House Rules: A Novel
Author(s):
Jodi Picoult
Label: Atria
Publisher(s):
Atria
Studio: Atria
Manufacturer: Atria
Binding: Hardcover
List Price: CDN$ 32.00
Our Price: CDN$ 20.06
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Customer Reviews
Jodi Picoult Rules!
If I were trapped on a desert island and could only bring books by one fiction writer, I would choose JP. This is the fifth or sixth book that I've read by her, and she never fails to deliver. In fact, I think this is one of her best books yet.
House Rules is the story of Emma, a single mother whose husband walked out on her because he couldn't handle dealing with her then three-year-old son, Jacob, who had just been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. She also had a baby by the name of Theo.
As the story unfolds, Jacob is now 18. He does well academically -- he's nearly a genius -- but is incapable of forming social relationships because his brain isn't wired that way. So, Emma hires a social tutor for him by the name of Jess. Jess has a less than ideal boyfriend, who is often possessive, jealous and sometimes abusive. One day, Jess is murdered and Jacob, a crime buff, is charged with killing her.
As always, Picoult likes to delve into complicated legal issues, and there is a drawn-out trial, with an interesting relationship emerging between Emma and her young lawyer. Since my background is in psychology and social work, I love the fact that Picoult takes complex and pertinent social issues and weaves intricate, beautiful and heartwarming stories about them. We feel for these characters as though we know them, especially Jacob who wants so much to fit in but can't: wants to communicate but fails hopelessly. At the same time, we empathize with Theo, the forgotten child, and Emma, the one who has to do it all by herself -- superhuman mom. Picoult never fails to let us know that when one person is ill or off-balance in the family, the whole family unit is thrown off kilter.
However, this book is too long and could be cut by about 50 to 100 pages. She repeated so much about Asperger's and autism that I could have recited it verbatim myself (and yet I am no authority -- I don't know if this is really the way Asp kids are). I also felt that more attention and emotion could've been devoted to the crime victim instead of all of the attention being on the aforementioned family. Otherwise, as usual, a fantastic read and highly recommended.
Frustrating Read!
If you have someone close to you with Aspergers (as I do) ... this will be a very tough read!! I had to stop reading because I was so frustrated!! Picoult's character was over the top with symptoms of both AS and Autism. This book is a big let down..... I liked the idea of writing from the different perspectives of the family ... but she was again over the top with all of the characters thinking, actions and feelings about AS!! I hope readers don't take this "research" and apply it to all living with AS and their families!!
I haven't read it, but everyone else is enjoying it!!
While I haven't read the book yet, everybody I've loaned it to has loved it. I am looking forward to getting into it soon. Will let you know when I have read it-if I can.
The book was in very good condition and arrived in a timely fashion. Couldn't have asked for any better.
`Take care of your brother; he's the only one you've got.'
Emma Hunt's life largely revolves around her eighteen year old son, Jacob. Jacob needs help in learning how to communicate appropriately in a world where most of us are equipped to read social cues and he is not. Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome and, together with his compulsive need for order and routine, he takes comments literally and is hypersensitive to a number of stimuli including bright lights, loud noises and human touch. Emma's preoccupation with Jacob means that her younger son, Theo feels neglected and unloved. Emma's husband, Henry, left the family soon after Theo was born, and their contact with him is limited.
Jacob has an obsessive focus on forensic science. He watches a television show called `Crimebusters' and keeps a detailed journal of each episode. Jacob has a police scanner, and sometimes turns up at crime scenes where he tells the police what they need to do. He also frequently stages his own mock crime scenes at home.
When his social skills tutor is found dead. Jacob is questioned as a matter of course. However, his behaviour when questioned looks a lot like guilt, and it seems as though he knows more than he is telling. When Jacob is accused of murder, Emma is desperate.
I found myself reading this novel over two days because I just had to know how it would end. And while the ending didn't really satisfy me, I'm hard pressed to think of one that would. Some aspects of the novel didn't work well for me but overall I enjoyed it: it made me think about some of the issues for families living with Asperger's Syndrome; about the many different ways in which individual differences can impact on lives.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Aspergers Awareness
This is an excellent easy to follow, yet intriging, book that will give the reader a true sense of Aspergers Syndrome. This book is being used in our schools now for Autism Awareness Programs, and even the local police are having training in Aspergers Syndrome. Just like in the book, they need to recognize this condition.
The story itself is fun and a good read.
