid ongoing scrutiny of religious institutions.

Key Takeaways

• Novel framed as priest’s journal reflecting 1996 Medellín backdrop
• Protagonist Luis Córdoba awaits heart transplant, sparking existential reflections
• Romance with housemaid highlights clergy’s conflict with celibacy vows
• Author’s own heart surgery informs themes of vulnerability and redemption
• Story critiques Catholic moral absolutism through humor and personal history

Pulse Analysis

Héctor Abad’s latest work, *Aside From My Heart, All Is Well*, arrives at a moment when literature is increasingly interrogating institutional authority. Set in 1996 Medellín, the novel is constructed from the journal of Aurelio Sánchez, an aging priest who memorializes his colleague Luis Córdoba, a charismatic cleric awaiting a heart transplant. Abad, who survived open‑heart surgery in 2021, channels his personal brush with mortality into the narrative, blurring the line between author and character. The translation by Anne McLean preserves the lyrical cadence of the original Spanish, inviting an English‑speaking audience to explore a uniquely Colombian clerical world.

The novel deliberately unsettles the stereotypical image of the Roman Catholic priest as a moral monolith. Through Córdoba’s clandestine romance with a housemaid and his passion for opera, Abad illustrates how spiritual devotion can coexist with human desire and artistic expression. The recurring metaphor of a ‘big heart’—both literal and symbolic—serves to question the church’s expectations of self‑denial, while the journal format grants readers intimate access to the priests’ doubts, humor, and moments of grace. This blend of satire and sincerity invites a re‑examination of faith’s place in contemporary society.

From a market perspective, *Aside From My Heart, All Is Well* taps into a growing appetite for stories that humanize religious figures while probing institutional critique. The book’s blend of personal memoir, historical setting, and lyrical prose positions it for literary awards and book‑club discussion, especially among readers drawn to works like *The Power of the Dog* or *The Devil’s Advocate*. As the Catholic Church continues to navigate scandals and calls for reform, Abad’s narrative offers a timely cultural touchstone, encouraging dialogue about compassion, accountability, and the evolving role of clergy in the 21st‑century public sphere.