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A moving, deeply absorbing story of a family in crisis. What sets it apart from most fiction about difficult subjects such as autism, is the author's ability to write about a sad and frightening situation with a seamless blend of warmth, compassion and humor.
Marti Leimbach's first novel, Dying Young, was called "a
masterpiece of details that always ring true, with the sad,
funny and fascinating unpredictability of real life." With the
same talent and perception, Leimbach's new novel takes the
reader to London, to the home of the Marshes: Stephen Marsh, a
true Brit; Melanie, a transplanted American; and their two
children, four-year-old Emily and Daniel, just three. When it is
conveyed that Daniel is autistic, the orderly life of the Marsh
family is shattered.
Melanie is determined to fight to teach Daniel to speak, play
and become as "normal" as possible. Her enchanting disposition
has already helped her weather other of life's storms, but
Daniel's autism may just push her over the brink, destroying her
resolute optimism and bringing her unsteady marriage to an
inglorious end. The situation is not helped by Stephen's
far-from-supportive parents, who proudly display the family tree
with Melanie's name barely penciled in, and who remain
disconcertingly attached to Stephen's ex-fiancée, a woman
apparently intent on restaking her claim on Stephen.
Melanie
does have one strong ally in Andy, a talented and off-the-wall
play therapist who specializes in teaching autistic children.
Andy proves that Daniel is far more capable than anyone
imagined, and Melanie finds herself drawn to him even as she
staggers toward resolving her marriage.
Daniel Isn't Talking is a moving, deeply absorbing story
of a family in crisis. What sets it apart from most fiction
about difficult subjects is the author's ability to write about
a sad and frightening situation with a seamless blend of warmth,
compassion and humor.
A well told, strong story - definitely worth a second glance.
If you liked Daniel Isn't Talking, try these:
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What begins as the story of a lost boy turns into a story of a brave man yearning to understand what happened that night, in the years since, and to his very person.