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clairedrum's review
3.0
I think the relationships, dialogue, and characterization were well written. I just wish it didn’t center around a walking stereotype of Asperger’s/autism. I think an engaging story could’ve emerged without that. Also… the ending. What the heck? After all the time we’ve spent with these characters we get zero closure. Not the best but not the worst book I’ve read
kellylacey's review
3.0
I enjoyed the book but I already knew what had happened and what would come out in the end. If you read it properly and took in Jacobs condition etc.
It was still a worthwile read. If your a Picqoult fan you will not be disappointed.
It was still a worthwile read. If your a Picqoult fan you will not be disappointed.
knittyreader's review against another edition
4.0
I love Picoult's style of writing - as my husband remarked, with 'House Rules' it was the first time since his ts two months ago that I had hyperfocus while reading a book - something I had regularly before that. So yes, I have to thank Picoult for bringing this piece of joy back to me!
Talking about my husband ... that is the only reason I do not give this book a five-star-rating. At the start of the book mother Emma tells how she only knew about the Rainman-type of person with autism, that this movie does not show an accurate view on Asperger's, and that this view scared her. My husband is an Aspie, and absolutely nothing like Rainman. Jacob, meanwhile, was a Rainman-figure too. I think it is a shame that Picoult pictured the same view on Asperger's she denounced on the first pages. My husband is an Aspie, and he is wonderful, not at all as ... difficult as Jacob is.
Talking about my husband ... that is the only reason I do not give this book a five-star-rating. At the start of the book mother Emma tells how she only knew about the Rainman-type of person with autism, that this movie does not show an accurate view on Asperger's, and that this view scared her. My husband is an Aspie, and absolutely nothing like Rainman. Jacob, meanwhile, was a Rainman-figure too. I think it is a shame that Picoult pictured the same view on Asperger's she denounced on the first pages. My husband is an Aspie, and he is wonderful, not at all as ... difficult as Jacob is.
mschrock8's review
5.0
Another book of complicated situations that really make you wonder how you would handle yourself if presented with any of this.
jadeeby's review
3.0
Originally published at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements
Right away I noticed that this book followed the same formula as her other ones. Abnormal child, angsty sibling, overworked mother, transparent and predictable romance. Most of the time Picoult can get away with using her formula because the writing is done so well and she executes the story in a way where the formula is forgotten. Not in this one. The general premise is that Jacob is a teenage boy with Asperger's Syndrome which a high-functioning form of Autisim. His brother Theo is two years younger and is sick of all the attention his brother gets as well as having a brother labled as a "retard." Their mother works very hard and loves both of her sons to an extreme. Jacob, like many other autistic children have a speciality they focus on at point in time. For Jacob this speciality happens to be criminal forensics. He creates crime scenes, and trys to solve murders and even shows up at some crime scenes to help police solve the case. But when someone close to Jacob and his family ends up dead, there ends up being substantial evidence that points to Jacob as a suspect. The premise sounds great doesn't it? I thought so too, but Picoult messed it up along the way somehow. First off, it's extremely difficult to capture the entire reality of Asperger's Syndrome in a novel, especially when you are an outsider to the fact. If all of her information is factual and correct to what it is like to have Asperger's than I would guess she did a pretty good job of showing us on paper. But she tried to go leaps and bounds over her knowledge of how Asperger's would play out in a courtroom setting, in a trial and etc. The first half of the book was wonderful. It was written in true Jodi Picoult form, the characters were given backgrounds, their quirks examined, she brought them to life. The second half was terrible. I dont know where she went wrong, but it was like reading an entirely different novel. She raises questions, but doesn't answer them. She doesn't tie up loose ends. And the worst part...she ends it so terribly. I literally was SO mad at the ending that I threw it on the ground after I'd finished it. I was THAT mad. It made me realize two things. One, every talented writer can have a really shitty book after being super successful. Two, if she can write a terrible book and still get paid gobs of money, than by gosh, so can I. I give this book a D on my rating scale.
Right away I noticed that this book followed the same formula as her other ones. Abnormal child, angsty sibling, overworked mother, transparent and predictable romance. Most of the time Picoult can get away with using her formula because the writing is done so well and she executes the story in a way where the formula is forgotten. Not in this one. The general premise is that Jacob is a teenage boy with Asperger's Syndrome which a high-functioning form of Autisim. His brother Theo is two years younger and is sick of all the attention his brother gets as well as having a brother labled as a "retard." Their mother works very hard and loves both of her sons to an extreme. Jacob, like many other autistic children have a speciality they focus on at point in time. For Jacob this speciality happens to be criminal forensics. He creates crime scenes, and trys to solve murders and even shows up at some crime scenes to help police solve the case. But when someone close to Jacob and his family ends up dead, there ends up being substantial evidence that points to Jacob as a suspect. The premise sounds great doesn't it? I thought so too, but Picoult messed it up along the way somehow. First off, it's extremely difficult to capture the entire reality of Asperger's Syndrome in a novel, especially when you are an outsider to the fact. If all of her information is factual and correct to what it is like to have Asperger's than I would guess she did a pretty good job of showing us on paper. But she tried to go leaps and bounds over her knowledge of how Asperger's would play out in a courtroom setting, in a trial and etc. The first half of the book was wonderful. It was written in true Jodi Picoult form, the characters were given backgrounds, their quirks examined, she brought them to life. The second half was terrible. I dont know where she went wrong, but it was like reading an entirely different novel. She raises questions, but doesn't answer them. She doesn't tie up loose ends. And the worst part...she ends it so terribly. I literally was SO mad at the ending that I threw it on the ground after I'd finished it. I was THAT mad. It made me realize two things. One, every talented writer can have a really shitty book after being super successful. Two, if she can write a terrible book and still get paid gobs of money, than by gosh, so can I. I give this book a D on my rating scale.
sparklethenpop's review
4.0
I waited a while to read this book because I was getting a little tired of Picoult. Her characters were the same, and her storylines were the same. Although this did have some elements in common with other stories by her. It was refreshing to see a mother who wasn't as horrible as others in her books, and I actually didn't figure out the twist halfway through like I have in a past. Welcome back Jodi Picoult.
bibliobeth's review
5.0
Wow! I think it's safe to say at this point that Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors!
lindseyslittlelibrary's review
5.0
Great story and perspective of a boy with Asperger's syndrome. A great reminder that things aren't always how they seem. The story blames vaccinations for Jacob getting autism - very interesting that the theory has now been disproven.