House Rules by Jodi Picoult
I about halfway through this book and it's pretty difficult reading. I think most of her books deal with difficult subjects. House Rules is about a family dealing with a child with Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's syndrome is on the Autism spectrum. I think Asperger's also has a 'spectrum' and Jacob is on the severe end of the spectrum. I can't imagine how much goes into daily life with a child like Jacob. I do know however, that not all families/moms go to the 'trouble' that Jacob's mom Emma goes to. She dedicates every moment to Jacob's Asperger's. Is this good or bad? It's probably good for Jacob, but it's bad for her marriage (her husband left the family and it's really, really bad for her other son Theo. That's who I feel sorry for in stories and in real life. I feel sorry for the sibling who is completely ignored so that the special sibling has everything he/she needs. Does that make me a bad person? I don't think so, but some may think it sounds bad.
At this point of the book, Jacob has been arrested for the murder of his social interaction coach. He's obsessed with crime scene television shows and while the book tells us that he staged the scene where the body was found, we do not know who the murderer is. There are at least three suspects so far that we've been shown. Jacob who went to meet his social interaction coach the day she was murdered and set the scene as described above. Theo who has been going into strange houses to pretend he lives the lives of the family of the house. On the day of the murder he broke into the house that the coach (Jess) was house sitting and she caught him. And Mark, Jess's boyfriend who is abusive. Will post a complete review when I'm finished, but if you've been pondering reading this one, I say go for it!
I tend to agree with you, about the neglected one I mean, it happens.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea to do a book review for A-Z. I agree about Jodi's books. This one sounds like a great read. Thanks for posting. Will check it out. :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend.
I didn't realize that you were doing the A-Z Blogging Challenge this month! I'm also trying to keep up with daily posting, but over on my LiveJournal. Thanks for stopping by Reading in Texas and cheering me along in the Read-a-Thon. Take care, pal.
ReplyDeleteThere are many illnesses that people don't or won't understand, what you wrote about is one and it's sad that they become the neglected ones. My son is a carer in a home for the adult autisitc and at times have to take them out, they too get stared at.Myself has epilepsy and from the onset said that "It lives with me" and not me with it. The condition has got better of late but many the time years ago there was discrimination..
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your write and would like to thank you for your comment on my post.
Yvonne.
My nephew is autistic, and the statistic now is 1 in 110 families will face it. Very real subject to be writing about. Let me know when you're done with the book if it's worth the read to the end!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I have a niece and a nephew who are "aspys".
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog!
Thanks for the review. I think any condition is hard for everyone in the family all the way around. I really admire those that must meet those challenges. One of my critique partners is also writing about a teen with asperger's and I'm really enjoying her novel.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the most difficult things to read are the things we really need to better understand about the human condition.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if something is rather colorful in its content (i.e. gory), there is of course an exception to this rule.
It's a pleasure to meet you via the A-Z Challenge!
Sounds like a kind of book I'd like to read. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for stopping by and for your kind comment.
Doris