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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This book was long and at times I thought it was unnecessarily drawn out. Once the trial began however this book kept me very engaged and I was eager to get to the end. Unfortunately the ending really disappointed me and after such a long book I wanted all the loose ends to be tied up which I don’t think they were :/
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a woefully inaccurate and at times harmful representation of autism and frankly, it shouldn’t even exist.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
emotional
sad
medium-paced
"House rules, He said simply. Take care of your brother. He's the only one you've got."
By page 100, I was pretty sure I knew what happened. By page 200, I was definitely sure what happened. By page 300, I couldn't take the thought of reading 200 more pages of this book. So, I skipped to the last 5 pages, and confirmed that I was correct. I should have stopped reading at page 100.
This is my first Jodi Picoult book, and I read it for a book club. This is going to sound snotty, but I know the kind of books Picoult writes (hot topic issue + life-changing event + impossible situation = family tension and angst), and I'm just not interested. Sometimes it can work, but here, it just doesn't.
This is my first Jodi Picoult book, and I read it for a book club. This is going to sound snotty, but I know the kind of books Picoult writes (hot topic issue + life-changing event + impossible situation = family tension and angst), and I'm just not interested. Sometimes it can work, but here, it just doesn't.
Oooh I've been waiting to write this review... because there's so much bullshit in this book that it is incredible. And (obviously) not in a good way.
And before I get into the meat of this review, I'm just going to stick this out there: I'm normally a Jodi Picoult fan. But I'm also going to put this out there: I'm a social worker, I've worked with kids on the autism spectrum (anywhere from low-functioning to high-functioning), and my husband has Asperger's. So, I'm going to dare to say that I probably know more about ASD than the average person.
Let's start off with how Picoult did her research and ended up confusing low-functioning autism with Asperger's syndrome (and although Asperger's is no longer a diagnosis in the DSM-5, I am still gonna be using that term instead of "high-functioning autism" because it's what the book uses, and is also what some clinicians still use as well to make that demarcation between low-functioning and high-functioning autism).
Emphasis mine. Okay, so Emma -- Jacob's mom -- has spent years learning about autism. And she calls her son high-functioning. Hmmm. Yes, Jacob is intelligent... but let's look at this a little closer...
"Full-fledged fit" seems to be defined, by Picoult, as screaming, screeching, flopping around, head-banging, and stimming (self-stimulating, in this case generally by flapping hands or rocking). This is not a sign of high-functioning autism, folks. This is a sign of low-functioning autism.
And then later on in the book, we get into the discussion of why autistic kids are incapable of feeling empathy for others. You guys, I may not be an autism expert, but I've met enough kids who are diagnosed with either low-functioning autism or high-functioning... and none of them lack in empathy. None. Not a single one. They just struggle to show it like us "neurotypicals." But that doesn't mean that they don't feel it.
I'd really rather avoid having the discussion of why authors need to do their research but also make sure that they're not just jam-packing their protagonist full of symptoms of various diagnoses (for that particular discussion, see my review on Daniel Keyes' The Asylum Prophecies). In House Rules, Jacob exhibits some symptoms of Asperger's, but he also exhibits many symptoms of the opposite end of the autism spectrum (i.e., low-functioning autism). You don't see both ends of the spectrum in one person.
I have more quotes from the book that pissed me off, but I'll just stop here with the quoting and emphasizing text and stuff, because I'm wasting a lot of energy on being angry at a book that's already been published, that's been out there, that people have read.
Obviously, I'm disappointed. I was excited when I first bought House Rules because autism/Asperger's is a hot topic (from anti-vaxxer views to "are people with Asperger's sociopaths?" due to the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy). But Jodi Picoult did the diagnosis a huge disservice in this book. Even if it's not widely read, it's still bullshit.
To clarify the difference between high-functioning autism (formerly known as Asperger's) and low-functioning -- and yes, this is going to be somewhat of a generalization because autism is a spectrum. I can't possible cover all of the potential places on that spectrum.
- People who are diagnosed with Asperger's tend to be very intelligent. They are able to live on their own, they are able to hold down jobs, attend school/college/grad school. They can be fixated on one or two specific topics, which is why I believe that autistic traits are seen fairly commonly among college professors (i.e. -- college professors focus on one particular field, say history, and they often have a specialization within that field). They don't pick up on social cues very well, but they can learn to do so, even if it never feels 100% natural to them. They come across as being "a bit quirky" but not usually much more than that. They generally don't have meltdowns nor do they need sensory breaks (although I have met some kids who are under the age of 10, have high-functioning autism, and who do find sensory breaks to be helpful). They also don't normally feel the need to stim in order to calm down when upset. They like routine, but they don't flip out if their routine deviates.
- People with low-functioning autism generally cannot live on their own. They may be very intelligent, but they may also be nonverbal, which is frustrating to them AND their caregivers (but note: nonverbal is not the same as selective mutism, which is usually associated with trauma). They are more likely to need sensory breaks; to not be able to handle deviations from routine; to stim; to organize things in a particular way and flip out if that is disrupted or changed in any way (like Jacob's clothing in ROYGBIV order or the colored food routine that his mom has to endure). They are also not very good at picking up social cues, but generally with low-functioning autism, they are unable to learn to use social cues even if they aren't natural.
Yes, I know the above two paragraphs are generalizations. People who are on the autism spectrum are people -- just like any neurotypical -- and they're different, just like any neurotypical. They have likes and dislikes, they do have feelings (including empathy, damnit, Picoult!), and they can be an absolute joy to have around.
Do not recommend (which is, hopefully, very obvious) -- unless, of course, you want to write a scathing review... which is the main reason I decided to read House Rules after I saw the poor reviews written here on GR.
And before I get into the meat of this review, I'm just going to stick this out there: I'm normally a Jodi Picoult fan. But I'm also going to put this out there: I'm a social worker, I've worked with kids on the autism spectrum (anywhere from low-functioning to high-functioning), and my husband has Asperger's. So, I'm going to dare to say that I probably know more about ASD than the average person.
Let's start off with how Picoult did her research and ended up confusing low-functioning autism with Asperger's syndrome (and although Asperger's is no longer a diagnosis in the DSM-5, I am still gonna be using that term instead of "high-functioning autism" because it's what the book uses, and is also what some clinicians still use as well to make that demarcation between low-functioning and high-functioning autism).
"He has Asperger's syndrome.
I've heard the term, but I'm not about to pretend I'm an expert. "So he's autistic?"
"Technically, yes, but not in a Rain Man kind of way. He's very high-functioning.
- p. 176.
Emphasis mine. Okay, so Emma -- Jacob's mom -- has spent years learning about autism. And she calls her son high-functioning. Hmmm. Yes, Jacob is intelligent... but let's look at this a little closer...
"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. That's Asperger's. Sometimes Jacob seems totally normal -- brilliant even -- and sometimes the tiniest thing can set him off into a full-fledged fit."
- p. 195.
"Full-fledged fit" seems to be defined, by Picoult, as screaming, screeching, flopping around, head-banging, and stimming (self-stimulating, in this case generally by flapping hands or rocking). This is not a sign of high-functioning autism, folks. This is a sign of low-functioning autism.
And then later on in the book, we get into the discussion of why autistic kids are incapable of feeling empathy for others. You guys, I may not be an autism expert, but I've met enough kids who are diagnosed with either low-functioning autism or high-functioning... and none of them lack in empathy. None. Not a single one. They just struggle to show it like us "neurotypicals." But that doesn't mean that they don't feel it.
I'd really rather avoid having the discussion of why authors need to do their research but also make sure that they're not just jam-packing their protagonist full of symptoms of various diagnoses (for that particular discussion, see my review on Daniel Keyes' The Asylum Prophecies). In House Rules, Jacob exhibits some symptoms of Asperger's, but he also exhibits many symptoms of the opposite end of the autism spectrum (i.e., low-functioning autism). You don't see both ends of the spectrum in one person.
I have more quotes from the book that pissed me off, but I'll just stop here with the quoting and emphasizing text and stuff, because I'm wasting a lot of energy on being angry at a book that's already been published, that's been out there, that people have read.
Obviously, I'm disappointed. I was excited when I first bought House Rules because autism/Asperger's is a hot topic (from anti-vaxxer views to "are people with Asperger's sociopaths?" due to the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy). But Jodi Picoult did the diagnosis a huge disservice in this book. Even if it's not widely read, it's still bullshit.
To clarify the difference between high-functioning autism (formerly known as Asperger's) and low-functioning -- and yes, this is going to be somewhat of a generalization because autism is a spectrum. I can't possible cover all of the potential places on that spectrum.
- People who are diagnosed with Asperger's tend to be very intelligent. They are able to live on their own, they are able to hold down jobs, attend school/college/grad school. They can be fixated on one or two specific topics, which is why I believe that autistic traits are seen fairly commonly among college professors (i.e. -- college professors focus on one particular field, say history, and they often have a specialization within that field). They don't pick up on social cues very well, but they can learn to do so, even if it never feels 100% natural to them. They come across as being "a bit quirky" but not usually much more than that. They generally don't have meltdowns nor do they need sensory breaks (although I have met some kids who are under the age of 10, have high-functioning autism, and who do find sensory breaks to be helpful). They also don't normally feel the need to stim in order to calm down when upset. They like routine, but they don't flip out if their routine deviates.
- People with low-functioning autism generally cannot live on their own. They may be very intelligent, but they may also be nonverbal, which is frustrating to them AND their caregivers (but note: nonverbal is not the same as selective mutism, which is usually associated with trauma). They are more likely to need sensory breaks; to not be able to handle deviations from routine; to stim; to organize things in a particular way and flip out if that is disrupted or changed in any way (like Jacob's clothing in ROYGBIV order or the colored food routine that his mom has to endure). They are also not very good at picking up social cues, but generally with low-functioning autism, they are unable to learn to use social cues even if they aren't natural.
Yes, I know the above two paragraphs are generalizations. People who are on the autism spectrum are people -- just like any neurotypical -- and they're different, just like any neurotypical. They have likes and dislikes, they do have feelings (including empathy, damnit, Picoult!), and they can be an absolute joy to have around.
Do not recommend (which is, hopefully, very obvious) -- unless, of course, you want to write a scathing review... which is the main reason I decided to read House Rules after I saw the poor reviews written here on GR.
I like her books. I will continue to read them. They entertain me and I appreciate the depth she gives to her characters and the research that goes into them.
This wasn't a favorite, but I can't rate it any lower than average since that's about what it was, average.
This wasn't a favorite, but I can't rate it any lower than average since that's about what it was, average.
This is my third read from Picoult, and I have to say that I love her writing style. She describes each character so completely they almost seem to be really alive. I was interested in reading this particular book because I have a nephew with Asperger's syndrome and find it intriguing when stories are written from the perspective (at least partially) of someone with the disorder. It allows a glimpse into the mind that I don't normally get to see which can be helpful when trying to understand how information is processed for "Aspies".
If you are looking for a book that is truly a "who done it", this isn't the book for you. It is very obvious early on what actually happened. The story centers around people trying to tiptoe around Jacob, the character with Asperger's who may have murdered a girl, to (a) not set him off or make him withdrawal and (b) to protect him because he doesn't really understand what is happening. The story is a bit slow and does drag on for a bit, but overall I really enjoyed it and had a difficult time putting it down.
If you are looking for a book that is truly a "who done it", this isn't the book for you. It is very obvious early on what actually happened. The story centers around people trying to tiptoe around Jacob, the character with Asperger's who may have murdered a girl, to (a) not set him off or make him withdrawal and (b) to protect him because he doesn't really understand what is happening. The story is a bit slow and does drag on for a bit, but overall I really enjoyed it and had a difficult time putting it down.
**Subtle spoilers in this review
House Rules may now be considered one of my favorites from Picoult. True to form, this book delves into a deeply controversial issue and dissects its various components by allowing the reader to live through the characters. Picoult's explanation of Asperger's syndrome is detailed not only through the insight of the boy who has it, but through the devoted mother who cares for him, the brother who sometimes wishes life could be easier, and the surrounding members of the community who tend to shun Jacob because of his diagnosis.
Picoult plays the emotional card well throughout this work, and at many times, I found myself unsure of who to vote for in the criminal court case. As always, this book will make you think about such a specific and controversial situation that it will leave you reeling.
The only thing I'm not entirely sure about is the ending. As a fan of Picoult's work, I have read a good number of her published novels previous to this one and have always found myself surprised by the sudden plot twist that she adds within the final pages. For House Rules, I guessed that plot twist during the middle of the book, when normally I am shocked and surprised by the last chapter at the new development I didn't see coming. Also, while the last two pages are very poignant and leave no certainties to the reader, it felt a bit inconclusive to me. There were facts missing that I would have liked to know as a reader.
House Rules may now be considered one of my favorites from Picoult. True to form, this book delves into a deeply controversial issue and dissects its various components by allowing the reader to live through the characters. Picoult's explanation of Asperger's syndrome is detailed not only through the insight of the boy who has it, but through the devoted mother who cares for him, the brother who sometimes wishes life could be easier, and the surrounding members of the community who tend to shun Jacob because of his diagnosis.
Picoult plays the emotional card well throughout this work, and at many times, I found myself unsure of who to vote for in the criminal court case. As always, this book will make you think about such a specific and controversial situation that it will leave you reeling.
The only thing I'm not entirely sure about is the ending. As a fan of Picoult's work, I have read a good number of her published novels previous to this one and have always found myself surprised by the sudden plot twist that she adds within the final pages. For House Rules, I guessed that plot twist during the middle of the book, when normally I am shocked and surprised by the last chapter at the new development I didn't see coming. Also, while the last two pages are very poignant and leave no certainties to the reader, it felt a bit inconclusive to me. There were facts missing that I would have liked to know as a reader.