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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gut wrenching, heartwarming, brutal and beautiful
What a story. Eye opening. Get a glimpse into the world of many parents of severely autistic children. This has so many layers and different topics explored, love, friendship, parent-child relationship breakdown, adult relationship breakdown, moving on, death, grief, happiness, addiction…. It’s all there. Quite the rollercoaster.
What a story. Eye opening. Get a glimpse into the world of many parents of severely autistic children. This has so many layers and different topics explored, love, friendship, parent-child relationship breakdown, adult relationship breakdown, moving on, death, grief, happiness, addiction…. It’s all there. Quite the rollercoaster.
בן ואמה ג'ול מגדלים את ג'ונה בן העשר, בנם האוטיסט בתפקוד נמוך, ונלחמים להכניס אותו לבית ספר המתאים לצרכיו המיוחדים, אשר לרוע המזל, מצוי ברובע אליו הם אינם משויכים. אמה מציעה לזייף פרידה, ובן עובר עם ג'ונה להתגורר ברובע "הנכון" עם אביו הקשיש וניצול השואה גיאורג, ופותח במאבק משפטי קשה מול הרשויות אשר מסרבות לאפשר לו לרשום את בנו לבית הספר.
הספר מגולל את מערכות היחסים המרתקות בין גיאורג, בן וג'ונה, המתקשים לתקשר ביניהם (ג'ונה אינו מסוגל לדבר כלל), את ההתמודדות הקשה עם האוטיזם של ג'ונה, אשר כולל בין היתר אי שליטה על הצרכים, התפרצויות אלימות, ואי מודעות לסכנה, ואת היחסים עם אמה, אשר נותרה מחוץ לבית. מעניין, קשה, שובר לב. מומלץ לקריאה.
הספר מגולל את מערכות היחסים המרתקות בין גיאורג, בן וג'ונה, המתקשים לתקשר ביניהם (ג'ונה אינו מסוגל לדבר כלל), את ההתמודדות הקשה עם האוטיזם של ג'ונה, אשר כולל בין היתר אי שליטה על הצרכים, התפרצויות אלימות, ואי מודעות לסכנה, ואת היחסים עם אמה, אשר נותרה מחוץ לבית. מעניין, קשה, שובר לב. מומלץ לקריאה.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
Shtum effectively combines humour with heart-wrenching sadness; it's up and down, a bit like a rollercoaster. The story felt hugely important to read, not just because it was such a mix of emotions, but also because the topic reminds us of the struggles some families and parents face every day, to a point none us could accurately guess without living through it ourselves.
The characters are hugely complex. Ben is so likeable because he’s not perfect – in fact, at times, he’s a bit of a shit! But with everything he’s got going on I kind of feel he has a right to be. At times I really hated Emma but as the novel went on I found myself coming round to her point of view more and more, and a lot more than I imagined I would. And Jonah - the star of the novel - is enigmatic and, at times, utterly charming in his own way!
This is definitely not an 'easy' read, but the writing itself IS easy to read because it flows so well, even in parts that seem difficult or confusing. I didn’t really know what to expect before I read, and I’m glad of that – it’s easier to completely lose yourself in a book when you haven’t read too much about it, though I was aware that it had had great reviews. The way Jem Lester writers really leaves you with a sense of Ben’s (and Jonah’s, in a way) confusion as they essentially try to muddle through live together – there’s no handbook for this kind of parenting!
Despite the subject matter being hard-hitting, I really enjoyed reading Shtum, and it’s a testament to Jem Lester’s writing that he can take such a tricky subject and put it to readers with just the right amount of emotion, humour and love. Definitely recommended.
* Many thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
Shtum effectively combines humour with heart-wrenching sadness; it's up and down, a bit like a rollercoaster. The story felt hugely important to read, not just because it was such a mix of emotions, but also because the topic reminds us of the struggles some families and parents face every day, to a point none us could accurately guess without living through it ourselves.
The characters are hugely complex. Ben is so likeable because he’s not perfect – in fact, at times, he’s a bit of a shit! But with everything he’s got going on I kind of feel he has a right to be. At times I really hated Emma but as the novel went on I found myself coming round to her point of view more and more, and a lot more than I imagined I would. And Jonah - the star of the novel - is enigmatic and, at times, utterly charming in his own way!
This is definitely not an 'easy' read, but the writing itself IS easy to read because it flows so well, even in parts that seem difficult or confusing. I didn’t really know what to expect before I read, and I’m glad of that – it’s easier to completely lose yourself in a book when you haven’t read too much about it, though I was aware that it had had great reviews. The way Jem Lester writers really leaves you with a sense of Ben’s (and Jonah’s, in a way) confusion as they essentially try to muddle through live together – there’s no handbook for this kind of parenting!
Despite the subject matter being hard-hitting, I really enjoyed reading Shtum, and it’s a testament to Jem Lester’s writing that he can take such a tricky subject and put it to readers with just the right amount of emotion, humour and love. Definitely recommended.
* Many thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
emotional
funny
sad
I was passed this book from a member of TBC on Facebook after being really eager to read it. What an amazing book! I loved every minute of it, and its really opened my eyes to Autism. I loved how the first half of the book had me hating Jonah's mum for things she had done, the second half of the book totally swayed my opinion after things were explained as to why she had done the things she had. I won't give anything else away - but if you're reading my review, please please buy this book once its available (7th April) you won't be disappointed :)
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oooo a book group read chosen by someone who always seems to choose good books. The story of a man and his autistic son and a wife who is a bit selfish.
Eye opener into the autism spectrum and worth a read.
It's not all sad but it made me think a lot more about people and autism.
Eye opener into the autism spectrum and worth a read.
It's not all sad but it made me think a lot more about people and autism.