New crime/courtroom drama with AS character

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The author Jodi Picoult is now releasing a book called "House Rules" about a boy with Asperger's who is framed for murder. Here is the link, with her commentary.

http://www.jodipicoult.com/house-rules.html

I'm rather disappointed with some of the author commentary stuff... mostly the vaccine stuff, and how she talks about the lack of empathy thing. However, I think it's more lack of information than actual malice.

I have a ticket to the book signing event in my local bookstore about this. If I get to talk to her, I'm planning to mention that I have Asperger's, and her previous courtroom dramas were a part of what made me want to go to law school (which I am now in). Should I say anything else about AS?

AS rules

See if she asks you anything more about yourself, or otherwise continues the conversation. Then you will know whether to add more input. I got the definite impression from the story you linked to that she does actually like people with Asperger's. I rather suspect she would be pleased at your choice of specialty, and why.

I have often thought that show Lie To Me, where the "expert" can always tell if a person is lying, might be interesting with an episode where a lot of the usual cues are misleading because the subject was autistic.

Filling in the obvious holes in her information would be a start. You could let her know when you have met one Aspie you have met only one Aspie and we are all so different on how we present. It sounds like she is interested in the condition but could use some understanding on how it all happens.

Merle

There has been an episode of Lie to Me with a nonverbal Autistic girl.

I'm assuming that's the attitude that lead to the title of this thread?

^ House rules, AS rules, wathever

it's not my fault the book author is so misinformed

I've read some of her books. They're kind of all the same; mushy misery lit (personal opinion). I wouldn't take her views seriously, except that she has a wide target audience who's going to lap it up. Bit late to protest though as it's already published.

edit; read the synopsis. Jeez...

Has anyone here read the book? Is it good?
I heard about it from my grandfather and sisters, and I'm debating reading it.

for some reason, I sense discrimination with his book.

What do you mean by that?

Being accused of a murder because you're an aspie.

He is accused of murder (at least from what I read in the synopsis), because the autistic/Aspie behaviors look like guilt to the police.

Again, has anyone read the book? If so what is your opinion?

I have read the book now, and went to a book signing.

-I thought she did a good job with the POVs of the autistic character, Jacob. They were very visceral - it seemed she really was able to get inside his head.
-I was unclear on how supportive of neurodiversity she is... she said she supported it at the signing, but the neurodiversity representative in the book is not portrayed too sympathetically.
-She seems to think the vaccine theory is valid, or at least partially so.
-I thought she made a good effort of trying to portray the stigma people have against autistic and other mental illnesses. Sometimes I thought that it would have been more accurate to show how often people don't just resort to major insults or attacks, but do more subtly condescending or nasty things as well.

I don't have AS, my 11 year old son does--so my perspective might be different but....

Here are some of my main thoughts-

1. I loved that a really well known author had a main character with AS, and he was "lower functioning"( not sure if that's correct way to say it- he was more affected than my son). This will do so much for AWARENESS!! !! !! ! (it's a BESTSELLER)

2. I really thought she did her research and covered SO MANY aspects of Autism--diet-causes-therapies-traits-and more

3. I loved how she spoke from different perspectives. Sometimes I am too close to the subject and don't step back and think of things from my son's perspective, or my non AS daughter, or people who deal with him. I felt she represented them well.

So, I say thumbs up and thank you Jodi Picoult for this book.