Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9780099470434
Format: Import
ISBN number: 0099470438
Label: Vintage Books
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
Page Count: 224
Printing Date: 2004
Publishing house: Vintage Books
Sale Popularity Level: 1351780
Studio: Vintage Books
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Rated by buyers -
This review is definitely mixed. Just as the book changes from plot to a math problem suddenly, that's how I feel about the book. The book, written from the perspective of an autistic 15 year old boy is so different from anything I've ever read. I love that it's different and I hate that it's different. (I have the same relationship with this book that I have with the movie "Gone with the Wind. I hate it. I love it.)
The plot is interesting, unique and heart wrenching. Reading the things that this boy does and says and thinks is such a different experience. Through Christopher, the main character, we get a sense of feeling from the people he writes about. He writes about the characters reactions, and through that, we can imagine their feelings.
While the plot is interesting and heart wrenching, it's not told that way. It is told practically void of emotion. In a part of the book, Christopher is reading a tragic letter full of emotion and probably written while crying. After he reads it, he simply tries to figure the letter out. It isn't sad. It's more curious to him. It practically drives me crazy. It's not apathy, but who he is.
The book is written skillfully. The chapters are written on seemingly unrelated topics sometimes, just as an autistic person would write. The sentences are very much like the title. I would describe the book as choppy, because of the language used. It is interesting trying to read the book out loud. Sometimes doing so, you have to stop and think about what it is you just read. I imagine it is much like it would be if an autistic person was speaking.
Trying to understand the language and the thoughts of the narrator is half of the book. I think you might see how that could be slightly annoying. It's almost like going to a different culture. The language is difficult to understand and the culture and thoughts are too. However, when you go to another culture, while hard, the experience is richly rewarding.
Overall, the experience of this book is richly rewarding. The book provides challenge for the reader and great satisfaction. The book is different and for that I highly recommend it.
Rated by buyers -
I was given a list of books to read over the summer. We only had to pick one from the list and this is the one I chose. I went to the library and showded the librarian the list, this is the very first one she selected. So i checked it out and i started reading it. I read the back and saw it was about a boy with autism. While reading the book i felt like i was inside Christophers head. It showed his thought process his fears and his happiness. Each chapter has it's own personality too. He draws pictures of how he feels and what he is doing. Christopher loves math so instead of putting the chapters in sequential order (1..2..3.ect) he makes them prime numbers! (2..3..5..7..11) The Story begings when Christopher is blamed for the murder of the neighbords dog. He feels bad about the dogs death and decideds he wants to be a dictective and find the real murderer. By doing this Christopher ventures outside of his comfort zone; he talks to strange people gets on a train and doesn't have a planed schedule. Christoper has always had a truthful relationship with his father, his mother died in a car crash.
Soon Christopher learns that this is not true. He sets off to find his mom and the truth about who killed the dog. The end of the story is shocking but it keeps you wanting more. To find out what adventures Christopher takes read this book! It's worth it! :)
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