| 
 enlarge | Author: Mark Haddon
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £7.98 (100%)
New (42) Used (163) Collectible (6) from £0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  442 reviews
Sales Rank: 602
Media: Paperback
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0099450259
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780099450252
ASIN: 0099450259
Publication Date: April 1, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: A good copy. Spine uncreased. Immediate dispatch from the UK.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Really good book, once I started reading I could not put it down! January 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm currently doing A level psychology and our teacher told us about this book when we were doing a study on autism and she recommended us to read it to get a deeper understanding of autism. She said the book was written by a young boy with Asperger's, which is a milder form of autism, but I think the Author Mark Haddon made up the character up Christopher, if this is the case, he did well. A lady from my course realised that she had the book already and bought it into class for me to borrow just before xmas. I read bits of it here and there before xmas but I'm the type of person who when she reads a book, more often than not I'll have to read most of it in one sitting. I was due back to my course this week and had to return the book so saturday night at midnight I started to read it again and literally did not want to put it down. I read it to the end and to 3am in the morning!!!
It REALLY gave me an insight into autism, or aspergers syndrome, and really helped with my course. But more than that I loved reading it. Some bits, like when he explains maths or other things HE is interested in/fascinated with, were a bit hard for ME to comprehend and to be honest most of the times I would read the words but not take them in at all. And I think that is what it must be like for someone with Autism when they experience 'our world'. It showed what is termed as 'islets of ability' in that Christopher was able to take his A level maths at such a young age, not sure how old he was, but certainly younger than most students would be who would be taking that exam.
It also showed their/his preferences to routine i.e he had colours which he didn't like, yellow and brown and couldn't eat foods of this colour.
I could go on and on about how insightful this book is for anyone who is interested in Aspergers/autism but for the reader who isn't necessarily interested in that and just wants a really good, heart warming read this is also a must. The swear words in it are many!!! So as I think other reviews have said, maybe not for children. My sister's read this and told me that there was a twist to the story. I think there are 2 twists, you find out the first one about half way through the book and then the rest of the book follows that twist. But the second, again about half way through the book, threw me a bit, and was worked in with the first twist very well.
His amazing journey REALLY inspired me!! I have anxiety and I know this was a fictional character but it made me think, anything is possible, no matter how scary, if you have a goal in mind and are determined to do it (in Christophers case he felt he had no alternative) you CAN achieve anything and when I got to the last page I had a smile on my face and a real sense of 'yes I can do whatever I want no matter what obstacles I may have to face or live with!' so much so that I would recommend anyone with anxiety or even depression which I've also suffered with to get this book as it is SO inspiring and gives you real 'get up and go'.
Indispensable January 6, 2008
Anyone considering working in a health and social care environment should be given this book to read- it has taught me more about how to help and understand people with autistic spectrum disorders than the year and a half I spent volunteering with no training at a daycare centre for young adults with physical and learning difficulties.
Not only that, but it's a great story too, gripping and unputdownable like all the best books are.
Highly recommended
fascinating December 31, 2007
This book is a fascinating insight into the mind of a young man with Aspergers Syndrome, a condition which is linked to Autism. As a young man who analyses everything, whether he wants to or not, he causes himself many worries. A fall out with his father, causes him to make a terrifying journey to London by himself.
Anyone woring or planning to work with children with Autism will find this a very interesting and educational read. I have learnt a lot about the way an Autistic mind works!! I would also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you missed it!
 Anti-Christian platitudes December 25, 2007
2 out of 21 found this review helpful
The author gracelessly presents his atheist sophistry by putting his twaddle into the mouth/mind of an autistic child at an average of 1.5 times per chapter. Unrealistic, hardly relevant with a true Asperger sufferer; pathetically naive.
 Half of it is Brilliant! December 7, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I loved half of this book. In fact more than half, I couldn't put it down. Then it went wonky. Two thirds of the book is spent in drawing up the character. We learn what is likely to set him off or paralyse him by reading the first 75% and the author does drum it into us. We know what the effect of a colour yellow will be etc... and then what happens? The author wants to introduce some drama that's what and forgets his own character. Incredibly unbelievable last three chapters, the author completely contradicts himself all in the name of what exactly? Author laziness I reckon. Shame, two thirds of it were pure genius.
|
|
|
