Lisa
My oldest son has Autism. When he was diagnosed, he received preschool based therapy at a facility which changed our lives. At the school, there were dozens of children with Autism, global delays, and there were a few children who I would describe as profoundly disabled.
They self injured, they vocalized in chirps and growls, they had near constant immune system issues, they seemed to my untrained eye completely disconnected from the world I lived in. To a parent new to the journey of developmental difference, observing them and their caregivers was awe-inspiring.
The thing that I remember most about these children were their parents. They were so tired. We were all tired – sleep issues are so prevalent almost children with developmental difference, but these parents demonstrated a lack of sleep that visibly showed, that seemed to never resolve.
Despite these struggles, the parents never gave up. Their children made progress at a developmental pace I'd describe as glacial. They sat in on endless appointments, geneticists, orthopedists, OT, PT, all for a bit of progress so minute the parent of a neurotypical child would letter bomb Dr. Sears.
One child who my son schooled with had their speech services cut because they did not make demonstrable progress. Of all the indignities I've heard amongst my collected friends, “I'm sorry, our tax dollars are better spent on a child whose data will look better” trumps all.
So The Boy in the Moon struck home quite sharply not because I've lived this life, but I've witnessed this life. I've sat in waiting rooms with this life. I've had the life the author in dark moments would trade for without hesitation.
It's well written and pulls no punches. It also has a significant section about L'Arche, which is an incredible program for the care of adults with difficulties living on their own.
One of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
A bit of a doorstop, I read this one in fits and starts over a month. The novel is set up as historical speculative fiction and concerns what the world would be like if European culture had been eradicated by the plague. The reader experiences this world through the centuries in the voice of different characters who are the same reincarnated souls.
I wish I could read it again for the first time.
This book is only 200 or so pages and I couldn't finish it.
So why a 3 star review?
The premise is fascinating. I also loved the way it was written. So much of this novel revolves around the power of language, particularly oral language and I think the author gave considerable attention to phrasing and word choice. It's elegant where it needs to be, abrasive where it needs to be, etc. I really applaud that.
But I felt nothing for the characters. Absolutely nothing. And when I put a book down for 2 weeks and can't compel myself to revisit, it's not a good sign. Particularly in a reading challenge year where I picked nothing but short books to try and catch up.