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abbywebb's review
4.0
Jacob is 18 years old. He is a high school senior with a rather high IQ. He rotates through interests, although some might consider his interests to be "obsessions." His current interest of choice is forensic science. Jacob loves to watch his favourite show, Crimebusters, and take notes on what is happening. He also likes to recreate fictional homicidal crime scenes for his mother to "solve."
Oh yah, Jacob has also been diagnosed with Asperger's disorder which is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To outsiders, he appears to be socially inept as he understands language only in a literal sense not a figurative one, does not make eye contact regularly, and he is hypersensitive to certain stimuli in his environment.
One day, Jacob's social skills tutor, Jess, has been reported missing by her boyfriend. Eventually her body is found and Jacob is the one accused by police as murdering her. In typical Picoult fashion, a murder trial begins.
I felt that House Rules was more predictable than the other books I have read by Picoult, but it was good nonetheless. Although the ending was sub-par for my liking, Picoult captured ASD with such an intensity and brutal honesty that I felt that she must have more experience with the disorder than simply having researched it. It felt as though she is the parent of a child with ASD. I even give her kudos for writing several chapters from Jacob's perspective. I don't think many authors could write a first person narrative of someone with ASD without it seeming contrived or phoney. Having dealt a lot with individuals with ASD (including Asperger's), I can see many similarities between Jacob and the children I have worked with.
To me, this one was of her finer works of fiction but probably because I have a professional interest in autism (I just attended a two-day workshop on the subject this week). For those of you who like the anticipation and the plot twists and intense page-turning of her typical books, seek out something else. But I truly believe that we all have a lot to learn from this book.
Oh yah, Jacob has also been diagnosed with Asperger's disorder which is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To outsiders, he appears to be socially inept as he understands language only in a literal sense not a figurative one, does not make eye contact regularly, and he is hypersensitive to certain stimuli in his environment.
One day, Jacob's social skills tutor, Jess, has been reported missing by her boyfriend. Eventually her body is found and Jacob is the one accused by police as murdering her. In typical Picoult fashion, a murder trial begins.
I felt that House Rules was more predictable than the other books I have read by Picoult, but it was good nonetheless. Although the ending was sub-par for my liking, Picoult captured ASD with such an intensity and brutal honesty that I felt that she must have more experience with the disorder than simply having researched it. It felt as though she is the parent of a child with ASD. I even give her kudos for writing several chapters from Jacob's perspective. I don't think many authors could write a first person narrative of someone with ASD without it seeming contrived or phoney. Having dealt a lot with individuals with ASD (including Asperger's), I can see many similarities between Jacob and the children I have worked with.
To me, this one was of her finer works of fiction but probably because I have a professional interest in autism (I just attended a two-day workshop on the subject this week). For those of you who like the anticipation and the plot twists and intense page-turning of her typical books, seek out something else. But I truly believe that we all have a lot to learn from this book.
gabrielleried's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jgraydee's review
3.0
I read this book because I had just finished 'Look Me in the Eye,' and I was interested in another author's perspective on the topic of Aspergers.
This book provided some insight, but it was disappointing overall. Picoult's books are all the same: a family crisis, a broken home, a mother who single handedly brings the family through.
This will probably be the last Picoult book I read. I always enjoy her story being told from multiple perspectives. This is one of Picoult's strengths. But I am tired of all the stories being the same. Here is an idea for Picoult: tell of a family crisis where the family works thru it together and stays together. It isn't easy, and could make for a very raw story at times, but I think it is a story of contemporary families that should be told. Growth comes to individuals in a crisis, but a family's commitment to one another also grows. It makes for a good story.
This book provided some insight, but it was disappointing overall. Picoult's books are all the same: a family crisis, a broken home, a mother who single handedly brings the family through.
This will probably be the last Picoult book I read. I always enjoy her story being told from multiple perspectives. This is one of Picoult's strengths. But I am tired of all the stories being the same. Here is an idea for Picoult: tell of a family crisis where the family works thru it together and stays together. It isn't easy, and could make for a very raw story at times, but I think it is a story of contemporary families that should be told. Growth comes to individuals in a crisis, but a family's commitment to one another also grows. It makes for a good story.
playswithstring's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
500+ pages of build up to have an open ending š
I donāt need everything tied up in a pretty bow, but if a large part of the book includes a court case Iād like to at least know the outcome of the trial.
I donāt need everything tied up in a pretty bow, but if a large part of the book includes a court case Iād like to at least know the outcome of the trial.
sassmaster14000's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
urbanstheno's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cannabookie314's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the_book_of_t's review against another edition
2.0
I want to preface this review by stating that this isnāt good representation of autism. A lot of the terms used throughout are outdated and a lot of the beliefs debunked. Whilst autism is a spectrum, itās clear that the author made Jacob the most textbook example of (what was formally known as) Aspergerās syndrome.
I personally felt that she was also somewhat inconsistent with the way she portrayed him. Jacob would often do or say things that completely opposed previous texts that spoon fed the reader a copious amount of repetitive autism symptoms. In a way, this seemed to reinforce the ideas mentioned about autism causation and ācuresā. It was as if Jacob displaying empathy or being sarcastic was purposely against his character as a way to represent development. Like we should be willing him to be rid of autism.
I first purchased this book as a young teenager. Iām glad I didnāt read it until years later. Growing up autistic was already difficult to contend with at times but to be presented with this notion that people believe that I may be a murderous psychopath or a societal jester, would have completely destroyed any hope of me leading a positive life. Or perhaps it would have sent me on an anti-vax fixation as is commonly thrusted on us throughout the duration of this book?
You might ask why I decided to give this book two stars when considering my views on its poor representation. I would say that despite the above, I found the book somewhat palatable. The writing style was easy to read, the pacing felt fitting, and most characters were developed enough to have a form of identity.
The mystery itself was pretty predictable. You could find yourself with some guesses as to the conclusion pretty early on. Perhaps within the first 100 pages, you know exactly where this book is likely to take you. However, the legal process was somewhat interesting to read.
Overall, I wouldnāt necessarily recommend this book. There are plenty more choices for good autism recommendations and an ever-growing number of mysteries that can have you on the edge of your seat. If you are going to read this, I think itās important to recognise its flaws even if you enjoy its content.
I personally felt that she was also somewhat inconsistent with the way she portrayed him. Jacob would often do or say things that completely opposed previous texts that spoon fed the reader a copious amount of repetitive autism symptoms. In a way, this seemed to reinforce the ideas mentioned about autism causation and ācuresā. It was as if Jacob displaying empathy or being sarcastic was purposely against his character as a way to represent development. Like we should be willing him to be rid of autism.
I first purchased this book as a young teenager. Iām glad I didnāt read it until years later. Growing up autistic was already difficult to contend with at times but to be presented with this notion that people believe that I may be a murderous psychopath or a societal jester, would have completely destroyed any hope of me leading a positive life. Or perhaps it would have sent me on an anti-vax fixation as is commonly thrusted on us throughout the duration of this book?
You might ask why I decided to give this book two stars when considering my views on its poor representation. I would say that despite the above, I found the book somewhat palatable. The writing style was easy to read, the pacing felt fitting, and most characters were developed enough to have a form of identity.
The mystery itself was pretty predictable. You could find yourself with some guesses as to the conclusion pretty early on. Perhaps within the first 100 pages, you know exactly where this book is likely to take you. However, the legal process was somewhat interesting to read.
Overall, I wouldnāt necessarily recommend this book. There are plenty more choices for good autism recommendations and an ever-growing number of mysteries that can have you on the edge of your seat. If you are going to read this, I think itās important to recognise its flaws even if you enjoy its content.
abaugher's review against another edition
3.0
i didn't even intend to read another picoult book and thought this was a different book before i started it. then, of course, i just HAD to finish it. you know jodi, she showed different people's perspecitves and a secret in the middle of it all. at the end, the secret unravelled pathetically, but by then i realized the secret wasn't the real story anyway.