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- Verified Buyer
I've just finished reading "House Rules" and I can't remember enjoying a book this much in a long time.First of all, I've never read Jodi Picoult books before, so this was a fun "first."Secondly, I'm the mother of a son on the autism spectrum, and so I highly connected with the mother, Emma.As a result, I'm like the perfect target audience for this book.I've read a few other somewhat negative reviews of this book. Yes, there is some repetitive information on Asperger's. Yes, the main character, Jacob, would appear to have EVERY SINGLE TRAIT POSSIBLE for the Asperger's diagnosis. Having said this, if you are not picking apart the few technical defects of the book, and are along for the ride, this is a highly enjoyable book. I was most definitely along for the ride. Also, having most, if not all of the characteristics of asperger's helped the fictional aspect of Jacob -- it really helped to move the story along. Is it absolutely a realistic rendition of an asperger's person? Maybe not. But then again, that would be pretty hard, because people who have Aspergers are as varied as any neuro-typical person would be.For one thing, if supposedly Ms. Picoult overdid the characterization of Jacob, she was spot on with the characterization of the mother. I can tell you from experience -- every single emotion that Emma experienced, I have experienced. My son is not as "out of the norm" as Jacob, but much of the experience of raising my son is similar to that experience of raising Jacob, both the highs and the lows. In fact, I was reading one part of Emma's musings, and I didn't realize that tears were coming to my eyes, I so much related to her.The mystery part of the story was great. Even Oliver, the lawyer, was good -- not so much for the lawyering part, but for the relationship he had with Jacob. There are always a few people who just "get" our children, and man, when they do, NOTHING is better than that. Oliver was a good rendition of the people who do understand. Also, Jess, the therapist, was a really good character. Her first lesson with Jacob is absolutely GOLD, best rendition of that sort of experience I have ever read.So, yes, I highly recommend this book. Maybe it wouldn't be quite as enjoyable for those who don't have some experience with somebody on the spectrum, but it was pretty interesting stuff from my point of view. I can always tell a good book when I am envisioning what the movie would be like -- and I did that all the way through this read.
