Since I
started by blog, I’ve done an annual Advent Book Calendar highlighting books I
have enjoyed and authors I really like.
This year I thought I’d do an Advent Book Calendar with a twist; for
each day leading up to Christmas, I’m going to post a review of a book to which
I’ve given only one star (Throw a book at this one) or two stars (Don’t put this book in your book bag). Though I would not recommend these books,
others have disagreed with me. Each
book, on Goodreads, has received a 3 or 4 Star average rating.
Review of House
Rules by Jodi Picoult
1
Star
Jacob Hunt
is an 18-year-old with Asperger's. Jess, his social skills tutor, is found dead
and Jacob is charged with her murder.
The book
has multiple narrators: Jacob; Emma, Jacob's mother; Theo, Jacob's brother;
Rich, the detective; and Oliver, Jacob's lawyer. This narrative technique
allows for full development of the characters. This creation of round
characters is the novel's strong suit; unfortunately, it is the book's only
strength.
Jacob has
every possible Asperger's characteristic to an extreme degree. He is highly
intelligent but has definite quirks. For example, he requires a strict
adherence to order and routine, is unable to make eye contact, lacks empathy
and fixates on subjects (e.g. forensic science). I am not an expert on autism
or Asperger's but I have taught students with the latter, and Picoult seems to
have given Jacob every possible Asperger's trait.
The author
seems focused on educating the reader about this syndrome. The problem is that
there is so much sermonizing that the flow of the narrative is continuously
interrupted. Picoult seems to have an Asperger's fixation!
Besides the
didactic tone, there are other weaknesses. Jacob's behaviour at the crime
scene, which ultimately leads to his being charged, is understandable only
because of a coincidence so enormous that it's impossible for a perceptive
reader to suspend disbelief. Furthermore, the reader is expected to believe
that no one, neither the mother, or the detective or the lawyer, asks Jacob to
detail what happened the night of Jess's death. This conversation never takes
place despite everyone repeatedly being told that Jacob is incapable of lying,
although questions must be worded carefully because he is so literal in his
interpretations. A reticence to ask difficult questions is understandable, but
not to do so in Jacob's circumstances is not. Picoult's use of this weak ploy
to create suspense indicates her lack of sophistication as a writer.
Skip this
diatribe on Asperger's. Anyone interested in the subject would be better to
read The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.
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