Jem Lester

It's taken me an embarrassingly long time to sit down and write this review--because this is one of those books that it's difficult to put words to, no matter how much I believe it should be getting widely read. The cover compares it to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and I'll be honest in saying that the comparison put me off--I wasn't such a big fan of that work, though I appreciated what the author was trying to do. In my opinion, what Jem Lester has done in Shtum is beyond that comparison, and something entirely different. Both works of literary fiction that deal with autism, they may be, but this is something else.

Lester's work is partly built from his own experience raising an autistic son--and not the kind of autistic individual that's portrayed in Incident and so many other recent works. It's built from heartbreak, the pain of navigating a system that barely knew how to help his son and his family, and the challenges involved in the parenting, the responsibility, and most of all--above and beyond--the love. The book is telling, heart-wrenching, and funny from page to page, and it is also weighted with the unavoidable and impressive weight of reality lifting up the characters into being something more than characters.

This is why this review is difficult... the book is difficult to read, but it is also wonderful, and Lester's style and talent are gifts that tell the story and transport the reader into another reality which is far more real than we might want it to be, wonderful and horrible as that is.

I hope you read the book, and I hope you review the book, and I hope you share the book. It's one I'll never forget, and as trite as it may sound, I think I'm a better human for having read it, and I'll probably read it again some day, expecting it to make me cry and laugh and wave it around in frustration all over again.… (mais)

This is such an extraordinary, heart-rending story and I have total respect for Jem Lester for writing about such a difficult subject. Jonah is the most endearing character I have come across in some time, despite him not uttering a single word. Jonah is autistic, and I think it was important to point out that there is a vast autistic spectrum; not all autism results in being a number genius, as portrayed in the film Rain Man.

The book explores the Jewell family as they strive to get the best care for Jonah, understandably putting tremendous strain on the family. When Ben and Jonah move back in with Ben's father, Georg, the story revolves around the three Jewell men and I loved how they interacted with each other. Georg seems so cool with Ben but so warm and loving with Jonah, so it’s no wonder that Ben feels a little jealous sometimes.

There are some funny moments in the book, mainly revolving around Jonah’s nappy, but as soon as I found myself laughing my heart would break that this lovely 11 year old boy was subjected to such indignity. Jonah does have an amazing, yet intensely flawed, family supporting him and I was willing them on as they jumped through hoops to get him into the school that they felt was best for him.

Ben is forced to look deep inside himself as events unfold and I felt him emerge a stronger person at the end. It’s an amazing part of the story when Ben looks into Georg’s family history and uncovers more than he bargained for; he not only learns more about his father, but he can finally alleviate some of the guilt that contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.

This story is sent special delivery from the heart of Jem Lester to the heart of every single reader. You won’t fail to be moved as you fall in love with Jonah Jewell. I devoured this book in no time at all and I am certain that it’s a book I will pick up again to read and enjoy. This is an extraordinary book not to be missed and is sure to be a number one bestseller in 2016.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Orion, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (mais)