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Rain Man

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When Charlie Babbitt, a hustler, learns that his wealthy father has left everything to Charlie's autistic brother, Raymond, Charlie decides to kidnap his brother.

42 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

61 people are currently reading
1883 people want to read

About the author

Leonore Fleischer

80 books30 followers
Leonore Fleischer has written more than fifty novelizations of films. She and her five cats live in Upstate New York.

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5 stars
2,903 (52%)
4 stars
1,590 (28%)
3 stars
833 (15%)
2 stars
153 (2%)
1 star
48 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
Profile Image for Paul Ataua.
2,142 reviews269 followers
November 18, 2021
Charlie Babbitt reacts badly to being left none of the three million dollars inheritance when his father dies and goes off in search of the mystery person who has become the beneficiary — an autistic man living in a home. Leonore Fleischer’s novelization of the movie is written for low intermediate readers, and is one I will certainly recommend to any second language learners of that level. A good story well told in simple language!
Profile Image for Kiko Čabala.
21 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2022
fun fact: knizka je podla filmu.

trosku sa mi nepacilo, akym sposobom bola vykreslena postava Raymonda, autistickeho brata. na jednej strane je fajn, hlavne v 1988(!), ze su neurodivergentni ludia vykreslovani v pozitivnom svetle ako hlavne postavy v popularnom pribehu. nemam vela historickeho kontextu, ale viem si predstavit, ze vtedajsia moralka nemala vobec vo zvyku akceptovat mentalne poruchy. na druhej strane to vsak prinieslo vela stereotypizacie, dezinformacii a jednoliatosti vnimania asd. o kulturnom dopade su vsak ale clanky na internete ktore idu do hlbky, je to celkom zaujimave a urcite viac informativne ako hocico co napisem tu :D

inak sa mi knizka fakt pacila, taky jednoduchsi read ale pribeh bol naozaj pekny. odporucam:)
Profile Image for Monique .
144 reviews23 followers
August 9, 2021
مرکز تبادل کتاب برای من به اندازه معبدی برای مراقبه، با ارزشه؛ جایی که میتونم کتاب بعدیمو پیدا کنم و سخاوتمندانه کتابهام رو راهی مقصد بعدیشون کنم.

همیشه میون قفسه‌ها و فضای ساکت و بزرگ اونجا، برای من چیزی هست...گاهی رمانی که دنبالش بودم و گاهی فقط آرامش.

روزی که «رین من» رو قفسه‌ها دیدم، بلافاصله یاد فیلمش افتادم و من جز اون کتابخونایی هستم که عطش دیدن فیلمهایی رو دارم که براساس داستان یه کتاب ساخته شدن.
بنابراین به برگه‌های زرد شده‌اش، فونت چرتش و طراحی جلد نه‌چندان مطلوبش اهمیت ندادم، به سایه تام کروز و داستین هافمن روی جلد نگاه کردم و بردمش خونه.
خیلی طول کشید تا بخونمش، علت مهمش هم نچسب بودن روایت کتاب بود، حدس میزنم ربطی به ترجمه داره. اما الان فکر میکنم که در حقش جفا کردم.
در حالی که رو قفسه نشسته بود و پاهاش رو تاب میداد، من کتابای بیشتری میگرفتم و اون منتظرتر میشد.
الان میتونم بگم که اگر چند صفحه اول رو دوام بیارید، خصوصا تنش بسیار زیاد اتفاقای ابتدای داستان رو، قصه‌ای دوست داشتنی منتظر شماست.

باز هم با مشکل نبودن امتیازات اعشاری مواجهیم، قطعا بیشتر از سه امتیاز، اما نه چهار
به این روایت دوست داشتنی ۳.۷۵ میدم*
Profile Image for Soheil Noori.
16 reviews20 followers
August 18, 2015
Fantastic, touching, sweet. Read this one when I was 15. I might read it again if I had a chance.
Profile Image for Chaitra.
184 reviews
May 29, 2021
Such a lovely book! I loved it so much. This book based on the movie Rain Man beautifully depicts the life of two brothers, one an autistic person with Savant Syndrome who actually cannot make any connections with anyone and another who doesn't want to have any emotional connection at all. Each driven by the thoughts of his own, each secluded to their own worlds creating a barricade between them and the world , who were seperated at young age, are brought together after twenty four years.

What happens when Charlie meets his brother whose memories he had which he assumed to be imaginary in childhood? What would happen when he finds out his Rain Man was none other than the not so normal guy sitting across him?

Would the Rain Man help Charlie realise that he does have a heart somewhere embedded in him which he had refused to use at all? And trust me, Raymond does have little adventures of his own with his brother too. Some parts made me really anxious but the book was of real smoothness and a light one.

The book helped me understand what it's like to be a special person like Raymond. He's a brilliant man. The man who eats his food neatly cut into squares would always stay in my heart. He helped me understand how marvelous people with autism are.

He changed his brother. He changed me too
23 reviews
October 22, 2022
Man braucht etwas Zeit, um reinzukommen, aber dann entwickelt es sich zu einer sehr schönen und auch emotionalen Erzählungen. Interessant sind besonders auch die Einblicke in den Kopf des autistischen Raymonds.
Profile Image for إخــلاص .
41 reviews5 followers
March 30, 2017
Rain Man R.E.V.I.E.W ☆
When charlie Babitt's father dies, he thinks he will give a lot of money.however the money goes to somoene Charlie doesn’t know, somoene who lives in a hospital and turns to be the brother that charlie never know he had, his brother who is an autistic person..After charlie know he had a brother he goes with Susanna (his love) and raymond (his bro) to Walbrook  they stay in a hotel and keeping raymond after Charlie get the money..however in the room Raymond pulled out an envelope from his pocked, Charlie open the envelope, it is a photograph of a young man and a baby it is Charlie and Raymond..Charlie begin to remember..he remembred that Raymond is the "RAIN MAN"and he remembred when he lived us.Quiqly charlie remember that his brother giving a two-years old boy a bath that was too hat that was why his father sent Raymond to Walbrook of course that was the end of relationship between Charlie and Rain man (Raymond).After that Charlie begin to connect more with Raymond they watching , eating together, playing with cards..in these days charlie gave Raymond love and Raymond in his way gave charlie love.The end was very sad
Profile Image for Angebyong .
101 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2020
¡Estoy llorando!
Segunda vez que leo el libro y termino con mi corazón triste...
Es hermoso, desde la historia, narración, personajes y mensaje.
Todo empieza con este tipo protagonista que se las da de muy altas llamado Charlie, tiene un trabajo donde vende autos de una manera no tan legal. El sabe que está en problemas con los clientes por sus mentiras baratas y promesas costosas. Pero sigue ahí como gorda en tobogán.
Es ahí cuando se entera que su padre falleció y debe ir al juzgado para saber que es lo que heredó, pero recordando su pasado, el salio de casa muy joven, ya que no soportaba a su papá... entonces se entera que solo le dejó una casa y un auto, pero otra persona que no le mencionan se lleva todo el dinero del padre.¡Y esa persona resulta ser su hermano mayor! Un hermano que Charlie no sabia que tenía... entonces lo conoce y vaya sorpresa cuando llega a un lugar psiquiátrico y se entera que su hermano de mas de 40 años tiene autismo.
Dos palabras: DEMASIADO EMOTIVO
Es un libro que se lee rápido, es hermoso y perfecto. Estoy que llora cuando se conocen por primera vez los dos hermanos, ame realmente el progreso de charlie al principio de la historia y al final. Raymand, el nombre de su hermano mayor es un autista DEMASIADO INTELIGENTE y amo como el escritor nos da una pequeña visión de como ellos son iguales que nosotros, con pensamientos diferentes y actitudes diferentes... SON PERFECTOS. Realmente me tocó mucho el corazón algunas escenas donde charlie no sabia como tratar a su hermano, pero inconscientemente su forma de ser se moldeo a Raymand y ese amor de hermanos. ESE FUCKING AMOR DE HERMANOS. Es hermoso.
Repito, es de los pocos libros que he leído en mi vida que me hizo llorar.
LO AMEEEEEEE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Diana Szaiak.
338 reviews15 followers
June 7, 2023

Luat per total, nu este nimic special în povestea aceasta. Charlie este un oportunist care profită din plin de șarmul său și de cei care-i mai stau alături, Raymond este un autist genial rătăcit în propria sa lume. Unul dintre ei are o disperată nevoie de bani, celălalt a moștenit o avere și nici măcar nu poate conștientiza acest fapt. Unul se transformă în răpitor, celălalt trăiește aventura vieții.
Dar, dincolo de banalitățile astea, se mai află ceva. Iar acel ceva merită fiecare minut pierdut cu povestea. Dacă m-aș referi la film, ar fi magistrala interpretare a lui Hoffman. Cu acest rol m-a cucerit pentru totdeauna! Dacă mă gândesc strict la poveste, este vorba despre transformarea lui Charlie, cum de fiecare dată îmi reaprinde încrederea că mai poate exista bunătate și empatie în oameni.
Dacă partea despre autism ar fi fost mai amplu prezentată și mai puțin tehnic, treaba ar fi stat mult mai bine. Întreaga chimie este bazată pe limitările lui Ray și era de dorit să te poți apropia cu mai multă ușurintă de el. Cel puțin eu una n-am prea reușit să mă atașez de personajele din carte, am fost mai cucerită de film din acest punct de vedere (știu că romanul a fost scris în baza scenariului și nu invers însă nu are importanță aici).
Despre ce-ar fi vorba pe scurt aici? În esență, despre punți. Despre legăturile cu persoanele apropiate, despre legătura cu binele din tine, despre acea relație specială cu omul ascuns în spatele unei boli necruțătoare. Este, de fapt, o poveste despre iubire.

Profile Image for Robert Day.
Author 5 books36 followers
November 17, 2012
If I were to make a list of my top ten books, this little gem would surely be up there. For someone that love hard science fiction, this sure is a departure but I guess when i look closer into my likes and loves, it's the human stories that make the grade for me. Specifically, when someone who you would not see as having all the advantages in life, does something extraordinary, that's the story I love. I guess this stems from the perception I picked up somewhere along the way of myself as an underdog. I would hazard a guess that I grew out of this vision of myself, but not out my love of this kind of story: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Forrest Gump, Rain man and many many more; love 'em.
Profile Image for Jovita Fernando.
58 reviews
March 25, 2016
I... One word... Book... Can't...

I can't describe this book in a single word. To say the very least and possibly closest, this book was beautiful.

I don't feel like breaking this book down and analyzing each scene in my review because this book is a simple 40 paged book that is skillfully sewn with such subtle but strong emotions holding it at its seams.

It's a masterpiece which had an ending that left me speechless with my heart feeling forgotten warmth yet cold at the sudden loss of words.

Don't get what I'm talking about? Hahaha
JUST READ THE BOOK. You'll get what I'm saying. Come on you can finish it REAL soon. Trust me ;)
Profile Image for Orçun.
67 reviews18 followers
September 12, 2016
kitap abimden kalmış, senelerdir yatak altlarında sürünmüş de şimdi elime geçti. filmini izlediğimi unutmuşum, okurken hatırladım ve o duyguları bana tekrardan yaşattı. belirli kelimeleri üst üste defalarca kullanmasından dolayı size zorla öğretiyor diyebilirim.

beyoğlu sahaflardan 6 tane daha aldım böyle kitap. seviyeyi de arttırdım bu sefer stage 4'ları okuyacağım. sevdim bu işi.
10 reviews11 followers
March 26, 2014
And I cried...! =D
Profile Image for Ezra .
229 reviews3 followers
January 30, 2024
4.0
AUTISTIC FOLKL AS ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS
Profile Image for lucia meets books.
284 reviews148 followers
September 21, 2018
This was another book that my english teacher lend me to practice and that I actually liked a lot, because I've been given a lot of books but not a lot of them stayed in my memory.

I just adore the story except Charlie was an as**ole most of the time. The ending was my absolute favorite, I've read this book years ago and I still can remember it because it shocked me!

I haven't watched the movie yet because I'm not really interested (Tom Cruise is not one of my favorite actors) but I may do it someday just to see how similiar the book and the movie are :)
Profile Image for Jard.
209 reviews20 followers
January 14, 2020
Ik vond het taalgebruik leuk. Soms ouderwets, met woorden als 'eender'. Soms inspirerend of grappig ('voor zo'n bedrag zou hij met zijn neus een pinda helemaal naar Nieuw-Zeeland duwen'). Het verhaal zelf werd mooi opgebouwd. Aan het begin ergerde ik me aan hoe Charlie met zijn autistische broer omging, maar tot mijn opluchting werd hij er steeds beter in. Hoe beter hun omgang werd, hoe leuker ik het verhaal vond. Hetzelfde 'probleem' van Raymond kwam best vaak terug (raakte hij weer in paniek, begon hij weer te fluisteren), maar dat paste juist wel bij de beeldvorming van een autistisch persoon. Ik kreeg kippenvel op het einde, leefde me helemaal in in de broers. Prachtig verhaal dit.

(NL versie, 1990, 221 pagina's)
Profile Image for Rina Sakurai.
14 reviews
November 28, 2012

time-290min.
7words-
money/missing/who/confused/new/life/good

Discussion Question
-Can you imagine a life with someone you dont know?
-NO!If possible, I dont want to do it. It is such a life with step brothers/sisters who ones parents take when they get married again. However, I may be able to start a new life if it is forced. I may have a good relationship with him/her.

Favorite Scene
-"Charlie cut the pizza into tiny squares for him, and put each square on a toothpick."
The way to cut is very different from Japanese one, is so interesting!
Profile Image for tarek.
56 reviews17 followers
December 4, 2015
القصة هي مقتبسة من قصة حقيقية وتم تحويلها إلى فيلم سينيمائي من انتاج 1988 الذي اخذ جائزة اوسكار... القصة هي عن اخوين, الكبير مصاب بالتوحد والصغير صاحب تجارة, تبدأ قصة لقاءهما عندما يتوفى الوالد ويترك ميراث كبير وهنا اكتشف الاخ الاصغر ان له شريك في الميراث ....
ما اعجبني في القصة هي نشر نظرة اخرى عن مرض التوحد, اذ انهم يمتازون ببعض الصفات الخارقة كسرعة الحساب ورسم بطريقة عجيبة, كذلك الحفظ الفذ للامور...
قرأت الرواية باللغة العربية ما زاده جمالا بالنسبة لي :)
Profile Image for Saman.
1,168 reviews1,072 followers
Read
August 14, 2008

در صورت تمایل، جهت مشخصات فیلمی که بر اساس این کتاب ساخته شده‌ است؛ می‌توانید از لینک زیر استفاده بفرمایید
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095953
Profile Image for Perfect.
30 reviews22 followers
July 9, 2014
After reading this I'm pretty sure the movie is breath-taking!
Profile Image for Kate.
70 reviews13 followers
November 20, 2023
This had been collecting dust on my shelf for such a long time and I didn't even feel all that much compelled to pick it up. I just felt that I have a duty to check it out, since it's one of my dad's favourite books from his youth.
And let me tell you, right about now the only thing he picks up are magazines for fishermen or the endless articles about the war in the east. So I felt really intrigued what this thing is, that triggered my old man's heart.
*
Turns out, I liked it so dearly that it's hard to explain. I don't remember having read anything that shows such a strong bond between siblings, this case - brothers.
The story shows how two estranged brothers (the younger one being a pretty well-to-do, shady douchebag, the older one - being on the spectrum and living in an institution) by the force of the younger brother's greed go on an adventure.
*
During this adventure, they both, of course, really grow as people.
And I don't know, some things just got to me - how Charlie understands who Rain Man is; how he continues to call him by the name; how he always got Raymond his crisps; how he desperately wrestles him just to get a hug; how they play baseball towards the end; how they put their foreheads together (which was something really big for a person with autism) and just everything together.. just.. really wholesome.
In simple words - if you want to appreciate your siblings more, just read this book.
*
Going back to the part about my dad - he only had his grandma and his brother growing up. And you can still see his unconditional love, even admiration for his brother, even though we've had unspoken conflicts with their family.
Having read this story, I think I get him.. And I can't believe it took me such a long time to understand the simple fact, that that is what family is - you don't turn your back on them. *Sounding like "I'm 14 and this is deep", haha.

Wow, this was long. Guess this book hit me in some unexpected places.
Profile Image for Juan Quiroga.
Author 3 books126 followers
January 31, 2024
Octava reseña del 2024
UNA NOVELIZACIÓN DE LA PELÍCULA HOMÓNIMA.

Había visto el film en 2022 para mi club de cine y me había tocado el corazón. Encontrar este libro fue como un recordatorio que tenía que estar en mi biblioteca.
La historia empieza en 1988, con la vida de Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise), vendedor de autos usados ante un equipo liderado por él. Tiene una novia que es su sostén emocional: Susanna. El punto catalizador llega con la muerte de su padre que, no solo lo obliga a volver a la casa de su infancia, al llevarse una gran sorpresa: el legado familiar fue a parar en manos de su hermano mayor, e ignorado, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) que se encuentra internado en una institución psiquiátrica, debido a su autismo.
En primer lugar, me pareció muy acertado tocar el tema de la salud mental (estrenada en una década icónica donde muchas historias cargadas de violencias se sumergian en suicidios, pero tomados a la ligera) de una manera no solo para la audiencia sino, eso espero, realista.
Me retrotrajo a mi infancia, cuando no manifestaba mis emociones, pero desarrollaba mi intelecto mas de lo habitual, teniendo que asisitir a especialistas para "focalizarme" en lo mas importante y crecer sin problemas.
Además, fue la primera vez en ver a Tom en un rol diferente a lo que estamos acostumbrados a ver en los films de acción. Como Dustin Hoffman ante un papel inolvidable... aunque es una lastima que hoy, entre tantas historias, haya quedado infravalorada.

Como dato de color: el director Barry Levinson dirigió una de mis pelis favoritas: TOYS. Y la nombro, no solo porque fue antes del surgimiento de TOY STORY, porque hay un hilo conductor que lo caracteriza: el ver la historia, desde la inocencia, siendo adulto.

Traducido al español como "CUANDO LOS HERMANOS SE ENCUENTRAN" desen una oportunidad de mirar esta road movie fraternal, no se van a arrepentir.
12 reviews
February 14, 2020
buku yang membuka wawasan saya tentang bagaimana memahamai seseorang yang memiliki kekurangan dari segi mental. buku ini bercerita seorang kakak adik yang sengaja dipisah oleh ayahnya saat kecil karena sang kakak yang seorang gifted tidak sengaja memandikan adiknya dengan air panas. hal tersebut membuatnya geram dan membuat ayahnya mengirim sang kakak ke penampugan khusus orang dengan kebutuhan khusus. ketika dewasa sang adikpun tidak tahu kalo ia memiliki seorang kakak hingga ia mendapati surat wasiat dari ayahnya yang ternyata uang warisanya semuanya jatuh kepada kakanya yang berada di tempat penampungan. sang adik yang sedang mengalami kebangkrutan usaha mulai curiga dan memutuskan untuk menemui sang kakak yang pada saat itu ia tidak mengetahui bahwa yang ia datangi adalah kakaknya sendiri yang mengalami autism. ia menyadari bahwa orang yang mendapatkan semua uang itu adalah kakanya sendiri setelah sang kakak menyebut dan mengetahaui bahwa mobil yang dikendarai adiknya adalah milik ayahnya. kemudian sang adik berusaha menculik sang kakak demi uangnya dan bagaimana kelanjutannya..... baca sendiri ya..... :v
Profile Image for Nicoleta Deca.
821 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2025
Romanul este povestea emoționantă a doi frați care se regăsesc după ani de separare și care, în ciuda diferențelor uriașe dintre ei, ajung să se înțeleagă și să se apropie. Charlie Babbitt, un tânăr afacerist egoist și preocupat doar de bani, află că tatăl său, cu care nu mai vorbise de mulți ani, a murit. Se așteaptă să primească o moștenire considerabilă, dar descoperă cu uimire că aproape întreaga avere (3 milioane de dolari) a fost lăsată unui frate mai mare, despre care Charlie nu știa nimic: Raymond Babbitt. Raymond este autist și trăiește într-un centru specializat, fiind foarte inteligent într-un mod neobișnuit – are memorie excepțională și abilități de calcul uimitoare, dar are dificultăți în a relaționa social și a înțelege emoțiile celorlalți. Supărat Charlie îl rapeste pe Raymond din institut dorind să obțină controlul asupra moștenirii. Problemele pe care le intampina in drumul lor il fac pe Charlie isi reevalueze viata dar si parerea asupra fratelui sau. Finalul e cel asteptat si foarte optimist.
1 review
April 1, 2022
Rain Man by Leonore Fleischer
Charlie Babbitt steals his autisitic brother Raymond from his Institution because he is mad about the roughly $3 million his father left the institution.

After Charlie gets word that his dad passed away and left his fortune, around $3 million to his autisitc brother Raymond’s institution, Charlie travels to the institution and steals Raymond in hope of ransom money. Charlie illustrates that Raymond is dumb because of his autisim, but this changes throughout the story. This book is about Charlie’s development and growth through his adventures with Raymond. There is a lot to be learned from this book. This book is recommended for anybody who wants a good adventure story. Overall, a great story about Charlie and about his personal growth. This book is for anyone looking for a modern adventure story. After reading this book, check out the award winning movie featuring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
Profile Image for Gavrish Nastya.
219 reviews291 followers
April 12, 2023
Це моя друга прочитана англійська книга, яку я прочитала за півтори години. В книзі використана легка лексика, яка підійде навіть для рівня elementary. І вона доволі маленька, тому якщо тільки починаєте читати англійські книги, то це ідеальний варіант для читання, а не для роботи зі словником.

Історія про двох чоловіків — перший був Чарлі молодий бізнесмен, другий Реймонд аутист. Їх перша зустріч відбулася через спадок, який залишив батько Чарлі. І спочатку мотиви Чарлі не дуже позитивні щодо Реймонда, але для нього відкривається правда, після якої все перевертається з ніг на голову.

Мені сподобалася ця історія та трансформація Чарлі.
Планую ще подивитися фільм за цією книгою, також англійською мовою.
Profile Image for Netopier.
33 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2018
Touching and with a bit of humor added this book was just as good as I expected when I borrowed it as old yellowed paperback with a hefty musty smell coming out of the pages when I opened it.

The book itself is pretty short. My edition was around 150 pages long so I finished it quickly but every page was worth its time.

However I was quite dissapointed with the ending. I feel like the author maybe wanted to catch a train or something because the ending to the book seemed very rushed and unsatisfactory.

Overall, it was a great reading.
Profile Image for ‏أحلام 'ۦ'‏.
61 reviews
Read
August 7, 2021
It's lovely and short story .... I've enjoyed
and i loved so much the personality of Raymond He is really special guy ....
Life of two brothers , one an autistic person lives in a special world inside himself , but he also do very special things man , he is a guy with savant syndrome
And another brother ( Charlie) who has beautiful heart but he doesn't know it yet ...

The relation between them after years of separation , helped charlie to realise that he does have a nice heart somewhere embedded in him
Profile Image for Paky.
1,037 reviews13 followers
October 25, 2022
Al contrario de lo que suele ser habitual, la novela está basada en la conocida película. Ya la vi hace más de 30 años, tenía un buen recuerdo, aunque escaso y poco concreto, por lo que, cuando recientemente la vida puso la novela en mis manos, decidí leerla.
El libro resulta entretenido, ameno por la conmovedora historia, inspirada en un personaje real, pero como novela podría haber dado mucho más de sí, haber desarrollado los personajes y tratado el tema con más profundidad. Así, deja una sensación agradable, pero el sentimiento de que se ha desaprovechado una gran historia.
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