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Daniel Isn’t Talking

Author
Marti Leimbach
Genre
Media
Book
Publisher
Harper Perennial
ISBN
9780007217014
Reviewer
Janice

Synopsis

A powerful novel exploring the effects of autism on a young family from Marti Leimbach, author of the international bestseller 'Dying Young', who has experienced and dealt with the condition within her immediate family. My husband saw me at a party and decided he wanted to marry me. Melanie Marsh is an American living in London married to Stephen, the perfect Englishman, who knew the minute he saw her that she was to be his future. But when their youngest child is diagnosed with autism their marriage starts to unravel at great speed. Stephen runs back into the arms of his previous girlfriend while Melanie does everything in her power to help her son and keep her family together. And then one day Melanie hears about a man named Andy O'Connor, who calls himself a "play therapist" and has a client list so long she can barely get him on the phone. Some say he's a maverick and a con artist of the first degree, but when he walks into the house and starts playing with her child, Melanie knows she's found the key to her son's success, and possibly to her own happiness. 'Daniel Isn't Talking' is a passionate and darkly humorous novel that explores a mother's determination to help her child. A love story for grown ups, it somehow extends its wisdom far beyond the parameters of disability and into the substance of human nature itself. A tense, moving novel that will make you laugh out loud even as it breaks your heart.

Review

This is the most amazing story of a mother's determination to get her child to talk and play and react to other people. Her husband Stephen, when their son Daniel is diagnosed with Autism, runs away from his marriage which collapses at speed as Stephen runs back to an old girlfriend while Melanie - Daniel's mum - struggles to help their son. Melanie then hears about a man named Andy O'Connor who calls himself a "play therapist".
Despite his lengthy client list she is sceptical, but when he walks into her house and starts playing with Daniel she realises that a play therapist can do more than any other individual, social workers and councillors' have ever offered her. Their immediate reaction was to stick Daniel in a school for difficult and mentally ill children when she knew in her heart of hearts that he could succeed if only she finds the right way of helping him. So the story continues about her struggle and where it lands them as a family.

This book was an eye opener to myself and especially as I have been recently diagnosed my self with Autism. It was a very heart rending and special book about a mother who is determined not to give up on her child and have him shut away from family and friends. It is a gripping and an enchanting tale, powerful and also in places surprisingly funny.
Read it and be prepared not to be able to put it down, until you reach the last page.

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