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j_m_alexander 's review for:
Shtum
by Jem Lester
Cheap liquor and soiled nappies - I would say that this is an unvarnished fiction about life as a caretaker to a severely Autistic child, but that would be lacking on two fronts: (1) unvarnished seems wholly insufficient - perhaps gritty and chaffing (and poo smeared) gets the point across a bit better, (2) this isn't just about a man who is a caretaker, this father is an alcoholic, self-loathing man-child that is lost in life, the pressures of caring for an Autistic son just exacerbates his many problems.
Ben Jewell is the father to Jonah, the aforementioned severely Autistic young man. Ben's life is in shambles; he drinks too much, he shirks responsibilities, his marriage is in doubt, and his relationship with his father is enigmatic. Being Jonah's caretaker would be difficult for any parent, he is mute (or shtum if you prefer), unpredictable, incontinent, and occasionally violent, but he is also a sweet boy and Ben loves him very much. Ben's love for his son is the basis for every positive characteristic we see of him and possibly the sole catalyst that can get him to straighten out.
Ben and Jonah go to live with Ben's father, Georg, who is oddly silent (or again shtum) about their familial past. Their relationship is fraught with unanswered questions, resentments, and insecurities, but Georg is wonderful when it comes to Jonah. The dynamics between the three-generations becomes the real heart of the novel.
To me it would appear that Lester set out to demonstrate the daily frustrations, the isolation, and the helplessness of dealing with a severely Autistic child, which he does exceedingly well. This book is sad, funny, and endearing in turns. I do feel like there are elements added onto the the primary story that while interesting in their own right were superfluous and ended up wrapping up the themes a little too tidily for my taste - this was largely a messy, but determined story line, it did not need to end with a neat bow.
Ben Jewell is the father to Jonah, the aforementioned severely Autistic young man. Ben's life is in shambles; he drinks too much, he shirks responsibilities, his marriage is in doubt, and his relationship with his father is enigmatic. Being Jonah's caretaker would be difficult for any parent, he is mute (or shtum if you prefer), unpredictable, incontinent, and occasionally violent, but he is also a sweet boy and Ben loves him very much. Ben's love for his son is the basis for every positive characteristic we see of him and possibly the sole catalyst that can get him to straighten out.
Ben and Jonah go to live with Ben's father, Georg, who is oddly silent (or again shtum) about their familial past. Their relationship is fraught with unanswered questions, resentments, and insecurities, but Georg is wonderful when it comes to Jonah. The dynamics between the three-generations becomes the real heart of the novel.
To me it would appear that Lester set out to demonstrate the daily frustrations, the isolation, and the helplessness of dealing with a severely Autistic child, which he does exceedingly well. This book is sad, funny, and endearing in turns. I do feel like there are elements added onto the the primary story that while interesting in their own right were superfluous and ended up wrapping up the themes a little too tidily for my taste - this was largely a messy, but determined story line, it did not need to end with a neat bow.