Got my BOOKS!

Ok yall, got my books.  This is the one (above) that I'm so excited about.  It had a really good review somewhere, I can't remember where I saw it, maybe Marie Claire?  Anyway, I'll let you know what I think - may have to stop reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' to get to this one.


I was going to talk about 'House Rules'.  You know (or you might not know yet, but you WILL know) that I love Jodi Picoult.  The book 'My Sister's Keeper' left me speechless (not the movie, still working on a movie for you that I love as much as the book - examples anyone??), but this one?  Eh, not so much.  The book is about a single mom and her two boys (15 and 18), one of whom (Jacob) has Asperger's, which is a condition within the autism spectrum.  People with Asperger's are very high functioning, but have difficulty socially and emotionally.  Most need a rigidly structured routine (and become very upset if their routine is interrupted or suddenly changed), have difficulty reading social cues and have little or no empathy.  (No comments from the peanut gallery as to how well this describes me. Heh.  Okay, so I don't like change.  And I have some trouble with social cues - I am TOTALLY compassionate and empathetic.)


ANYWAY, something comes up and Jacob finds himself in a bad situation and potentially facing jail time. The book is a pretty quick and easy read, as are all Ms. Picoult's books, but I have a problem with Emma, Jacob's mom.  I should like and admire her, because she has given up SO much to fight for her son and to be his advocate.  But at times in the book I find myself wondering if she hasn't gone overboard.  I don't have any children with serious disabilities, so it is hard to say what I would do, but I feel like Emma, in her quest to protect Jacob, has neglected her other son. And that makes me not want to like her.


And the ending.  Most of the time I want clear resolution.  I don't feel like I  got that in this story.  It was a little ambiguous.


'House Rules' is well written and a very interesting look at Asperger's, but I would only really give it a 3.5 out of 5, and only because I think she has written MUCH better.  I would read it again (and probably will)...Has anyone out there read it?  What do you think?  Agree or disagree?