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Review
"Sontag's lean writing captures the tension — the feeling of family as prison. Each time an outside observer recognizes her father's manipulative cruelty, the reader feels a little surge of hope. Get out of there, Rachel! Get out!" —Los Angeles Times
"As Sontag makes clear in her searing memoir, emotional abuse can be as devastating, as cruel, as the most severe physical and sexual maltreatment....What is remarkable and inspiring is that Sontag emerged from the situation a stronger person." —San Francisco Chronicle
"Sontag's is a brave account, not only of what it's like to take the brunt of an abusive parent's wrath, but of what it means to have the courage to leave." —Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
"As Sontag makes clear in her searing memoir, emotional abuse can be as devastating, as cruel, as the most severe physical and sexual maltreatment....What is remarkable and inspiring is that Sontag emerged from the situation a stronger person." —San Francisco Chronicle
"Sontag's is a brave account, not only of what it's like to take the brunt of an abusive parent's wrath, but of what it means to have the courage to leave." —Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Book Description
They tell me I’m lucky to have a son who’s so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the busted microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there’s a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world, and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else, but truly doesn’t know how.
Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject—in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s—not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches—can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder.
Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way—and fails those who don’t.
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Most helpful customer reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging, if a little formulaic,
By
This review is from: House Rules: A Novel (Hardcover)
Wonderfully written, from alternative viewpoints, House Rules tell the story of Emma Hunt, a mother of two boys - Jacob, 18, and Theo, 15. Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome, an illness which has many different elements, making it different in everyone, but often charactered by lack of empathy, detachment from the world, obsessive behaviour and violent outbursts. Emma dotes on Jacob, spending all she has on therapists, medication and food supplements. Theo, naturally, resents such unbalanced parenting.One of Jacob's quirks is his interest in crime scene forensics - he watches true life forensic TV shows, reconstructs crime scenes at home and even turns up at real crime scenes, offering to help the detectives. When someone Jacob knows if found dead, and it is revealed that the murder occurred shortly after and argument with Jacob, he falls into the spotlight. Subsequent forensic evidence points even more towards Jacob's guilt and he is held for questioning... There are some pretty large plot holes, and the twist can be seen coming from a thousand yards, so as a thriller it doesn't really stack up. It also suffers for being overly similar to Picoult's My Sister's Keeper and Handle With Care - child with medical problems, jealous sibling, courtroom drama, check, check and check. But as an engaging and well observed novel it hits the mark, and is an excellent study of a family under pressure combined with a fascinating insight into Asperger's Syndrome. Four stars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Top 10 reasons this is a terrible book,
This review is from: House Rules: A Novel (Hardcover)
10. The characters are all one-dimensional cliches.9. The "twist" ending is completely given away by a scene that happens early in the book. 8. None of the characters are likeable. (Seriously, not one.) 7. The only reason that the plot works is because, inexplicably, none of the family members ever talk to each other about the big event in their lives. 6. Exposition. It's everywhere. Apparently, Jodi Picoult is not familiar with "show, don't tell." 5. The novel is oblivious to the fact that its police are negligent and incompetent (because, if they weren't, the plot would fall apart.) 4. The reason behind the plot twist made my eyes get stuck in the back of my head because I rolled them so hard (though, in better hands, it may have been effective; the idea was actually quite good.) 3. Characters are introduced into the plot and then are given absolutely nothing to do. 2. Plot holes you could drive a truck through. 1. The way that Asperger's is used to further the plot in this train-wreck of a book is cheap and offensive. The positive reviews here make me fear for the way that my son (who has ASD) will be judged and treated by people who think that Picoult's representation of the disorder is accurate. Shame on you, Jodi!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Frustrating Read!,
By Debzzz007 (Ontario) - See all my reviews
This review is from: House Rules: A Novel (Hardcover)
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!!
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