imandanial's review against another edition
3.0
*3.8. 200 mukasurat pertama novel ini agak perlahan dan rawan. Saya ambil masa juga untuk ikuti cerita dari 1 mukasurat ke mukasurat yang lain. Walaubagaimanpun, bermula pada 200 mukasurat seterusnya, cerita mula bergerak, seperti roda keretapi, meingkat, meningkat, meningkat, melaju dan memecut sebelum berakhir dengan manis (atau pahit; bittersweet?)
maureenmcc's review against another edition
4.0
It took me awhile to get through this book, but at a certain point the excess detail falls away and you begin to really feel for the characters. The story revolves around an autistic boy and is told primarily (but not always) from the father's viewpoint, touching on how language helps us connect with each other, but also how lack of language does not have to prevent us from connecting. There is a surprise twist toward the end that was very powerful and emotional. The last section is very moving and beautifully expressed. I very much enjoyed this story.
08151991j's review against another edition
4.0
The book goes back and forth in the protagonist history. There was not really a plot. its more a story about the protagonist's experiences in learning about communication with others. Others are harder to communicate with than some people are which is already a known fact.
randab's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachelleahdorn's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly good book, fairly depressing in some places.
It left me wondering if the author's illustration of life with an autistic kid was particularly accurate. My personal experience is limited to a view from afar of my cousin and his family, and little rang true in this book compared to what I know if his childhood and adulthood. But autism is a pretty broad spectrum, so I can hardly judge.
I wouldn't say the book is an easy read. And I was disappointed by the familiar trope of a emotionally stunted father figure as protagonist. However, reading through to the end rewarded me with a couple of big surprises that partially made up for the cringeworthyness of some of the earlier episodes.
I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend this book, but it isn't terrible.
It left me wondering if the author's illustration of life with an autistic kid was particularly accurate. My personal experience is limited to a view from afar of my cousin and his family, and little rang true in this book compared to what I know if his childhood and adulthood. But autism is a pretty broad spectrum, so I can hardly judge.
I wouldn't say the book is an easy read. And I was disappointed by the familiar trope of a emotionally stunted father figure as protagonist. However, reading through to the end rewarded me with a couple of big surprises that partially made up for the cringeworthyness of some of the earlier episodes.
I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend this book, but it isn't terrible.
jacque18's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book as much as Broken for You, but it just didn’t have the same magic. Too many coincidences and too many plot lines and threads.
melancholymegs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Ableism, Dementia, and Bullying
Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Minor: Rape, War, Excrement, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2015/05/2015-book-118.html
Kallos' latest (after Sing Them Home and Broken For You) centers on a middle-aged man, Charles Marlow, a high school teacher, whose daughter is just off to college, whose ex-wife is engaged to another man, and whose autistic son is about to age out of his care facility. Meanwhile, things keep flashing back to Charles' childhood, where he learned the Palmer method of writing cursive and where something bad happened to a mentally disabled classmate. There is also a whole thing with a nun with dementia who's in his son's home. As always, Kallos' writing and characters completely drew me in, even though a reveal toward the end really annoyed me--it was just unnecessary in every way and felt like a major cop-out. And the thing is, I really loved how this ended, otherwise! Well, it'll be a good talking point for book clubs. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Kallos' latest (after Sing Them Home and Broken For You) centers on a middle-aged man, Charles Marlow, a high school teacher, whose daughter is just off to college, whose ex-wife is engaged to another man, and whose autistic son is about to age out of his care facility. Meanwhile, things keep flashing back to Charles' childhood, where he learned the Palmer method of writing cursive and where something bad happened to a mentally disabled classmate. There is also a whole thing with a nun with dementia who's in his son's home. As always, Kallos' writing and characters completely drew me in, even though a reveal toward the end really annoyed me--it was just unnecessary in every way and felt like a major cop-out. And the thing is, I really loved how this ended, otherwise! Well, it'll be a good talking point for book clubs. B+.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
tiemzahra's review against another edition
It's probably my copy, but the fonts were difficult to read. And the beginning was not interesting at the slightest (unlike the synopsis, I was initially interested). Too many technical terms.