House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Published : July 18, 2010 :: 15:07:11 [ 1,837 views ]

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

This author has always produced a good story with an excellent buildup of the situation. This time it is an insight of the very much misunderstood condition Asperger’s Syndrome that can lead to great strains and misery on a family as well as the sufferer having to endure endless thoughtlessness and cruelty from outsiders.

Emma, a single mother struggles to cope with her two boys, the eldest, Jacob suffering with Asperger’s Syndrome while the youngest Theo, becomes jealous and rebellious through lack of his mothers’ attention, feeling that his life has been messed up by his older brother. She is both emotionally and financially stretched trying to make sure the boys have as normal a life as possible, but her world is dominated by what Jacobs’ state of mind is on a daily basis. She finds it hard to make time for her and Theo.

Jacob tends to take all things literally and has uncontrollable freak outs where Emma has to resort to tactics to restore him to ‘normal’ behavior. He unable to look people in the eye and can’t show empathy.

An eighteen year old whom on top of suffering from Asperger’s and lacking in social skills and obsessive behavior, is totally fixated with all things forensic to the extent of having his own make shift fuming chamber in his bedroom so he can check fingerprints. His obsession is such that he disappears throughout the night to attend crime scenes and often solving crimes far quicker than the detectives. This time, Jacobs’ obsession gets him into trouble when his social skills tutor is found murdered and all the evidence points to him.

All in all, this is a gripping story and anyone who has, or had, any insight into this condition, will know how difficult life can be, living with someone with Asperger’s.

Patty Brown

Comments

jono

said :

Have a good friend who's youngest has this condition. A great shame that children are inflicted with such problems when there are so many tossers out there in this world who are more deserving.

Email : jonjo2354@gmail.com Date : 2010-07-19 10:42:33