tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post8702372462467693667..comments2023-01-07T19:00:52.526-05:00Comments on the excelsior file: abandoned: Mockingbirddavid elzeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16653215150526146224noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-75058161306087129272010-10-30T00:34:50.361-04:002010-10-30T00:34:50.361-04:00"well argued, ginger, though i have to say th..."well argued, ginger, though i have to say that while the narrative voice may be accurate (has there ever been a book written by a person with asperger's to compare against?"<br /><br />I'm working on it, David, though the trend will probably be played out by the time mine is done. And while I did finish Mockingbird, I had some issues with it later on in the book as well. I didnLyn Miller-Lachmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01939121876262433495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-64711931755272885002010-10-26T18:52:25.637-04:002010-10-26T18:52:25.637-04:00I have disliked so many popular books, missing out...I have disliked so many popular books, missing out on the thrill- ride of fandom so often, that I've pretty much accepted that that's a boat I'm never going to sail on. I haven't read <i>Mockingbird</i>, but I have read three other Asperger novels, and, yeah, it does seem like a trend to me, one that may not have much in the way of staying power. I agree with the commenter above Gail Gauthierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01673131515563387968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-31279349236376412292010-10-26T10:25:33.228-04:002010-10-26T10:25:33.228-04:00David,
You're not alone in your review of Mock...David,<br />You're not alone in your review of Mockingbird. Did you see Betsy Bird's review today? <br /><br />As far as books written by people with Asperger's, I'm not entirely certain, but the work of Temple Grandin (an autistic) comes close, as well as BORN ON A BLUE DAY (also an autistic) by Daniel Tammet.<br /><br />And yes, my opinion of you has always been good!Ginger Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03577120480713734819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-32051894406239829002010-10-25T14:44:52.502-04:002010-10-25T14:44:52.502-04:00I haven't read this book yet, but am still loo...I haven't read this book yet, but am still looking forward to it. A side point to some of the discussion: I thought Tara Kelly's YA novel Harmonic Feedback did a phenomenal, realistic job depicting a main character with ADHD and Asperger's and how it affected her relationships both with family members and peers. For those interested in a take on the subject far different than the Gwendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05774768214058868450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-19495619609665491782010-10-25T10:59:55.632-04:002010-10-25T10:59:55.632-04:00well argued, ginger, though i have to say that whi...well argued, ginger, though i have to say that while the narrative voice may be accurate (has there ever been a book written by a person with asperger's to compare against?) it still pulls me out of the narrative in a way that makes the experience distracting. <br /><br />beyond the idea of soldiering on, reading what might be difficult because a layer of empathy can be gained from the david elzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16653215150526146224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-15690537958299783092010-10-25T10:25:12.357-04:002010-10-25T10:25:12.357-04:00I wouldn't say that Caitlin's being articu...I wouldn't say that Caitlin's being articulate is solely a construct of the author's to give the reader a sense of what is going on. One of the hallmarks of the Aspergers population IS their hyperlexia. They are gifted with language, and often speak in ways that are surprising, if not inconceivable to the rest of us. Yes, there is often an emotional and social disconnect, but languageGinger Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03577120480713734819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-3403533414462577062010-10-24T21:00:59.645-04:002010-10-24T21:00:59.645-04:00"with Aspergers being all these things and ye..."with Aspergers being all these things and yet more articulate than any ten year old I've ever met, including highly gifted ones. I realize this conceit is necessary to give the reader a sense of what is going on while at the same time trying to put them inside the head of main character, but on every page I kept finding myself unable to suspend the disbelief. "<br /><br />That'L. K. McNeillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02609657838605240198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-75444590359850441352010-10-24T09:17:27.621-04:002010-10-24T09:17:27.621-04:00that's tricky territory, carol, to blame it on...that's tricky territory, carol, to blame it on the first person narration, because it borders on the gender-based problem on the author being inside the head of a character they clear are not. men writing girl characters, caucasians writing minorities, etc.<br /><br />to that end i have to say that there are some people who cannot or should not write "outside their lines" because david elzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16653215150526146224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-10537417334583622412010-10-24T08:19:15.069-04:002010-10-24T08:19:15.069-04:00Could it have something to do with the first-perso...Could it have something to do with the first-person narration--the author's attempt at capturing how a child with Asperger's thinks? That the novelty of this sort of reading experience is played out? We've already been in an Asperger's child's head, so to speak.Carol B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10794970031416185645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-32428559405190528622010-10-20T20:43:55.736-04:002010-10-20T20:43:55.736-04:00I have noticed a trend here as well - both with na...I have noticed a trend here as well - both with narrators with Asperger's, etc and with overly smart child narrators. I'm not fond of either that much (with some exceptions) and a combination of the two is certainly problematic for me.<br /><br />As to your note about friends of kids who have problems - have you read INTO THE RAVINE by Richard Scrimger? Three boys on a raft going down a Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-4073979016529976712010-10-20T17:54:34.271-04:002010-10-20T17:54:34.271-04:00"...when I'm reading, and there is someth..."...when I'm reading, and there is something about the narrative that continually pulls me away from the story being told, I no longer enjoy the reading experience." Yes, I know what you mean. I had a similar experience with Sid Fleischman's new biography of Charlie Chaplin. The writing called so much attention to itself that I was distracted again and again.Susan T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17731455290655003809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35088240.post-6479790058644765162010-10-20T12:42:02.425-04:002010-10-20T12:42:02.425-04:00That's so true about when everyone but you thi...That's so true about when everyone but you thinks a book is amazing. Last year I just didn't get into The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. I feel like the only person who didn't think it was the cat's meow. It really can make you feel like there's something wrong with you as a reader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com