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A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards
Edward is nearly four years old when he begins his slow, painful withdrawal from the world. For those who love him -- his father, Jack; his pregnant mother, Rachel; his younger brother, Matt -- the transformation of this happy, intelligent firstborn into a sleepless, feral stranger is a devastating blow, one that will send shockwaves through every nook and cranny of family life.
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is the story of Edward's descent into autism, and Rachel and Jack's struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel, too, is the tale of Rachel's late uncle Mickey, who may have suffered from a similar disorder during a time when society's notions of parenting, pediatrics, and psychology were dramatically different from today's. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers, flashbacks to Mickey's life afford moving insights into both the nature of childhood trauma and the coping mechanisms that families employ. Carefully crafted and deeply entertaining, A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards reveals the author's remarkable gift for language and offers a striking exploration of domestic life that will resonate with readers everywhere.
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is the story of Edward's descent into autism, and Rachel and Jack's struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel, too, is the tale of Rachel's late uncle Mickey, who may have suffered from a similar disorder during a time when society's notions of parenting, pediatrics, and psychology were dramatically different from today's. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers, flashbacks to Mickey's life afford moving insights into both the nature of childhood trauma and the coping mechanisms that families employ. Carefully crafted and deeply entertaining, A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards reveals the author's remarkable gift for language and offers a striking exploration of domestic life that will resonate with readers everywhere.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2005
18 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Ann Bauer
11 books39 followersSeven years ago, during a very tough time in my life, I took a job in advertising. I'd published one novel. I'd written a second but had given up on its ever selling (it eventually did). My adjunct teaching contract was up. So I decided to change my life, go to work for the Man and see what that was like.
I was 40 years old. And going into advertising at 40 is like becoming a ballerina at 29... The first month was bewildering. Nonstop client meetings and martinis at 2 p.m. I was exhausted but also — I realized — happy for the first time in a while. My colleagues were kind, cheerful, smart, creative and surprisingly devoid of ego. People laughed. No one used the word "pedagogy." Work was actually fun.
I've been looking for meaning all my life. But it's been elusive. So far, the closest I've come is some combination of Jewish and Hindu. But nothing quite fits. Then Pope Francis burst into the zeitgeist. Now here's a guy who gets religion...and advertising. He's all goodwill and great PR. I was fascinated, even if I didn't know why.
It was 2013 and I wasn't sure I'd ever write another book but one day while on vacation I toured a Basilica with my once-Catholic husband. I saw him cross himself, eyes closed, complication on his handsome face. And this, together with the merry new pope, started me thinking about forgiveness. Then a lonely, lost and admirable priest appeared in my head.
The next morning, I sat down to write the first chapter of Forgiveness 4 You.
I was 40 years old. And going into advertising at 40 is like becoming a ballerina at 29... The first month was bewildering. Nonstop client meetings and martinis at 2 p.m. I was exhausted but also — I realized — happy for the first time in a while. My colleagues were kind, cheerful, smart, creative and surprisingly devoid of ego. People laughed. No one used the word "pedagogy." Work was actually fun.
I've been looking for meaning all my life. But it's been elusive. So far, the closest I've come is some combination of Jewish and Hindu. But nothing quite fits. Then Pope Francis burst into the zeitgeist. Now here's a guy who gets religion...and advertising. He's all goodwill and great PR. I was fascinated, even if I didn't know why.
It was 2013 and I wasn't sure I'd ever write another book but one day while on vacation I toured a Basilica with my once-Catholic husband. I saw him cross himself, eyes closed, complication on his handsome face. And this, together with the merry new pope, started me thinking about forgiveness. Then a lonely, lost and admirable priest appeared in my head.
The next morning, I sat down to write the first chapter of Forgiveness 4 You.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 25, 2010
I chose this book because I belived it to be the story of a family and their struggles dealing with an autistic child. I can relate to this topic so I was interested in reading it. It ended up being a lot different then I expected.
First of all, the child is not autistic. This makes a big differance in how the child is treated and the possibilities for his future. For example, since they can't diagnose him, there is a possiblitiy of there being a cure. Secondly, the book is not really about a family as much as it is about a mother. It tells the story of her dealing with all the trials life brings her. It was much more then just a disabled son. She delt with poverty, disappointment, critical (but loving) parents, and a husband that is lacking in ambition.
The story starts at a time in her life where she makes some critical choices that will effect her significantly later on. It then goes through a period of flashbacks, stories of an uncle she had, and progresses forward as well. This sounds really confusing, but I thought the author pulled the transitions off really well.
As I read the story, I cringed at their choices. I laughed at their situations. I frowned at the way others had a negative effect in their lives... but while I couldn't really relate to this woman (which is what I expected to do when I chose this novel,) I definately became attached to her.
All in all, it was a good book. I thought it was definately worth the read.
First of all, the child is not autistic. This makes a big differance in how the child is treated and the possibilities for his future. For example, since they can't diagnose him, there is a possiblitiy of there being a cure. Secondly, the book is not really about a family as much as it is about a mother. It tells the story of her dealing with all the trials life brings her. It was much more then just a disabled son. She delt with poverty, disappointment, critical (but loving) parents, and a husband that is lacking in ambition.
The story starts at a time in her life where she makes some critical choices that will effect her significantly later on. It then goes through a period of flashbacks, stories of an uncle she had, and progresses forward as well. This sounds really confusing, but I thought the author pulled the transitions off really well.
As I read the story, I cringed at their choices. I laughed at their situations. I frowned at the way others had a negative effect in their lives... but while I couldn't really relate to this woman (which is what I expected to do when I chose this novel,) I definately became attached to her.
All in all, it was a good book. I thought it was definately worth the read.
September 13, 2018
Wow. Just wow.
March 12, 2024
A novel about a family who struggles with the neurodiversity of both father and firstborn son, from the mother’s anxious POV. While I took issue with some of the details in Bauer’s plotting, her portrayal of the characters kept me going. The ending holds hope for the children to adjust and have a strong future, having come through a crucible time together and definitely feeling love from both their parents and maternal grandparents.
October 22, 2011
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...
I love the title of Bauer's debut novel. It is a term used to describe the protagonist's uncle and the way his older brother would play with him until he died suddenly of scarlet fever.
At the center of this book is Edward, a boy who begins to withdraw at age four. His mom, Rachel, and dad, Jack, try to figure out what is happening to him...it seems like autism, but it isn't...and they resort to extreme lengths to try to help him.
Rachel also discovers that her uncle, Mickey, who died before she was born, had similarities to young Edward. Bauer alternates her chapters between Rachel's story and that of Mickey, whose life changed dramatically when his beloved older brother died.
Many readers have found it jarring to go back and forth between perspectives, and often I dislike that as well...but I didn't have a problem with it in this book. In fact, I liked the parts about Mickey.
My qualms about the book were that I found it difficult to relate to the parents and their choices...I found their anguish about their son's situation to be touching and tragic, but at the same time I felt that Bauer skimped on describing what drew them together and what they were like as human beings. This story is apparently based on Bauer's own life (one of her sons went through a similar type of withdrawal, and she too was scammed by the Israeli mafia!), and she writes of great fondness for the character Jack. However, I've never known anyone like Jack and I found it hard to understand how someone could be in love with such a person.
The end felt vaguely unsatisfying. Whatever became of Edward (and Bauer's own son)? Did they ever discover what was wrong with him? Did Rachel even care about her marriage? (For even though Bauer says Jack was her favorite character, I didn't sense that with Rachel.)
Bauer effectively describes the anxiety and feelings of loss for a parent who has a child with special needs. I could relate when Rachel became angry and envious at the easy success of "normal" children, or when her best friend's cat dies and the friend compares that to the loss of a child. This novel contained many moments of poignancy and effectiveness. I wish I had felt more fondness for the characters.
I love the title of Bauer's debut novel. It is a term used to describe the protagonist's uncle and the way his older brother would play with him until he died suddenly of scarlet fever.
At the center of this book is Edward, a boy who begins to withdraw at age four. His mom, Rachel, and dad, Jack, try to figure out what is happening to him...it seems like autism, but it isn't...and they resort to extreme lengths to try to help him.
Rachel also discovers that her uncle, Mickey, who died before she was born, had similarities to young Edward. Bauer alternates her chapters between Rachel's story and that of Mickey, whose life changed dramatically when his beloved older brother died.
Many readers have found it jarring to go back and forth between perspectives, and often I dislike that as well...but I didn't have a problem with it in this book. In fact, I liked the parts about Mickey.
My qualms about the book were that I found it difficult to relate to the parents and their choices...I found their anguish about their son's situation to be touching and tragic, but at the same time I felt that Bauer skimped on describing what drew them together and what they were like as human beings. This story is apparently based on Bauer's own life (one of her sons went through a similar type of withdrawal, and she too was scammed by the Israeli mafia!), and she writes of great fondness for the character Jack. However, I've never known anyone like Jack and I found it hard to understand how someone could be in love with such a person.
The end felt vaguely unsatisfying. Whatever became of Edward (and Bauer's own son)? Did they ever discover what was wrong with him? Did Rachel even care about her marriage? (For even though Bauer says Jack was her favorite character, I didn't sense that with Rachel.)
Bauer effectively describes the anxiety and feelings of loss for a parent who has a child with special needs. I could relate when Rachel became angry and envious at the easy success of "normal" children, or when her best friend's cat dies and the friend compares that to the loss of a child. This novel contained many moments of poignancy and effectiveness. I wish I had felt more fondness for the characters.
July 7, 2008
Highly disappointing, especially considering how wonderfully written Ann Bauer's columns are on Salon.com and which provide much of the drafting of this story. Bauer's use of a literary device of alternating between the narrator's present-day circumstances of a young marriage to an ultimately inappropriate man, coping with a child "somewhere on the scale of autism", and two other, younger, children; and the story of the narrator's uncle who (may) have suffered a similar developmental and emotional imparement is less than adroit, distracting and results in uneven character and plot development. Without providing a spoiler I will say this: the radical decision the parents reach to cope with their son's affliction and insomnia and the ultimate unraveling of their lives is not believeable (not so much the decision itself, or the circumstances that drove them; but the mechanics and final end are frankly preposterous and happen so quickly that they feel tacked on. Baur's story-telling is more evident in her journalistic writing than her fiction.
July 12, 2008
By the end of this book I was scanning the pages to just get the gist of it. If I had to hear one more time about how tall Jack is (six six) or how large his hands are I would have screamed. It started out great but by the end I was wondering what the point of the book was....Maybe it was to tell me how tall Jack was? I ended up frustrated with the way the characters seemed to never get anywhere other than where we knew from the beginning: Jack was a drifter hippie who would leave his family. Bleh.
August 24, 2025
This book was quite a rollercoaster and nowhere near what I expected.
I picked it up at a local bookstore and read the back, thinking it was going to be a gripping story that delved into the emotional depths of a married couple learning their son is autistic, detailing the journey they go through with & following diagnosis. I also anticipated that it would flip back and forth with the story of this relative, Mickey, who maybe had very similar traits and *didn't* get a diagnosis--possibly linking the two experiences together in the eyes of the parents to demonstrate their realization of how different their son's experience is (with diagnosis and supports) compared to the relative's lack of. At least, that's what the back of the book had me thinking.
I read "The Nowhere Place" and the first page. (A grade-school teacher once advised me to read the back, the epilogue if there is one, and the first page before choosing a book--if reading the next page feels compelling, give the book a chance!) "The Nowhere Place" is well-written with a smooth tone, solid sentence structure, and gives an emotional background that feels like a mother who deeply loves, understands, and accepts her child for who he is. I liked that. It felt like “the calm after the storm” to look forward to later on. The first page immediately stating she sometimes dreams of him as dead was quite a sudden shift in tone, though her waking and describing it as a nightmare suggests she might be dealing with some extreme fear regarding her child's well-being rather than being a murderous mother *wishing* for it. Good. This is a sign of emotional depth (without anything sinister) I like to see in novels, and its coming out right away--I like this! So I bought it.
TLDR;
I really wanted to like the book, but I think the writer was dealing with lust throughout writing it and that sporadically seeped into the writing--which is unexpected for a novel about a kid's "descent into autism" as it says on the back. There aren’t detailed sex scenes per se, though the lust from Rachel toward her husband pops up throughout the book, as well as a pop-up scene where Mickey has a hard-on that’s graphically described in appearance and in how he responds to it. There’s also an older man who asks him if he touches himself after seeing Mickey admiring a girl, despite the fact Mickey’s admiration was innocent and sweet—the man assumed it was sexual. That was disturbing to me, and unexpected for this book. The characters are vague ideas that feel more like a rough draft, and the articulation is great whereas the details and transitions to new info are rather messy and abrupt. Its not bad for the author's first book—the sentence structures feel like that of a natural writer—though I found the details scattered with some things left neglected & major editing that should've happened.
The DETAILED REVIEW WITH SPOILERS:
I'll admit, I got a bit confused about the kids in the beginning and had to re-read parts of it to get the details in order. I'll get to that in a minute. Mama Rachel is pregnant and has 6-year-old Edward and 4-year-old Matthew (note the age gap) remaining in their beds as she starts an extremely early morning following her nightmare. Already, my attention is captured with Edward being awake, seemingly buzzing with an energy Rachel is picking up on, and there are hints of a history with his health being a struggle for enough time now that Rachel is both used to it and alienated from him at the same time. I'm intrigued--what's going on? A bit of background is unravelled, and there is mention of an "eight-syllable-disease" that ends up not being named--unless I somehow missed it, though I was intentionally *looking* for it. There's another part later in the book where its mentioned that Rachel hears, in her head, the next line of a song Edward is singing after he stopped before that line, but that line is not identified in the book. I looked it up and it didn't seem to be anything significant, so it admittedly felt like a distraction from the novel. Why the introduced, yet unidentified info?
We're given some background on how they met & Jack seems like a major red flag. Another woman warns Rachel against him, he immediately identifies himself as 'old' at 28--Rachel is only 20--and he DOWNS an entire glass of beer before starting his second one, with Rachel noting the way he orders with two fingers up in the peace sign as being his normal way to order; open alcoholism right off the bat? Yikes! Despite this, Rachel is immediately smitten and they hit it off. Its a well-written introduction to the characters, even though I already don't trust Jack. He ends up disappearing for 6 weeks, then shows up at her parents' house after she's been a wreck in his absence, and her mom thinks he looks like Christ, so all that heartbeak over the unannounced abandonment he thrust on her daughter is dust. Rachel's mom steps aside and boom, bam, bing--they're married and she finds out she's pregnant with Edward two months later. Kinda messed up, though I'll accept it as character development realistic to human flaws of a certain nature that some people have.
Then we get a bit of background on Jack's work & Rachel's money management that kinda jumps timelines a little bit, though was likely structured the best way possible to lead into the next part, which is where I got mixed up. So, we went through a small paragraph about Edward being 1.5 reciting The Cat in the Hat, then another about Rachel telling her parents of her pregnancy with Matt in that same visit that transitions into her dad's disapproval and her response to it. Next, is a larger paragraph describing how perfect life felt after Matt was born because they were taking the kids sledding etc whilst other parents were dealing with ear infections and whatnot. Okay, this seems chronological, albeit a bit sped up--though I appreciate just catching what seems foundational for building character and story development info. But wait--then we suddenly flip back to when Edward was born, learning about what Jack was doing for work at the time and how Rachel struggled with finances. Okay, I guess the business Jack started was important for what we're launched into in a minute. Before that, though, there's mention of Edward having his second birthday the week before, yet "the baby" was sleeping along Jack's forearm. I pictured a newborn, but we were just hearing about these boys sledding, and immediately before that were informed of Rachel's pregnancy when Edward was "not yet 1.5". Remember where I said to note the age gap earlier? If Edward was 6 when Matthew was 4, that means Matthew had to be born AFTER Edward's birthday. Hearing about him sledding, then hearing about him being asleep on his dad's forearm just a week after Edward's birthday feels like a tangled timeline, even if Matt was born right after Edward's birthday, which is the only logical assumption at this point.
Then there's a huge space between paragraphs and it seems like we're suddenly launched into Giant-Husband-Jack's business failing & they're pushing baby Matt in a baby swing in May. I had somehow assumed we were back in present times and this was the baby she was pregnant with in the beginning, for some reason giving basically the same name as her second kid (calling him Matt now instead of Matthew as they did in the beginning), though that's probably partly my own mistake given I had a cold and wasn't super clear-headed when I read this. Anyway, Edward's birthday is noted as being March 12, and there's no way Rachel would've been very far in her pregnancy when she announced it to her parents when Edward was not-yet 1.5 given they didn't see the pregnancy belly for themselves and Rachel is generally described as being small. So, we should assume the baby was born sometime around Edward's birthday--and with the aforementioned 2-year age gap, and the bit about him sleeping on Jack's forearm the week following Edward's second birthday, we should assume Matt was born sometime shortly after March 12. So, by May, Matt would only be 2 months old--still too young for a baby swing at the playground. Even if it was her third kid, though, they’d still be young for the baby swing in May given she was 8m pregnant in January starting the novel.
Anyway, I was pretty confused through the parts after they moved where Edward was going to storytime at the library, already showing symptoms, while Rachel hung out with new friend Carrie and the baby. (Given I'd thought the baby was from the third pregnancy before I realized this was still a flashback, I thought Edward was 6-7 and was wondering where the middle kid went.) Despite re-reading to realize that it was my mistake to assume it was present-day when Jack's business went under and they moved, there's still a lack of clarity when it comes to the timelines and ages of the kids that's only sometimes cleared up, though not enough given how much the story time-jumps. Don't get me wrong, I love putting the pieces together from different times throughout, though there needs to be a bit more clarity to be able to picture the characters as their correct ages. Its also noteworthy that Edward seems to have problems early on after their move, yet he should only be approaching 2.5 when they get there (early summer after his 2nd birthday) and be around 3.5 when they move away, yet Rachel notes his symptoms start at 3yrs 10m. I find there are mixed messages as to when Edward started struggling and what was going on for the family at the time. It would line up better with the story to assume, after mentioning it being a week after Edward's second birthday just the paragraph before saying it was May when Jack's business went belly-up, that the author meant May of the *following* year. However, that's really something that should be identified rather than guessed at or assumed to fill spaces and make it make sense.
Overall, the sentence structure throughout is really good--smooth and natural-feeling, which is of major importance to me. However, the writing kinda teeters the edge of being excellently unpredictable, yet carries a strong (& unusual) "never let them know your next move" vibe. A lot of things come up abruptly, and there are a number of times you need to read the next few sentences to know who/what is being talked about. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this. Its jarring, and pulls me out of ‘the zone’ with envisioning what’s going on, yet has me continuing to see what else might come up.
That being said, the storyline with the guy Rachel works with could've been removed. Although realistic for many people, their connection was boring and inappropriate—aaaand came out of nowhere. Her work was barely mentioned before, and now suddenly she’s picturing marriage and family life with this guy? Besides, she's obsessed with her husband and his Godly large hands and proportional body and creaking leather belt--she's a strong character for having a story that *doesn't* have the overused theme of affair. Even though it was a one-sided emotional thing, its still inappropriate for a married person to be entertaining and I REALLY wish books would stop including this type of storyline.
I actually really liked the alternating stories between Rachel and Mickey, in contrast to what I’m now seeing other reviewers say. I found the latter to be more coherently written, though both were interesting to keep up with. The first 'flashback' detailing Frank's journey with scarlet fever felt reminiscent of the scene in Jane Eyre where she gets sick and is initially dismissed as fine, then taken seriously as gravely ill. Its obviously not an identical story, though the writing there reminded me of it and I quite liked it. The other parts of Mickey's life were admittedly a bit of a yo-yo between being boring and interesting to me, though it gave insight as to how his mind worked systematically in the same way Edward's might, so it was nice to see that comparison—especially with autism in question as its characteristic and common to see autism in multiple members of the same family.
However, I REALLY hated the sudden...umm...arousal scene for Mickey. It was graphically sexual and entirely unnecessary, adding NOTHING to the story. I picked up a book I thought would be a clean story with emotional depths about a family learning to cope with their child being autistic--the *last* thing I expected was a graphic little paragraph suddenly thrusting a clear image of a man's aroused genitals & detailed self-service following it. I was disgusted. Same with the other scene that was brought up for the second time here, with the older man asking him as a teen if he touches himself. Just...why?? That alone has me pondering not keeping the book. I can get past the confusion around the ages, but I don't want that type of content in any of the books I own and there was NO warning.
I enjoyed the journey they went through with being unsure of what Edward's diagnosis would be, though I would've liked even more if they had gotten a re-evaluation and official confirmation of a diagnosis in the end. The back of the book *says* he's autistic, yet the book describes an inconsistency between medical professionals' opinions on that and he ends up without a formal diagnosis of anything specific, despite a lot of his behaviours seeming to align with autism. I also would’ve liked to shift a bit away from Rachel’s perspective and give more space to character development. It would’ve been a lot more interesting if the parts about Mickey and Frank etc were told to Rachel by her mom because it would’ve given them the connection that’s ghostly hinted at when she starts delving into it, and would’ve given the actual “bits and pieces” presentation that was mentioned as her having from her own memories as well as commentary from others. It would’ve been a smoother connection to what Rachel was actually hearing than getting the more in-depth version from flipping back in time, and it could’ve been cut a bit shorter to give more space to rotate perspectives with Rachel, Jack, Edward, and even throwing in a couple or so for Matt as well, to give a more well-rounded view of the family dynamic and further develop each character as they saw themselves as well as one another. We do get an idea of who everyone is, though it seems a bit vague for a novel that sounded like it would have a really strong focus on the parents and Edward. I also found that Jack had this interesting dichotomy of seeming like an arrogant, uninvolved, and aggressive alcoholic vs being a really good dad (as stated by a few characters, and I'll give him credit for being there during medical things, having more patience for Edward, and doing the brain gym stuff with him). We don't see much of his interactions with the kids in general, though, and he seems explosive and aggressively hateful toward Rachel, apart from when they're being sexual, which seems to be the primary foundation of their relationship. Yet, it says in the beginning that they used to meet for conversations every night, then used to read the same books and connect over that, so I'd have liked to see more of their emotional connection in place of the lustful connection we see Rachel showing instead. There’s a bit of an obsession with his size that I grew tired of, though seems to be what keeps Rachel addicted to him, yet she seems simultaneously afraid of him when he gets mad. It seems like there’s a hinting of him being aggressively abusive, yet its brushed under the rug with commentary of him being so magnetic and apparently such a great father. Its kind of curious, like outing an abusive relationship at the same time as passionately defending it. I liked reading the observations about Edward's behaviours and speech as the story went on--that bit was good character development for him because we can see how he's developing & see flashes of his personality as well as how he responds to his environment and those within it. I'd like to have heard his internal monologue-that would've been *extremely* insightful to have the cross-comparison between what those around him were experiencing vs what he was experiencing.
All in all, Anne Bauer has very strong writing skills, just a bit more structure and editing would make an exceptional difference in the final product.
I picked it up at a local bookstore and read the back, thinking it was going to be a gripping story that delved into the emotional depths of a married couple learning their son is autistic, detailing the journey they go through with & following diagnosis. I also anticipated that it would flip back and forth with the story of this relative, Mickey, who maybe had very similar traits and *didn't* get a diagnosis--possibly linking the two experiences together in the eyes of the parents to demonstrate their realization of how different their son's experience is (with diagnosis and supports) compared to the relative's lack of. At least, that's what the back of the book had me thinking.
I read "The Nowhere Place" and the first page. (A grade-school teacher once advised me to read the back, the epilogue if there is one, and the first page before choosing a book--if reading the next page feels compelling, give the book a chance!) "The Nowhere Place" is well-written with a smooth tone, solid sentence structure, and gives an emotional background that feels like a mother who deeply loves, understands, and accepts her child for who he is. I liked that. It felt like “the calm after the storm” to look forward to later on. The first page immediately stating she sometimes dreams of him as dead was quite a sudden shift in tone, though her waking and describing it as a nightmare suggests she might be dealing with some extreme fear regarding her child's well-being rather than being a murderous mother *wishing* for it. Good. This is a sign of emotional depth (without anything sinister) I like to see in novels, and its coming out right away--I like this! So I bought it.
TLDR;
I really wanted to like the book, but I think the writer was dealing with lust throughout writing it and that sporadically seeped into the writing--which is unexpected for a novel about a kid's "descent into autism" as it says on the back. There aren’t detailed sex scenes per se, though the lust from Rachel toward her husband pops up throughout the book, as well as a pop-up scene where Mickey has a hard-on that’s graphically described in appearance and in how he responds to it. There’s also an older man who asks him if he touches himself after seeing Mickey admiring a girl, despite the fact Mickey’s admiration was innocent and sweet—the man assumed it was sexual. That was disturbing to me, and unexpected for this book. The characters are vague ideas that feel more like a rough draft, and the articulation is great whereas the details and transitions to new info are rather messy and abrupt. Its not bad for the author's first book—the sentence structures feel like that of a natural writer—though I found the details scattered with some things left neglected & major editing that should've happened.
The DETAILED REVIEW WITH SPOILERS:
I'll admit, I got a bit confused about the kids in the beginning and had to re-read parts of it to get the details in order. I'll get to that in a minute. Mama Rachel is pregnant and has 6-year-old Edward and 4-year-old Matthew (note the age gap) remaining in their beds as she starts an extremely early morning following her nightmare. Already, my attention is captured with Edward being awake, seemingly buzzing with an energy Rachel is picking up on, and there are hints of a history with his health being a struggle for enough time now that Rachel is both used to it and alienated from him at the same time. I'm intrigued--what's going on? A bit of background is unravelled, and there is mention of an "eight-syllable-disease" that ends up not being named--unless I somehow missed it, though I was intentionally *looking* for it. There's another part later in the book where its mentioned that Rachel hears, in her head, the next line of a song Edward is singing after he stopped before that line, but that line is not identified in the book. I looked it up and it didn't seem to be anything significant, so it admittedly felt like a distraction from the novel. Why the introduced, yet unidentified info?
We're given some background on how they met & Jack seems like a major red flag. Another woman warns Rachel against him, he immediately identifies himself as 'old' at 28--Rachel is only 20--and he DOWNS an entire glass of beer before starting his second one, with Rachel noting the way he orders with two fingers up in the peace sign as being his normal way to order; open alcoholism right off the bat? Yikes! Despite this, Rachel is immediately smitten and they hit it off. Its a well-written introduction to the characters, even though I already don't trust Jack. He ends up disappearing for 6 weeks, then shows up at her parents' house after she's been a wreck in his absence, and her mom thinks he looks like Christ, so all that heartbeak over the unannounced abandonment he thrust on her daughter is dust. Rachel's mom steps aside and boom, bam, bing--they're married and she finds out she's pregnant with Edward two months later. Kinda messed up, though I'll accept it as character development realistic to human flaws of a certain nature that some people have.
Then we get a bit of background on Jack's work & Rachel's money management that kinda jumps timelines a little bit, though was likely structured the best way possible to lead into the next part, which is where I got mixed up. So, we went through a small paragraph about Edward being 1.5 reciting The Cat in the Hat, then another about Rachel telling her parents of her pregnancy with Matt in that same visit that transitions into her dad's disapproval and her response to it. Next, is a larger paragraph describing how perfect life felt after Matt was born because they were taking the kids sledding etc whilst other parents were dealing with ear infections and whatnot. Okay, this seems chronological, albeit a bit sped up--though I appreciate just catching what seems foundational for building character and story development info. But wait--then we suddenly flip back to when Edward was born, learning about what Jack was doing for work at the time and how Rachel struggled with finances. Okay, I guess the business Jack started was important for what we're launched into in a minute. Before that, though, there's mention of Edward having his second birthday the week before, yet "the baby" was sleeping along Jack's forearm. I pictured a newborn, but we were just hearing about these boys sledding, and immediately before that were informed of Rachel's pregnancy when Edward was "not yet 1.5". Remember where I said to note the age gap earlier? If Edward was 6 when Matthew was 4, that means Matthew had to be born AFTER Edward's birthday. Hearing about him sledding, then hearing about him being asleep on his dad's forearm just a week after Edward's birthday feels like a tangled timeline, even if Matt was born right after Edward's birthday, which is the only logical assumption at this point.
Then there's a huge space between paragraphs and it seems like we're suddenly launched into Giant-Husband-Jack's business failing & they're pushing baby Matt in a baby swing in May. I had somehow assumed we were back in present times and this was the baby she was pregnant with in the beginning, for some reason giving basically the same name as her second kid (calling him Matt now instead of Matthew as they did in the beginning), though that's probably partly my own mistake given I had a cold and wasn't super clear-headed when I read this. Anyway, Edward's birthday is noted as being March 12, and there's no way Rachel would've been very far in her pregnancy when she announced it to her parents when Edward was not-yet 1.5 given they didn't see the pregnancy belly for themselves and Rachel is generally described as being small. So, we should assume the baby was born sometime around Edward's birthday--and with the aforementioned 2-year age gap, and the bit about him sleeping on Jack's forearm the week following Edward's second birthday, we should assume Matt was born sometime shortly after March 12. So, by May, Matt would only be 2 months old--still too young for a baby swing at the playground. Even if it was her third kid, though, they’d still be young for the baby swing in May given she was 8m pregnant in January starting the novel.
Anyway, I was pretty confused through the parts after they moved where Edward was going to storytime at the library, already showing symptoms, while Rachel hung out with new friend Carrie and the baby. (Given I'd thought the baby was from the third pregnancy before I realized this was still a flashback, I thought Edward was 6-7 and was wondering where the middle kid went.) Despite re-reading to realize that it was my mistake to assume it was present-day when Jack's business went under and they moved, there's still a lack of clarity when it comes to the timelines and ages of the kids that's only sometimes cleared up, though not enough given how much the story time-jumps. Don't get me wrong, I love putting the pieces together from different times throughout, though there needs to be a bit more clarity to be able to picture the characters as their correct ages. Its also noteworthy that Edward seems to have problems early on after their move, yet he should only be approaching 2.5 when they get there (early summer after his 2nd birthday) and be around 3.5 when they move away, yet Rachel notes his symptoms start at 3yrs 10m. I find there are mixed messages as to when Edward started struggling and what was going on for the family at the time. It would line up better with the story to assume, after mentioning it being a week after Edward's second birthday just the paragraph before saying it was May when Jack's business went belly-up, that the author meant May of the *following* year. However, that's really something that should be identified rather than guessed at or assumed to fill spaces and make it make sense.
Overall, the sentence structure throughout is really good--smooth and natural-feeling, which is of major importance to me. However, the writing kinda teeters the edge of being excellently unpredictable, yet carries a strong (& unusual) "never let them know your next move" vibe. A lot of things come up abruptly, and there are a number of times you need to read the next few sentences to know who/what is being talked about. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this. Its jarring, and pulls me out of ‘the zone’ with envisioning what’s going on, yet has me continuing to see what else might come up.
That being said, the storyline with the guy Rachel works with could've been removed. Although realistic for many people, their connection was boring and inappropriate—aaaand came out of nowhere. Her work was barely mentioned before, and now suddenly she’s picturing marriage and family life with this guy? Besides, she's obsessed with her husband and his Godly large hands and proportional body and creaking leather belt--she's a strong character for having a story that *doesn't* have the overused theme of affair. Even though it was a one-sided emotional thing, its still inappropriate for a married person to be entertaining and I REALLY wish books would stop including this type of storyline.
I actually really liked the alternating stories between Rachel and Mickey, in contrast to what I’m now seeing other reviewers say. I found the latter to be more coherently written, though both were interesting to keep up with. The first 'flashback' detailing Frank's journey with scarlet fever felt reminiscent of the scene in Jane Eyre where she gets sick and is initially dismissed as fine, then taken seriously as gravely ill. Its obviously not an identical story, though the writing there reminded me of it and I quite liked it. The other parts of Mickey's life were admittedly a bit of a yo-yo between being boring and interesting to me, though it gave insight as to how his mind worked systematically in the same way Edward's might, so it was nice to see that comparison—especially with autism in question as its characteristic and common to see autism in multiple members of the same family.
However, I REALLY hated the sudden...umm...arousal scene for Mickey. It was graphically sexual and entirely unnecessary, adding NOTHING to the story. I picked up a book I thought would be a clean story with emotional depths about a family learning to cope with their child being autistic--the *last* thing I expected was a graphic little paragraph suddenly thrusting a clear image of a man's aroused genitals & detailed self-service following it. I was disgusted. Same with the other scene that was brought up for the second time here, with the older man asking him as a teen if he touches himself. Just...why?? That alone has me pondering not keeping the book. I can get past the confusion around the ages, but I don't want that type of content in any of the books I own and there was NO warning.
I enjoyed the journey they went through with being unsure of what Edward's diagnosis would be, though I would've liked even more if they had gotten a re-evaluation and official confirmation of a diagnosis in the end. The back of the book *says* he's autistic, yet the book describes an inconsistency between medical professionals' opinions on that and he ends up without a formal diagnosis of anything specific, despite a lot of his behaviours seeming to align with autism. I also would’ve liked to shift a bit away from Rachel’s perspective and give more space to character development. It would’ve been a lot more interesting if the parts about Mickey and Frank etc were told to Rachel by her mom because it would’ve given them the connection that’s ghostly hinted at when she starts delving into it, and would’ve given the actual “bits and pieces” presentation that was mentioned as her having from her own memories as well as commentary from others. It would’ve been a smoother connection to what Rachel was actually hearing than getting the more in-depth version from flipping back in time, and it could’ve been cut a bit shorter to give more space to rotate perspectives with Rachel, Jack, Edward, and even throwing in a couple or so for Matt as well, to give a more well-rounded view of the family dynamic and further develop each character as they saw themselves as well as one another. We do get an idea of who everyone is, though it seems a bit vague for a novel that sounded like it would have a really strong focus on the parents and Edward. I also found that Jack had this interesting dichotomy of seeming like an arrogant, uninvolved, and aggressive alcoholic vs being a really good dad (as stated by a few characters, and I'll give him credit for being there during medical things, having more patience for Edward, and doing the brain gym stuff with him). We don't see much of his interactions with the kids in general, though, and he seems explosive and aggressively hateful toward Rachel, apart from when they're being sexual, which seems to be the primary foundation of their relationship. Yet, it says in the beginning that they used to meet for conversations every night, then used to read the same books and connect over that, so I'd have liked to see more of their emotional connection in place of the lustful connection we see Rachel showing instead. There’s a bit of an obsession with his size that I grew tired of, though seems to be what keeps Rachel addicted to him, yet she seems simultaneously afraid of him when he gets mad. It seems like there’s a hinting of him being aggressively abusive, yet its brushed under the rug with commentary of him being so magnetic and apparently such a great father. Its kind of curious, like outing an abusive relationship at the same time as passionately defending it. I liked reading the observations about Edward's behaviours and speech as the story went on--that bit was good character development for him because we can see how he's developing & see flashes of his personality as well as how he responds to his environment and those within it. I'd like to have heard his internal monologue-that would've been *extremely* insightful to have the cross-comparison between what those around him were experiencing vs what he was experiencing.
All in all, Anne Bauer has very strong writing skills, just a bit more structure and editing would make an exceptional difference in the final product.
November 16, 2012
This was one of those books where you think 'what else could happen to this poor family'. A really poignant story of a family's struggles with a child who was never really diagnosed with a syndrome or disease. Edward is a healthy baby and toddler but when he turns 4 he devolops autistic-like symptoms but does not have autism. This is the story of how the parents cope with such a frustrating, odd and curious 'syndrome'. Ann Bauer is an excellent writer. I also loved "The Forever Marriage" her most recent novel.
December 7, 2012
This book started out out as a possible 5 star, then quickly lost stars as I went through it. The premise is that a child may or may not be autistic. The story is told through the eyes of the mother, but contained flashbacks to a relative who also may have been autistic. I ended up realizing about 100 pages in that I didn't care at all about the flashback character, nor did I end up caring about the main characters as well. I did enjoy this author's writing style however.
November 5, 2020
I love good women's fiction and this definitely fits the bill. Bauer's book is based on events in her life which I think always makes a story better. It is also set in Minneapolis with references to Iowa and I love that the setting is familiar. This one has been on my shelf since I purchased it in 2005 and my only regret is waiting so long to read it. I wish Bauer had a huge backlist of titles, but there is just one other novel of hers that I may pick up.
September 19, 2018
Wow.
Ann Bauer also wrote this lovely reflection recently:
I-was-a Yankee-liberal — It-took-moving-to Arkansas-me-understand-my-biases.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-...
Ann Bauer also wrote this lovely reflection recently:
I-was-a Yankee-liberal — It-took-moving-to Arkansas-me-understand-my-biases.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-...
October 11, 2017
A fairly good book about a family with a son who has autistic-like qualities, but he is not autistic. It covers many years in this family’s life in a believable way. I could relate to the mother, who had a strong protective love for her not-normal son. The struggles were dealt with in a realistic way.
There are chapters dealing with the boy’s grandparents family in the 50s and 60s. Maybe this was to show there was a medical/genetic explanation for the boy’s problems. Not sure, because it really doesn’t link the two.
The beginning of the book was very good, lots of detail, and well written. As it went on, years were skipped over and by the end, the boy is going into high school, with very little to explain the years missed. I was not satisfied with the lack of a good ending to this story.
There are chapters dealing with the boy’s grandparents family in the 50s and 60s. Maybe this was to show there was a medical/genetic explanation for the boy’s problems. Not sure, because it really doesn’t link the two.
The beginning of the book was very good, lots of detail, and well written. As it went on, years were skipped over and by the end, the boy is going into high school, with very little to explain the years missed. I was not satisfied with the lack of a good ending to this story.
August 21, 2017
Wow. This book is great. It makes you really think about your children, how you see them...should I accommodate that behavior, embrace it, fix it??? Do all the ideosyncrasies add up to a disorder or is it a phase...? I don't want to gloss over the issues in this book, Edward has serious problems and his parents love him sincerely and are desperate to try whatever they can to help him. The desire to figure Edward out and "fix it," how this process takes over their lives, is the undoing of this marriage. A very compelling read.
February 16, 2020
“Her cupboard doors made no sound when they closed; all the doors hung straight.” Ann Bauer’s skill at telling one story, and then another between the lines is breathtaking. The images she conveys are captivating and a bit disconcerting. A wonderful book.
June 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this novel. I do not personally have a child with Autism but my niece is autistic and I knew my sister struggled immensely trying to diagnose her. Personal experience aside, I liked the storyline and the importance of family that it portrayed.
August 21, 2017
This one was kind of outside of my normal read, but I couldn't put it down. Cute family with lots of issues just doing the best they can. Really good read!!
November 2, 2019
This book read like a memoir to me. I loved it. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
May 12, 2022
This was an enjoyable and different read although I felt like some connections were set up but not made.
July 13, 2022
Heartbreaking story of family, parenting and love.
May 2, 2025
A good description of a child with a behavioral and emotional disability and the havoc that ensues within the family.
May 13, 2010
This book is a fictional chronicle of one family's struggle—to discover what is causing son Edward's strange withdrawal that began at the age of four, and what, if anything, can be done to correct/cure his problems.
Throughout the story, narrated in the first person by the mother, Rachel, we peek into their world, from their courtship and unusual beginnings as a couple, followed by their almost perfect life as a young family until one day when their world turned upside down.
We accompany them to doctor's visits; we see them through the eyes of strangers who look askance at them and at their son; we share a bit of their loneliness and isolation as their world becomes increasingly smaller, until finally, there is nothing left except the day-to-day coping.
Interspersed with this narrative are the chapters that flash back to the past and to various family members, some of whom also exhibited "odd" behaviors.
In their search for answers, they even peruse old letters between an Uncle Mickey and his sister, always hoping to find a clue.
How one family's focus on one child's troubles and elusive diagnosis completely shapes and alters their lives forever is the ultimate story here.
Longing for solutions and answers, I kept plodding along, fascinated by this family's persistence and courage—and then at the end, I was surprised by the inevitable conclusion.
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: A Novel is an unforgettable story that gives new meaning to the word "cope." Five stars.
Throughout the story, narrated in the first person by the mother, Rachel, we peek into their world, from their courtship and unusual beginnings as a couple, followed by their almost perfect life as a young family until one day when their world turned upside down.
We accompany them to doctor's visits; we see them through the eyes of strangers who look askance at them and at their son; we share a bit of their loneliness and isolation as their world becomes increasingly smaller, until finally, there is nothing left except the day-to-day coping.
Interspersed with this narrative are the chapters that flash back to the past and to various family members, some of whom also exhibited "odd" behaviors.
In their search for answers, they even peruse old letters between an Uncle Mickey and his sister, always hoping to find a clue.
How one family's focus on one child's troubles and elusive diagnosis completely shapes and alters their lives forever is the ultimate story here.
Longing for solutions and answers, I kept plodding along, fascinated by this family's persistence and courage—and then at the end, I was surprised by the inevitable conclusion.
A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: A Novel is an unforgettable story that gives new meaning to the word "cope." Five stars.
August 21, 2025
Rachel and Jack met in college, and their relationship blossoms into one of mutual love, passion, struggle, and dreams. They marry quickly, and the first wee babe is on his way very shortly after that.
Edward. Edward was a good baby but didn't quite meet his milestones. By the time he is 4 he has stopped sleeping and has turned completely inward. Rachel is at her wits end trying to rescue her oldest son while also raising her younger son Matt AND being pregnant with their 3rd. Meanwhile, Jack is a good dad, but he's always been flighty. He took jobs as they came, took long motorcycle road trips, and maybe drank a little too much.
Look... Rachel was the friggin worst. Ok, I can't say what I would do personally because I've never been in a situation where my husband is a cop (and he hates it) and I am a stay at home mom with 2 kids (1 neurodivergent) and a baby on the way, BUT she is absolutely awful. She constantly complains about her parents saying that she only ever saw the negatives of everything or that she was overdramatic. She was. She pushes Jack into uncomfortable situations, freaks out every day in front of her kids, and absolutely cannot handle the idea that any of her children aren't going to grow up and be perfect. So many doctors and therapists and tests done on that kid. You can see how little attention she pays her younger 2 because Edward was the ONLY thing this woman ever thought about.
Not a spoiler, but at the end, she moves to Providence, so hey RI shout out there.
Edward. Edward was a good baby but didn't quite meet his milestones. By the time he is 4 he has stopped sleeping and has turned completely inward. Rachel is at her wits end trying to rescue her oldest son while also raising her younger son Matt AND being pregnant with their 3rd. Meanwhile, Jack is a good dad, but he's always been flighty. He took jobs as they came, took long motorcycle road trips, and maybe drank a little too much.
Look... Rachel was the friggin worst. Ok, I can't say what I would do personally because I've never been in a situation where my husband is a cop (and he hates it) and I am a stay at home mom with 2 kids (1 neurodivergent) and a baby on the way, BUT she is absolutely awful. She constantly complains about her parents saying that she only ever saw the negatives of everything or that she was overdramatic. She was. She pushes Jack into uncomfortable situations, freaks out every day in front of her kids, and absolutely cannot handle the idea that any of her children aren't going to grow up and be perfect. So many doctors and therapists and tests done on that kid. You can see how little attention she pays her younger 2 because Edward was the ONLY thing this woman ever thought about.
Not a spoiler, but at the end, she moves to Providence, so hey RI shout out there.
June 26, 2011
I got through this book much faster than I anticipated. At times you almost forget it is fiction as Bauer's descriptions of Edward's "disability" and how it affects his family makes it feel like it is a memoir and not a novel.
Rachel and Jack have a beautiful son who one day, very suddenly, becomes a different person. He withdraws, quits speaking, etc. All very symptomatic of autism and yet it isn't. This book is the story of Edward's effect on Rachel and Jack as parents and as spouses. In the mix, as Rachel is searching for possible answers to Edward's "disability" she discovers things about her family that were never revealed.
It's a moving book. You feel Rachel's anguish as a mother, Jack's frustration as a father, and the strain of their marriage as they seek answers. On the back jacket of the book the last quoted review says something to the effect that the person put it down when finished with a sense of loss. I absolutly agree. The book ends and I feel so sad for the whole family, I especially relate to Rachel since I am a mother myself. But the whole family carries with them the aftershocks and the waves ripple throughout the years. There is a very real sense of loss.
While the book is fiction it is also much like a "handbook" for parents who have gone or are going through similar circumstances. Ann Bauer relates very well to the feelings, fears, and desperate search for answers that parents will go through for their children.
Rachel and Jack have a beautiful son who one day, very suddenly, becomes a different person. He withdraws, quits speaking, etc. All very symptomatic of autism and yet it isn't. This book is the story of Edward's effect on Rachel and Jack as parents and as spouses. In the mix, as Rachel is searching for possible answers to Edward's "disability" she discovers things about her family that were never revealed.
It's a moving book. You feel Rachel's anguish as a mother, Jack's frustration as a father, and the strain of their marriage as they seek answers. On the back jacket of the book the last quoted review says something to the effect that the person put it down when finished with a sense of loss. I absolutly agree. The book ends and I feel so sad for the whole family, I especially relate to Rachel since I am a mother myself. But the whole family carries with them the aftershocks and the waves ripple throughout the years. There is a very real sense of loss.
While the book is fiction it is also much like a "handbook" for parents who have gone or are going through similar circumstances. Ann Bauer relates very well to the feelings, fears, and desperate search for answers that parents will go through for their children.
February 22, 2012
This was a great book that addresses what it's like to have a disabled child and how frustrating and difficult it can be to find the right treatment and education for him. Doctors are stumped, friends and relatives do not understand and the school system is anything but supportive. Desperate parents will do desperate things and the consequences of Rachel and Jack's choices will change their family forever.
I could empathize with Rachel's deal with God. At one point, a doctor suggests her son might have a disfiguring degenerative disease that causes brain tumors. Rachel tells God she'll give up everything she has (marriage, friends, home, job) if God will just make Edward not have that dreaded disease. She just wants to keep all 3 of her children healthy. Later on as her life changes and she does indeed start to lose some of these things, she realizes she "should have been more specific with God." Edward did not have the terrible degenerative disease but he still has something (probably an unusual form of autism) that makes living with him and helping him grow into a functioning adult very difficult. If she was going to sacrifice so much, she should have gotten a perfectly normal Edward, not the loveable but difficult child she still has.
I could empathize with Rachel's deal with God. At one point, a doctor suggests her son might have a disfiguring degenerative disease that causes brain tumors. Rachel tells God she'll give up everything she has (marriage, friends, home, job) if God will just make Edward not have that dreaded disease. She just wants to keep all 3 of her children healthy. Later on as her life changes and she does indeed start to lose some of these things, she realizes she "should have been more specific with God." Edward did not have the terrible degenerative disease but he still has something (probably an unusual form of autism) that makes living with him and helping him grow into a functioning adult very difficult. If she was going to sacrifice so much, she should have gotten a perfectly normal Edward, not the loveable but difficult child she still has.
September 11, 2008
I don't think I've read anything by before (she's written for Salon, I believe Atlantic Monthly, and other publications) but this book really wowed me and made me want to read some more. A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards is apparently a novel version of her personal experiences raising a family of three, including one son with autistic tendencies. It's a beautifully written, poetic, yet oftentimes nightmarish look into ways that families with atypical children have to struggle to remain functioning loving and productive elements of society. And a fearless portrayal of how this mother's love for her son was made more fiercely protective as he became more "different".
There were a few threads to this story that were left loosely hanging, nagging threads that I so wanted her to revisit. While I really wish the novel had closed all the open doors and windows and given us a satisfying ending, perhaps that's too much to ask when one writes about real lives.
There were a few threads to this story that were left loosely hanging, nagging threads that I so wanted her to revisit. While I really wish the novel had closed all the open doors and windows and given us a satisfying ending, perhaps that's too much to ask when one writes about real lives.
November 20, 2008
While reading this book I experienced many emotions, and found myself feeling sad and upset by the end. So I have to conclude that Ann Bauer is a powerful writer who conveys her stories with impact. The subject, autism or something very much like it, is difficult for everyone. Most of us know someone in that world. As devout readers, probably a lot of us spend more time in our own minds than our families would prefer. If we have families.
This novel presents a tug of war between a mother who wants a normal life and her son & husband who feel incapable of a normal life. Add in the rest of the world, somewhere on either side sometimes, and read this book, if you like. I rate it as 3.75.
This novel presents a tug of war between a mother who wants a normal life and her son & husband who feel incapable of a normal life. Add in the rest of the world, somewhere on either side sometimes, and read this book, if you like. I rate it as 3.75.
December 6, 2009
I liked this book a lot. I grew to appreciate the writer's style, that at times seemed like flat reporting to me. But, the character of the narrator in the story is a reporter and from the mid-west; also the story involves autism, so it's really cleverly appropriate. This character describes the puzzle of autism from the perspective of an autistic person's devoted imperfect advocate; someone who can focus on the person within, and interpret the obvious confusion as best they can, which is imperfect too. Usually, confusion dominates a story like this one, but here, the rippling effects of love are exposed.
P.S. I read somewhere that the author loves her husband-character in the story. He is a protrayed as a wounded and beautiful soul.
P.S. I read somewhere that the author loves her husband-character in the story. He is a protrayed as a wounded and beautiful soul.
August 1, 2016
Compelling, but slow going
A very realistic view of the slogging work of marriage and child rearing, complicated by the heart wrenching obstacles of a disabled child. This book tells the story of two boys from different generations who have undiagnosed mental/psychological disabilities from early childhood and the terrible struggle the boys themselves and their families face trying to achieve some level of normality. One step forward then two steps back is the theme throughout most of the book. The only reason I gave a four-star rating instead of five, is because the skipping from one generation to the next is confusing and distracting. Perhaps a more careful second reading would eliminate this drawback.
A very realistic view of the slogging work of marriage and child rearing, complicated by the heart wrenching obstacles of a disabled child. This book tells the story of two boys from different generations who have undiagnosed mental/psychological disabilities from early childhood and the terrible struggle the boys themselves and their families face trying to achieve some level of normality. One step forward then two steps back is the theme throughout most of the book. The only reason I gave a four-star rating instead of five, is because the skipping from one generation to the next is confusing and distracting. Perhaps a more careful second reading would eliminate this drawback.
April 3, 2012
Whew! What this Mom and Dad went thru to reach their son who had a condition similiar to autism. It's a really warm story of family life and devotion, without being sappy, it's too realistic for that. Yet, it still manages to make you feel what these people are going through and the ups and downs of ordinary life. There are no heros or villians here, no great struggles between good and evil--unless you count ordinary people fighting for the ones they love in mundane tasks and circumstances. Not to say this book is mundane, far from it, it's more like sitting in front of a cozy fire in the fireplace. It's very relatable (is that even a word?), but it fits. Very enjoyable read.
October 9, 2016
Reminds me of a line or perhaps a title by Anna Ahmatova, "I was meant to have another life" or something like that; Wow, what a rollercoaster ride, and what courage, love and compassion.I don't do summaries of books I noticed on Goodreads, but give my feelings. I am on a reading curve, and despite that i teach creative writing, dog sit, go to racial justice groups, and promote the oneness of mankind, I have my days where at night I just hunker down and read. I am a memoir addict, a writer, and intensely curious. My heart and mind go out to those who have children whose minds are differently ordered. Kudos to the author, her family, and good writing. I wish you well.
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