tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post2872211499073959069..comments2023-07-25T09:25:34.293+01:00Comments on The Voyage: Daniel Isn't TalkingSharon McDaidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550156204691696968noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-66436647311579273442011-12-20T19:07:07.313+00:002011-12-20T19:07:07.313+00:00Sharon,
I couldn't agree more. I'm trying...Sharon,<br />I couldn't agree more. I'm trying to find a good book discussion book for April (Autism Awareness Month. I'm having no luck - Daniel Isn't Talking got such great reviews I was so hopeful that this would be the one. So many things bothered me about the book, but the worst is Leimbach's anti-vaccine bent. Now I have to go back to the drawing board and hope I find a good book soon.<br />Anyone have a suggestion?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-28182538766460854072011-01-30T02:42:14.969+00:002011-01-30T02:42:14.969+00:00Hi, Sharon!
I just read this book myself (yes, in...Hi, Sharon!<br /><br />I just read this book myself (yes, in 2010/2011 --- I didn't notice when it first came out, but spotted it at a library book sale and was like, "Oh, hey, autism fiction. I'd better review it for my blog"), and I also loathed (LOATHED!) its disability politics.<br /><br />I'm writing a post about metaphor in the book now --- will definitely have some words about how other disabled characters are represented, too, though!<br /><br />I actually kinda liked Melanie; practically stood up and cheered when she bought the girls' shoes for Daniel, but I think my happiness at her finally deciding to advocate for her son instead of mourn him says more about how much mourning, and how little advocacy, she's done throughout the novel than about any overall feistiness the character possesses.<br /><br />Your wry words about the Romantic Irish Play Therapist made me laugh, too. Nice review!Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860246538349067232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-85073935356925960472009-08-03T06:25:22.081+01:002009-08-03T06:25:22.081+01:00I just found this blog and I feel inspired by this...I just found this blog and I feel inspired by this to use my blog to send a message! I think its brilliant and I will be back! <br />Really. life is a voyage in itself and living with autism, just like any impalement, makes it that much more trying. Not worse or better, just trying! <br />Great blog!Kim Alexishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288431095575555284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-70683906136748031732008-02-14T02:12:00.000+00:002008-02-14T02:12:00.000+00:00Hello from Texas, Sharon, Your review was excellen...Hello from Texas, Sharon, Your review was excellent (a la Harry Potter). I'm reading a newly published non-fiction book, The Elephant in the Playroom by Denise Brodey. My quick review: easy to read, includes both humor and realism, and includes stories of children with a variety of diagnoses, but many with autism and Asperger's Syndrome. <BR/><BR/>I look forward to reading more of your blog. I hope you will visit my blog for parents of children with disabilities. www.therextras.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-26346686263110054682008-02-08T12:43:00.000+00:002008-02-08T12:43:00.000+00:00"Wouldn't it be nice if there was a book where the..."Wouldn't it be nice if there was a book where the child happened to be autistic, which caused challenges and meant that the family had to make choices they might not otherwise have made, but where there was fun and silliness, where education and parenting are deemed all that are necessary to ensure the autistic child's optimal development and where expensive unproven quack therapies are scoffed at, not embraced."<BR/><BR/>Thank you! You have just described the life we live! I have given up reading books by mothers of autistics. Other than the book by Temple Grandin's mother, they are almost all a bunch of whiny, fanatical, unrealistic, quack curabies who spew their uninformed and baseless opinions.<BR/><BR/>Like I always say, it's not autism that's hard to live with, it is all the other people I have had to deal with who can make it difficult. They are either really great and get that we aren't in mourning, just trying to give my son an education and the skills to deal with the world, the same as my NT son, or they are clueless, absolutely worthless and actually get in the way. And the quackery I see perpetrated on autistics is just astounding. <BR/><BR/>My favorite line of your review is, "Obviously. The only thing in that list of any proven benefit, is a cleaner." Thank you, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! I keep telling my husband this!<BR/><BR/>Please keep writing the reviews!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-65430544672368957612008-02-07T10:43:00.000+00:002008-02-07T10:43:00.000+00:00Thanks for the recommendation Heidirific, I'll loo...Thanks for the recommendation Heidirific, I'll look it up.<BR/><BR/>You make another great point about what was frustrating in that book, Mom to JBG. In these sorts of stories it is presented as some sort of miracle when the child starts to develop. <BR/><BR/>Let me know when you've written that book ;-)Sharon McDaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550156204691696968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-6027624449678560142008-02-07T03:44:00.000+00:002008-02-07T03:44:00.000+00:00I read this book quite a while ago, and found it v...I read this book quite a while ago, and found it very frustrating...to me it was another one of those "with the right therapist, my son suddenly started pointing, talking, interacting, etc" books. Where are the books about the kids who make very gradual progress, and are still wonderful and loveable? Maybe I'll write one.<BR/><BR/>Loved your Bettelheim comments (maybe no one told her he was dead)mjsuperfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430437202459251288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-27704602672553775312008-02-04T22:27:00.000+00:002008-02-04T22:27:00.000+00:00Sharon, you may want to check out the book "Runnin...Sharon, you may want to check out the book "Running with Walker." It is written by a father of a boy with autism. While it talks about the challenges of having a child with autism, it is clear that the father loves his son very much, and that there is not a "cure." Nor do they want one.Heidirifichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621658299529442071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-38749979592065050332008-02-04T14:27:00.000+00:002008-02-04T14:27:00.000+00:00I like a bit of chick-lit stuff too, but Sarah was...I like a bit of chick-lit stuff too, but Sarah was right, the good ones have heroines who are smart and capable. <BR/><BR/>Kristina, oh yes, Andy the Irish therapist was awful! That characterisation bugged me badly!<BR/><BR/>RB, you say you've done dolphin therapy (yeah right!). Well we've gone one better, we've done, oh let's think, tiger therapy. <BR/><BR/>Niksmom, mediocre sums it up, but I thought it'd make for a fun review anyway.<BR/><BR/>Joe, are you sue it's not the book for you, ah go on!<BR/><BR/>Kassiane, you'd hate it, but I think I'd enjoy a review from you. Now <I>that</I> would be harsh!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Darkman.<BR/><BR/>Miche, that's one of the nicest things I've heard in ages. I just love to know that others enjoy my wee man too. And he does give fabulous hugs, it has to be said.Sharon McDaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550156204691696968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-25434485189390234632008-02-04T12:53:00.000+00:002008-02-04T12:53:00.000+00:00Keep up the reviews.Keep up the reviews.darkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348302896932248257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-51933446366152103262008-02-03T22:26:00.000+00:002008-02-03T22:26:00.000+00:00Hey, enjoyed your review Sharon! But I reckon, aft...Hey, enjoyed your review Sharon! But I reckon, after spending a few days with you and your wonderful family that you could easily write a book about the realities, and the absolute joys of having an autistic child. Duncan's cuddles are the best!<BR/>Miche xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-78623500427641814332008-02-02T06:17:00.000+00:002008-02-02T06:17:00.000+00:00Sounds ghastly.Thanks for the review, now I don't ...Sounds ghastly.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the review, now I don't feel compelled to read it and do one. The library doesn't like it when their books piss me off as much as this one seems likely too...Neurodivergent Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02815685510033244185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-52056050756204659042008-02-02T05:01:00.000+00:002008-02-02T05:01:00.000+00:00Thanks for the review.It's obviously not my kind o...Thanks for the review.<BR/><BR/>It's obviously not my kind of book, on oh so many levels.<BR/><BR/>JoeClub 166https://www.blogger.com/profile/01816977079856902634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-61727940559372266252008-02-01T01:37:00.000+00:002008-02-01T01:37:00.000+00:00Loved your review. I read this over the summer an...Loved your review. I read this over the summer and thought it was good as a romatic novel goes but sucked as far as anything having to do with her autistic son. I never bothered to even review it I thought it was that mediocre.Niksmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14715465327343655483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-18891081275376510262008-01-31T22:11:00.000+00:002008-01-31T22:11:00.000+00:00I was my son's ABA therapist...we ONLY did the lan...I was my son's ABA therapist...we ONLY did the language part, not the behavioral part, at a savings of $60,000. Other than some early workups...MRI and EEG, and some trips to the health food store for trial stuff, that is about it.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and the dolphin therapy...(tongue in cheek@)Usethebrains Godgiveyouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026223483117357541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-48841908457644314252008-01-31T21:42:00.000+00:002008-01-31T21:42:00.000+00:00"Obviously. The only thing in that list of any pro..."Obviously. The only thing in that list of any proven benefit, is a cleaner."<BR/><BR/>You made me laugh so hard -- and I never actually laugh when reading online. Brilliant review!VABhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06652301858477760996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-8222435100368772532008-01-31T20:46:00.000+00:002008-01-31T20:46:00.000+00:00I agree very much with you----wrote my thoughts ab...I agree very much with you----wrote my thoughts about the novel <A HREF="http://www.autismvox.com/autism-chick-lit-talking-about-autism-in-daniel-isnt-talking-2/" REL="nofollow">here</A>---and don't get me started on Andy the Irish play therapist!kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01104388229716638534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-68151727925797344442008-01-31T19:06:00.000+00:002008-01-31T19:06:00.000+00:00Great review. I'm an aspie who's read the book an...Great review. I'm an aspie who's read the book and totally agree, as does my aspie boyfriend. I actually enjoy a few chick-lit books as a sort of guilty pleasure, but this book certainly was not among the best that the genre has to offer. Good chick-lit heroines are funny, assertive, and take matters into their own hands no matter how bad things get. This protagonist was just a self-pitying whiner who couldn't get over not having a "perfect" child.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-88562384744017402132008-01-31T17:48:00.000+00:002008-01-31T17:48:00.000+00:00He he he, Sharon, you should work as book critic.....He he he, Sharon, you should work as book critic... That was a great post.<BR/><BR/>I read this book right after my son got diagnosed. So I didn't notice all those problems you're pointing out, even though I cringed at many of her ideas. In hindsight, I totally agree with your criticism. However I'm a chick-lit fan, so in that regard it was kinda satisfying as a Summer read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-43111998917008359822008-01-31T16:39:00.000+00:002008-01-31T16:39:00.000+00:00That's horrible! I know there are doctors, health ...That's horrible! I know there are doctors, health visitors etc who say stupid, rude, ill informed and just plain wrong things. I just found the depiction of the SALT in the book to be way over the top. I just can't imagine one saying they can't do anything for an autistic child, not even to refer them to a colleague with more experience.<BR/><BR/>There's a bit later in the book when the boy has some words and the mum takes him back to the SALT, Then she bombards him with questions and when he can't answer, says again she can't help him.<BR/><BR/>I have met about 5 different SALTs via nursery, school and the health centre. They all had good knowledge of how to help autistic children with communication. Was I just exceptionally lucky?<BR/><BR/>I credit the 1st SALT I met with giving me the most useful advice I ever had; use <I>much</I> less language, 1 or 2 words at a time, slow right down, and give Duncan loads of time to process information.Sharon McDaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550156204691696968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28040139.post-48088210281906155642008-01-31T16:27:00.000+00:002008-01-31T16:27:00.000+00:00Think I'll give that one a miss. Unfortunately I ...Think I'll give that one a miss. Unfortunately I have met professionals like the SALT in the book; both from that profession & others. I've heard of a social worker who said to a parent that her son was "like an animal" and that the only thing to do was "put him in residential school". I can almost understand uninformed opinions like these from professionals who have never met a child with ASD (like some GPs) but not from those working in the field of ASD or LDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com