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Barb's Reviews > House Rules
House Rules
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House Rules has everything I look for in good fiction. It's a superb, character-driven story that made me laugh, made me cry, and kept me intrigued until the very end. As with other Jodi Picoult novels, the author's extensive research allowed me to learn a great deal about a particular topic, in this case both autism (specifically Asperger's) and forensic science.
Many people criticize this book as being highly predictable. I disagree, mainly because I don't view it as a murder mystery. The author explains the circumstances surrounding Jess' death long before the trial is over so I don't see how the reader is 'predicting' the end. To me, the big question in this book is how does this young man with Asperger's Syndrome navigate his way through a legal system designed for non-autistic people and finally get through to those around him to keep himself out of prison, a fate that would surely destroy anyone with his condition.
Many people criticize this book as being highly predictable. I disagree, mainly because I don't view it as a murder mystery. The author explains the circumstances surrounding Jess' death long before the trial is over so I don't see how the reader is 'predicting' the end. To me, the big question in this book is how does this young man with Asperger's Syndrome navigate his way through a legal system designed for non-autistic people and finally get through to those around him to keep himself out of prison, a fate that would surely destroy anyone with his condition.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 2011
–
Finished Reading
February 1, 2011
– Shelved
February 1, 2011
– Shelved as:
fiction-american
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Laura
(last edited Feb 05, 2011 09:59AM)
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 05, 2011 09:58AM
One of my favorite Jodi Picoult books and I have read them all. I have three boys and one is borderline Asperger's and one is ADHD/ODD Learning Disabled/Gifted. There were so many thngs in this novel that I could relate to and I was able to learn from it as well. I love the book and have recommended it several times since I have read it. It helped me to understand how my littlest boy thinks. I found it powerful and definitely a Good Read!
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I agree with everything you have written in your review. This is my all time favorite Picoult book. I also learned much about Asperger's and forensics. This novel also caused me to imagine what it would be like for someone with Asperger's to interact with an individual who is visually impaired. I was imagining trying to solve one of Jacob's crime scenes and being unable to do so because I wouldn't be able to see the fingerprints or other forensic clues he left behind.
Loved this book. Another great read however I'm confused by the last line. Who is "I"?......Who words do these belong to? Who wrote this chapter?
Leane, I wondered the same thing when I read it, then remembered the boldface descriptions of cases solved by forensic analysis spaced throughout the book. Jacob kept notes on his cases, so he wrote them, including the last entry.
