tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074525941603563773.post8827609507117012313..comments2023-08-17T09:13:11.348-04:00Comments on The many thoughts of a reader: House Rules Check in...The Many Thoughts of a Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261949837343560602noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074525941603563773.post-45869030000532165072010-06-19T19:24:48.673-04:002010-06-19T19:24:48.673-04:00This book has a huge waiting list in my library. I...This book has a huge waiting list in my library. I just have to wait.Mysticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10941269615559681014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074525941603563773.post-8637146446082418712010-06-19T02:48:23.832-04:002010-06-19T02:48:23.832-04:00I think after reading this novel, everyone should ...I think after reading this novel, everyone should watch a movie called, "Temple Grandin". She's diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and she beat all the odds in order to go to graduate school and get a degree in "Animal Husbandry" (or something like that). She's also the developer of the "squeeze machine", which is a contraption that many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders use in order to alleviate some of their anxiety: you get into the machine and it literally squeezes you- that pressure is what feels good. <br /><br />Anyway, a movie was made of her life and it does a great job of showing the world through how she sees it: for example, you and I know what "animal husbandry" is, but the movie flickers in that instant to a picture of a cow and a person, getting married (to show that she thinks literally and with pictures). One of my staff introduced me to the movie (it's currently on HBO); but I plan on purchasing it when it releases this fall and using at a staff meeting (or as a training video) for the 3 group homes I supervise. Our county case manager team brought it up at one of our recent get-togethers.<br /><br />I've read one other Picoult book, "The Plain Truth", so I'm familiar with the use of her characters voices in order to tell the story-- but this book really blossoms because of that style.<br /><br />For example, the situation may be that Jacob is to make friends at the local park. He doesn't fit in with the kids his own age; they call him "retard" and they make fun of him. He sits in a sandbox with a group of little girls and tries to play with them in the sand. He doesn't play with them, but engages in parallel play, digging for dinosaurs.<br /><br />Mom: describes the pain of knowing that her child is not atypical and does not fit in. She is afraid he will forever be misunderstood and alone. She understands why he does things and tries to advocate as best as she can for that. She describes her broken marriage, chaotic life dealing with a career, two kids (one who is diagnosed with ASD), as well as financial woes, and struggles with her other child. She sees empty cereal boxes left on the kitchen counter after promising Theo a meal out and knows that she's just hurt her second son: she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.<br /><br />Theo: explains that it's embarrassing that Jacob doesn't stick up for himself, finds it painful that he's the "big" little brother and that Jacob steals his mother's attention away from him. He delves into the sacrifices he thinks he silently makes in order to support Jacob. <br /><br />The Detective: well, he's just like the rest of us atypical people who do not have experience dealing with ASD's and just don't "get it". <br /><br />And of course, Jacob- he explains how he doesn't understand how he doesn't fit in, and his biggest problem being labeled as "retarded" is because it simply isn't true- he has an IQ over 150 (and to be retarded, your IQ has to be less than 70!) He explains exactly why he doesn't go to places with fluorescent lighting (it's like pin pricks in his eyes) and in typical ASD fashion, the world really truly revolves around him (how often does he worry about Theo or his mother?) <br /><br />I think without hearing all of those voices, we'd really never understand Jacob or his family. It'd be flat, one dimensional, and there wouldn't be the layers and different perceptions of things... and for ASD, perception is a tricky thing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074525941603563773.post-45783538064660467572010-06-18T17:06:35.593-04:002010-06-18T17:06:35.593-04:00Definitely agree with you about Jacob's charac...Definitely agree with you about Jacob's character- he seems like 2 different people at times, but it said she talked to many teenagers with Aspergers so maybe they were able to be that reflective...?Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03964218970797460632noreply@blogger.com