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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
A wonderful book that opens your eyes to living and caring for autistics. read my full review here: https://booklovesreviews.wordpress.com/2017/09/11/finding-truth-without-words-a-review-of-shtum-by-jem-lester/
The cover of this book has statements such as "Ten-year-old Jonah can't speak, but it is time his family listened," and "Jonah has never spoken, yet somehow he communicates better than all of the adults in his life." While Jem Lester's debut novel is about Jonah, a child with severe Autism, it is also about a whole lot more than that. This is why I entitled my review of this book, "The Volumes of Silence" despite the cliché. You'll understand better what I mean, from my review of this wonderful novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/05/27/the-volumes-of-silence/
A beautiful and harrowing read with lots of laughter and many more tears.
I really enjoyed this book.
It was interesting to learn more about what life with an autistic child is like.
The book had times where you knew what was coming but it still makes you cry anyway
The characters are fabulous and are developed throughout the book.
I like how everything wraps up nicely at the end of the story but also how it keeps you turning the pages.
I read this book in two sittings. This book will stay with my for a while and will be kept on my bookshelf and never given away! But I recommend everyone to read it, it’s wonderful.
It was interesting to learn more about what life with an autistic child is like.
The book had times where you knew what was coming but it still makes you cry anyway
The characters are fabulous and are developed throughout the book.
I like how everything wraps up nicely at the end of the story but also how it keeps you turning the pages.
I read this book in two sittings. This book will stay with my for a while and will be kept on my bookshelf and never given away! But I recommend everyone to read it, it’s wonderful.
A rather powerful book about the realities of dealing with profound autism.
Told from Ben's point of view we get the full perspective on what it's like to be a single parent looking after an autistic child, his son Jonah.
Helping him is his elderly father Georg and with the three of them it's a male dominated book, for me quite an interesting point of view to look at when reading. Jonah aged ten doesn't speak at all and Ben's communication with his Dad is a bit fragmented and this cleverly seemed to reflect Jonah's own inability to communicate to others on what he wants and what he's feeling.
There were times where I found myself laughing along with these characters of the sadness that an illness such as autism brings on a family, but that seeing the funny side of things eases the seriousness of it. I really did feel an emotional connection with the main characters going through such trying times of parenthood, each of them dealing with their struggles in different ways such as drug taking and alcohol. It's one of those stories where you're better at understanding things when you're in the situation yourself, however I did feel a great deal of empathy for Ben.
Catering to Jonah's ever need including changing his nappy, bathing him, and then importantly fighting a case to get him the professional help he needs to improve his way of life by going to a specialist school for autistic children- this all comes to head when Ben and Emma file a court case to get Jonah into a suitable school.
To top off this difficult time, Ben and Emma's relationship is on the rocks and Ben seems well and truly alone with some help from his Dad. I really felt for Ben throughout this book, and yet even when he got frustrated with Jonah you could see that there's nothing that he wouldn't do for that little boy. It made my heart feel all warm to read of their father and son love which we also see with Ben and Georg, although a little hostile at times I found Georg to be the rock of the trio. We learn of his own background as a Jew during the war which I felt gave this book an even more powerful motion over me, and the modesty of his survival is quite remarkable.
I wasn't a fan of Emma, despite her personal struggles in relation to Jonah and to Ben I found her to be a bit of a lost cause and I'm glad she didn't feature an awful amount in this book as I don't think I would have given it a high rating.
Despite all of this going on you see Jonah quietly happy with his life, munching on Marmite toast, playing in the garden and having fun bubble baths. He was simply adorable, an innocent child who didn't know any different and was perfectly content.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can already sense that it's going to be a huge success, I didn't want to put it down as it's one of those books that gives you comfort and provides you with the hope that you can get through anything. Life will only bring you what you can handle, big or small and I felt that this book really demonstrates this point. I like reading books that discuss health matters such as autism, it gives greater understanding to those who aren't aware of what the illness is and what it's like to live with a person with the condition and the impact it has on everyone involved.
Well done to Jem Lester for writing such a wonderfully written book, there's no doubt that it deserves a five star rating.
Helping him is his elderly father Georg and with the three of them it's a male dominated book, for me quite an interesting point of view to look at when reading. Jonah aged ten doesn't speak at all and Ben's communication with his Dad is a bit fragmented and this cleverly seemed to reflect Jonah's own inability to communicate to others on what he wants and what he's feeling.
There were times where I found myself laughing along with these characters of the sadness that an illness such as autism brings on a family, but that seeing the funny side of things eases the seriousness of it. I really did feel an emotional connection with the main characters going through such trying times of parenthood, each of them dealing with their struggles in different ways such as drug taking and alcohol. It's one of those stories where you're better at understanding things when you're in the situation yourself, however I did feel a great deal of empathy for Ben.
Catering to Jonah's ever need including changing his nappy, bathing him, and then importantly fighting a case to get him the professional help he needs to improve his way of life by going to a specialist school for autistic children- this all comes to head when Ben and Emma file a court case to get Jonah into a suitable school.
To top off this difficult time, Ben and Emma's relationship is on the rocks and Ben seems well and truly alone with some help from his Dad. I really felt for Ben throughout this book, and yet even when he got frustrated with Jonah you could see that there's nothing that he wouldn't do for that little boy. It made my heart feel all warm to read of their father and son love which we also see with Ben and Georg, although a little hostile at times I found Georg to be the rock of the trio. We learn of his own background as a Jew during the war which I felt gave this book an even more powerful motion over me, and the modesty of his survival is quite remarkable.
I wasn't a fan of Emma, despite her personal struggles in relation to Jonah and to Ben I found her to be a bit of a lost cause and I'm glad she didn't feature an awful amount in this book as I don't think I would have given it a high rating.
Despite all of this going on you see Jonah quietly happy with his life, munching on Marmite toast, playing in the garden and having fun bubble baths. He was simply adorable, an innocent child who didn't know any different and was perfectly content.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can already sense that it's going to be a huge success, I didn't want to put it down as it's one of those books that gives you comfort and provides you with the hope that you can get through anything. Life will only bring you what you can handle, big or small and I felt that this book really demonstrates this point. I like reading books that discuss health matters such as autism, it gives greater understanding to those who aren't aware of what the illness is and what it's like to live with a person with the condition and the impact it has on everyone involved.
Well done to Jem Lester for writing such a wonderfully written book, there's no doubt that it deserves a five star rating.
Just having finished this book, perhaps I should give myself time to digest it.
This book really affected me; a mother and father struggling in their relationship and their own mental states to manage a life with an autistic 10 year old. Navigating the highs and mostly lows of a child who cannot communicate, is not toilet trained, has and aggressive outbursts.
This is not a sweet book by any means as it is so real, the author Jen Lester used his own experience with his autistic son and similar battle to ensure he got the care he needed to assist in the writing.
The story interweaves several core characters life struggles and right to the end this book packs a punch.
I cannot really recommend this book more highly and I think my review cannot do justice to it.
This book really affected me; a mother and father struggling in their relationship and their own mental states to manage a life with an autistic 10 year old. Navigating the highs and mostly lows of a child who cannot communicate, is not toilet trained, has and aggressive outbursts.
This is not a sweet book by any means as it is so real, the author Jen Lester used his own experience with his autistic son and similar battle to ensure he got the care he needed to assist in the writing.
The story interweaves several core characters life struggles and right to the end this book packs a punch.
I cannot really recommend this book more highly and I think my review cannot do justice to it.
OH MY GOD. THIS IS AMAZING AND FUNNY AND HEARTBREAKING AND TOTALLY IN NEED OF CAPS LOCK.
Jeez, I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw the book at the wall and then I wanted to scream. I just can't put into words how much I loved this. Jem Lester has written something that MUST be compulsory reading. It is sublime and perfect and real. My read of 2016. And I don't even care it's only the third 2016 book I've read so far.
Jeez, I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw the book at the wall and then I wanted to scream. I just can't put into words how much I loved this. Jem Lester has written something that MUST be compulsory reading. It is sublime and perfect and real. My read of 2016. And I don't even care it's only the third 2016 book I've read so far.
