House Rules (Jodi Picoult)

It’s important to mention here just how I learned about the fabulous Jodi. (BTW…I will refer to Jodi by her first name throughout this piece because a) I’ve met her b) she signed my copy of The Tenth Circle c) she used to teach 8th grade English, just like me, so I feel a cosmic connection to her.) Eight years or so ago, one of my friends announced that she was moving to Lancaster, PA. I couldn’t believe it. A fashionista who loved all things Scottsdale could NOT be moving to Amish country. But she did. Not long after my pal’s move, I ran across Plain Truth, the first Jodi book I ever read, in Borders. Coincidentally, that book is about the Amish. My planets were definitely aligned. I read that and every one of Jodi’s other books and like all of her other devotees waited, breathlessly, for the newest ones. I continue to wait that way for her books each year.

I just finished the new Jodi book, House Rules. What can I tell you? Was it one of my favorites? No. Was it one of her best (according to my humble but correct opinion)? No. Did I have to wait for a Kindle version? Yes (though this is not Jodi’s fault…read about that situation here: http://www.jodipicoult.com/ ) Did I love every word anyway? Absolutely.

Jacob Hunt, the House Rules protagonist, lives with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism. His diagnosis falls on the very high functioning end of the Autism spectrum so he can do some pretty incredible things: reconstruct and solve both fictitious and real crimes , memorize and recite—word for word—specific criminal cases and the laws and legal strategies used during trials, and communicate articulately (when he feels like doing so). The downside to his Asperger’s is, to say the least, is that Jacob cannot decipher most social cues, interpret nonverbal communication, hold a regular conversation, exhibit empathy, make eye contact, or control many of his actions. While these are hallmarks of Jacob’s disability, such traits are also exhibited by remorseless murderers. These similarities become problematic when Jacob is accused of brutally killing his special needs aide, Jess.

In House Rules, Jodi does her usual stellar job of introducing readers to the dreadful and concerning topics of the prevalence of Autism and challenges faced by the disabled, the shattered family unit, and the sometimes dysfunctional American legal system; a system that is definitely unprepared to serve the needs of the disabled. The “Ah-ha” moment in this one, though, is more blatant than shocking and some of the characters and subplots seemed to cameo for a flash and then disappear forever. Regardless, the book illustrated, perfectly, the difficulties faced by Asperger’s patients and their families and gave me a renewed appreciation for the people I know who currently endure the condition and challenging situation.

The biggest problem with Jodi’s books is that we wait for them to be published, devour them when they finally hit the bookstores and then must wait again. And that waiting, my friends, is exactly what I am doing now. Only 11 months, or so, to go.