Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 60
 Brilliantly written and well researched July 28, 2010
RozziD (Lincoln, England)
I have read several books by Jodi Picoult over the years and am always impressed by the amount of detailed research that goes into her novels. This one is no different in that respect.
The story involves 5 main characters: Jacob Hunt - an 18 year old with Aspergers syndrome; his mother, Emma - a devoted single Mum her other son, Theo - a 'neurotypical' boy who, although younger than Jacob is more like the older brother; Jess Ogilvy - Jacobs social skills tutor and Oliver Bond.
The story begins during a 'typical' day at the Hunt household with Jacob indulging in his current obsession - forensic crime scene investigation, and sets the scene for how Jacob views the world he lives in. The detail in which Asperger's syndrome is portrayed is incredible and quickly makes the reader have an understanding of what it must be like to share a home with a person who lives by a set of rigid rules, is brutally honest and has to follow routine or else can not cope.
The reader is introduced to four of the main characters and learns about their role in Jacob's day to day life and how they try to live their own lives given the 'rules' they too must abide by in order for Jacob to remain calm and happy.
When Jess disappears following an arguement with Jacob and her boyfriend, the poice begin a routine investigation but find no evidence of anything untoward. But when her body is found, Jacob's behaviour - not making eye contact, lack of emotion and inappropriate actions lead the police to suspect he not only knows what happened to her but that he caused her death. It is at this point that Oliver Bond comes into the story as the lawyer hired by Emma to defend Jacob.
It would be wrong for me to disclose any more details of the story as by doing so would ruin the plot for you. Needless to say, defending a young adult with this form of autism and trying to get a jury to understand how Jacob's brain works is not going to be easy, especially when the defendant doesn't really understand what is happening.
Jodi Picoult has certainly done her homework on this condition as the level of detail and description of Jacob's behaviour and mannerisms are incredibly believable to anyone who has any dealing with people who have this condition.
This book made me smile, angry, surprised and a whole host of other emotions. It opens up many questions about how the legal system can work for a person who can not understand the world in the same way as 'the average person' can.
Another hit, in my mind from JP - any fan of her books will not be disappointed.
 Characters you care about. July 26, 2010
Mrs. S. M. Wood (Wolverhampton United Kingdom)
I have just finished reading House Rules (no,not reading - devouring -) and once again my favourite author has not let me down.Jodi has a marvellous skill in drawing characters that the reader can actually care about,they become flesh and blood people,you might almost believe that you could bump into them in the street one day.
Jacob Hunt is eighteen and has Asperger's Syndrome.Locked into his own world Jacob is socially inept,but brilliant in many other ways.He lives his life by rules which are,to him,not to be broken.Jacob's mother Emma has raised Jacob,and his younger brother Theo,on her own when their father left them,unable to cope with Jacob's diagnosis.
Theo,the younger child,has always had to act as the big brother because of Jacob's condition. (I did get concerned that this was going to be a My Sister's Keeper revisted scenario - but it didn't matter in the end.)
When Jacob's tutor and friend Jess is found dead, Jacob's Asperger symptoms - not making eye contact,odd movements,laughing inappropriately and uncontollable outbursts lead to police arresting him and putting him on trial for Jess' murder.Could something Jess said or did have caused Jacob to lose his temper with fatal consequences - even though such an act would have been breaking the rules by which Jacob lives?
I don't want to give too much away but as the trial progressed (and Jodi does these courtroom scenes so well) I thought I had guessed who had killed Jess - but I was wrong.
Although I had heard of Asperger Syndrome I learned a lot about the condition from House Rules - thanks to Jodi's obviously detailed research of the condition.Jodi often deals with controversial subject matter - like Emma Hunt's belief that Jacob was a 'normal' child until he had his infant vaccinations - but she leaves some questions open for you,the reader,to decide.I have read many of Jodi's novels now,but have never felt preached at or told what to believe.The one feeling I do have on turning the last page of Jodi's books is sorry that I have finished it.House Rules was no exception,and I found myself thinking about the Hunt family long after I shut the book.
Picoult fans will need no urging to read House Rules - but I will do so anyway.I loved it,and I'm sure you will too.
Fantastic! July 26, 2010
nicola
Wow I took this book on my holiday and I could not put it down (read in 2 days). I have read a lot of Picoult's book and this is one of the best books, along with My Sisters Keeper. Picoult has clearly done her research on Aspergers and this comes across in the book, I learnt so much from it! Definately worth buying, bring on the next book!!!
The best ever Picoult July 16, 2010
MrsCharlotteIHunter
This Picoult book is a poignant and gripping tale about a teenage boy suffering from Aspergers Syndrome, his mother, brother and estranged father. The book introduces us to the complicated issues of this condition and reveals just how far a family needs to stretch in order to accommodate someone suffering from Aspergers.
The resulting drama described in the book takes us on a journey of self questioning; who do we think carried out the murder and are we guilty of prejudice in thinking this? When are rules meant to be broken and how do families cope in a crisis?
The term 'blood is thicker than water' can never be more true than in this amazing and compelling story. I could not put the book down and had a few late nights of reading in order to get to a place where I could leave my reading until next time. I feel it is one of those books that you feel gutted with when you are nearing the end, because the read was so pleasurable.
fantastic should be a film July 1, 2010
occtopussy
this book is the best one yet from jodi picoult, i couldn't put it down. it was truly inspirational. i learnt a lot about aspergers too and how different people react to differences within us. nice one jodi keep up the good work, cant wait to read the next one in the jodi picoult range, fantastic books. house rules should be made into a film it was that good, i was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 60
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