House Rules by Jodi Picoult

“Picoult’s research is impeccable and she deals intelligently with charged questions about autism and Asperger’s.” – Publishers Weekly

A New York Times bestseller written from different perspectives, with dynamic characters and a mind-boggling murder mystery, this novel will entertain you right from the start, spark sympathy from the deepest recesses of your heart for the minorities in our society, and will bring tears to your eyes upon finishing it. House Rules, written by the prolific and beloved author, Jodi Picoult, will tug at your heartstrings and leave you wondering more about the tragic lives that some of us lead.

Jacob Hunt is a teenager who has Aspergers’, and he constantly struggles with self-expression, reading social cues and acting on par with others at social events. However, despite the large setback in his life, Jacob has a burning passion specially reserved for one subject—forensic analysis. However, one day, a horrifying murder rocks the silent surburbs that Jacob lives in, and he is accused of murder. Did he, a teenager with Aspergers’ who fits perfectly into the expectations that society has for mentally dysfunctional killers, commit the crime, or is he just wrongly accused? The answer is not as straightforward as it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for many reasons, but mainly because it was able to accurately represent the adversities that many face due to such behavioural disorders. I read a fair number of books every year, but it is very rare for me to chance upon such a well-written and thought-provoking book that has a plot revolving around the plethora of problems that many face. As a result, I was won over by the book, as I appreciate it when authors decide to think outside the box and craft stories that may not necessarily entertain the masses, but will still undoubtedly open the readers’ eyes, allow us to expand our worldview, and consider the obstacles that others encounter. After reading a novel from the perspective of a broken family, this book also made me grateful for all that I possess, including the familial bonds between my family and I. Therefore, I have a fondness and liking for this magnificent masterpiece that has greatly impacted me.

I have read 8 of Picoult’s books, but none made me as torn apart as this one after I finished it. It is an excellent portrayal of the obstacles that individuals with Aspergers’ have to brave on a daily basis, and the characters in the novel have wonderful dynamics. Picoult’s depictions are accurate and her flair for writing is extremely evident in this marvelous book. It is most certainly worth a read, so do pick it up and devour every chapter of it! Just a tip, you should probably have some spare tissues lying around, just in case.

Excerpts: https://www.jodipicoult.com/house-rules.html#

Htoo Myat Noe

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