mahdigasmi's review against another edition
4.0
the story goes around this family who's only child ( Jonah ) is autistic and their battle to get him into a residential school for autistic children. don't expect clinical detailed details about the illness because you'll be disappointed; it's nothing medical-ish but you'll be introduced to much of the boy's daily behaves and manners if that's what you're looking for.
The narrator here is the father( Ben ),the whole book focuses much more on the male characters than the females...
i find it hard to settle with Ben's character; he's childish, indecisive, irresponsible and most of the time lying in his self-pity.throughout the story we can clearly see the difficulties encountered between Ben and his father(Georg) at every conversation they had..As for Jonah's, he's what his father sees and describes eventually.
The begging wasn't really gripping i almost gave up, luckily enough i didn't, once past the 60/70 page I found myself all soaked in.
one of the situations that the book discusses is how Ben finds it really hard to let go of Jonah ( as in sending him to the residential school )still he's simultaneously very eager to get a rest of wiping and cleaning and simply have a NORMAL LIFE. caught up between this and that, Ben is completely undecided ,confused and mostly scared because deep inside him he knows exactly what he wants but the thought of it couldn't simply settle down on him easily.he's condemned of selfishness and he struggle to explain his right of an ordinary life as the one he had in Jonah's presence was hardly bearable. i think the author dares the readers to be open on matters of a similar sensitivity and tries to walk them through a diffrent tunnel.
it's totally okay if we sometimes get angry against needy children
it's okay if we ask for help if we can't take care of our children as they're frankly tiring to handle.
it's okay to send away children to facilities that can provide help,security and a good life eventually if it's not possible at their homes.
it's safe to say that most of the problems whether between Ben and Georg or Ben and his wife were simply due to the bad communication. they're bad communicators and the majority of their decisions are based on false assumptions of words and reactions that were never pronounced nor expressed. it shows the importance of communication and how many conflicts could have bee.n avoided if it was of a proper conversation.
To sum it up, this book pictures one example out of millions ohers of families who struggle daily with autism.it raises our awareness so we can be more familiar with it.it's an open letter of tolerance as it's a call of love , loving ourselves first so we can love the others.
The narrator here is the father( Ben ),the whole book focuses much more on the male characters than the females...
i find it hard to settle with Ben's character; he's childish, indecisive, irresponsible and most of the time lying in his self-pity.throughout the story we can clearly see the difficulties encountered between Ben and his father(Georg) at every conversation they had..As for Jonah's, he's what his father sees and describes eventually.
The begging wasn't really gripping i almost gave up, luckily enough i didn't, once past the 60/70 page I found myself all soaked in.
one of the situations that the book discusses is how Ben finds it really hard to let go of Jonah ( as in sending him to the residential school )still he's simultaneously very eager to get a rest of wiping and cleaning and simply have a NORMAL LIFE. caught up between this and that, Ben is completely undecided ,confused and mostly scared because deep inside him he knows exactly what he wants but the thought of it couldn't simply settle down on him easily.he's condemned of selfishness and he struggle to explain his right of an ordinary life as the one he had in Jonah's presence was hardly bearable. i think the author dares the readers to be open on matters of a similar sensitivity and tries to walk them through a diffrent tunnel.
it's totally okay if we sometimes get angry against needy children
it's okay if we ask for help if we can't take care of our children as they're frankly tiring to handle.
it's okay to send away children to facilities that can provide help,security and a good life eventually if it's not possible at their homes.
it's safe to say that most of the problems whether between Ben and Georg or Ben and his wife were simply due to the bad communication. they're bad communicators and the majority of their decisions are based on false assumptions of words and reactions that were never pronounced nor expressed. it shows the importance of communication and how many conflicts could have bee.n avoided if it was of a proper conversation.
To sum it up, this book pictures one example out of millions ohers of families who struggle daily with autism.it raises our awareness so we can be more familiar with it.it's an open letter of tolerance as it's a call of love , loving ourselves first so we can love the others.
laurenbaggy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This book was a beautiful one. I loved the way it was about more than just Jonah and his needs. Obviously that was central to the story, but it explored so many other aspects of life that I didn't anticipate going into the book, and that also made it all the more real and heart-wrenching.
There were times where I wanted to throw the book at a wall in frustration with some of the things Ben did, but that just gave more depth to his character and allowed you to explore coping mechanisms and how he really felt.
Only not giving 5 stars because choosing to weave in the flashbacks to certain parts of the story took away from the impact a bit for me. But maybe that's just me. Either way, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it to others!!
This book was a beautiful one. I loved the way it was about more than just Jonah and his needs. Obviously that was central to the story, but it explored so many other aspects of life that I didn't anticipate going into the book, and that also made it all the more real and heart-wrenching.
There were times where I wanted to throw the book at a wall in frustration with some of the things Ben did, but that just gave more depth to his character and allowed you to explore coping mechanisms and how he really felt.
Only not giving 5 stars because choosing to weave in the flashbacks to certain parts of the story took away from the impact a bit for me. But maybe that's just me. Either way, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it to others!!
katieeliza's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beautifully written novel - almost haunting. Well worth a read.
Beautifully written novel - almost haunting. Well worth a read.
bnelson13's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have major mixed feelings about this book. So heartbreaking and so beautiful, and yet, I also kinda hated it and I'm not sure why. But I absolutely sobbed at the end. I can't imagine how hard it would be to raise a child with autism, let alone as a single parent with their own issues, so Ben's story is so incredibly powerful and heartbreaking.
vplett4's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ohheyitserin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
em_gordon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
elizabethberger's review against another edition
5.0
Two phrases in the author comment at the end of this leapt out at me and, I think, sum up this novel beautifully. "Emotionally raw" and "brutality of reality". This is a wonderfully honestly and unflinching story of flawed people summoning the strength to be the best they can be and to fight for someone they love. Laugh out loud funny in places, tears streaming down your cheeks in others; and with Jonah, a vividly drawn and hugely memorable character.
dahabow's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow. This book made me laugh and cry and it also taught me so much about how a child with autism and mute can impact a family. The best part of this book was that Jonah, the child in question, was the most truthful in his '"communication". Relationships broke down because of the lies between the other characters and this just highlights that actions do speak louder than words. Also, Jonah pressing his forehead to his father is the cutest thing ever and I'm crying again bc this book broke and put me back together.
myjourneywithbooks's review against another edition
5.0
"Over the years..., I have witnessed the elevation of autism - especially Asperger's - to something almost fashionable. I'd heard autism used as excuses for shoddy behavior, as an insult, and seen it adopted as a badge of honour. This was galling to me and, no doubt, to the countless other families dealing with the day-to-day misunderstandings and devastation it could bring."
-Jem Lester
Jonah Jewell is ten years old. He is also severely autistic, nonverbal and doubly incontinent. His parents, Ben and Emma, decide to fake a separation because the local authorities cite the fact that Jonah "is extremely well supported by a loving family" to deny the funding they require to send Jonah to a specialist residential school that will take care of all his growing needs.
Written from the perspective of Ben Jewell (who suddenly finds himself in the position of a single parent) and drawing on his own experiences as a father of a child with severe autism, Jem Lester provides a detailed picture of what such a life entails. From changing Jonah's laden (usually leaking) diaper every morning to trying to calm him down when he has a meltdown to panicking when Jonah goes missing at a mall. But then there are also the good moments, when Jonah willingly takes Ben's hand, when he graces him with a smile, when he compliantly does what he is told to do.
Ben is nowhere near perfect. He has a drinking problem, he has a difficult relationship with his father (who he and Jonah are now living with) and he is irresponsible with the business his father had spent years building up before passing it on to him. But he will do whatever it takes to give his son the best care he needs. This care, and the means to prove that nothing less than this will do for Jonah, are staggeringly expensive. Through this story, Lester seems to be expressing his own frustrations at how the authorities are willing to shut their eyes to the extent of care and management such a child needs as long as they can foist the cheapest option on him, no matter how unsuitable.
The emotions of the characters are so real that they will reach out and grip you till you can do nothing but empathise. The frustrations that can force a couple apart. The hope and longing of parents waiting for their two year old to utter a single word. Their complete joy when he finally does so, followed by their deep-seated worry when he stops speaking again altogether.
But this is not a sad and depressing story. It is the story of a parent trying to be the best advocate he can be for a child who cannot express his needs. It is the story of three generations of Jewells and the relationships between them. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness and moving on. But mostly, it is the story of Jonah Jewell, a beautiful boy who doesn't speak but is the best listener.
-Jem Lester
Jonah Jewell is ten years old. He is also severely autistic, nonverbal and doubly incontinent. His parents, Ben and Emma, decide to fake a separation because the local authorities cite the fact that Jonah "is extremely well supported by a loving family" to deny the funding they require to send Jonah to a specialist residential school that will take care of all his growing needs.
Written from the perspective of Ben Jewell (who suddenly finds himself in the position of a single parent) and drawing on his own experiences as a father of a child with severe autism, Jem Lester provides a detailed picture of what such a life entails. From changing Jonah's laden (usually leaking) diaper every morning to trying to calm him down when he has a meltdown to panicking when Jonah goes missing at a mall. But then there are also the good moments, when Jonah willingly takes Ben's hand, when he graces him with a smile, when he compliantly does what he is told to do.
Ben is nowhere near perfect. He has a drinking problem, he has a difficult relationship with his father (who he and Jonah are now living with) and he is irresponsible with the business his father had spent years building up before passing it on to him. But he will do whatever it takes to give his son the best care he needs. This care, and the means to prove that nothing less than this will do for Jonah, are staggeringly expensive. Through this story, Lester seems to be expressing his own frustrations at how the authorities are willing to shut their eyes to the extent of care and management such a child needs as long as they can foist the cheapest option on him, no matter how unsuitable.
The emotions of the characters are so real that they will reach out and grip you till you can do nothing but empathise. The frustrations that can force a couple apart. The hope and longing of parents waiting for their two year old to utter a single word. Their complete joy when he finally does so, followed by their deep-seated worry when he stops speaking again altogether.
But this is not a sad and depressing story. It is the story of a parent trying to be the best advocate he can be for a child who cannot express his needs. It is the story of three generations of Jewells and the relationships between them. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness and moving on. But mostly, it is the story of Jonah Jewell, a beautiful boy who doesn't speak but is the best listener.