Shtum: A Novel
Shtum: A Novel book cover

Shtum: A Novel

by
Price
$6.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
320
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1468316193
Dimensions
5.5 x 1 x 8 inches
Weight
9.6 ounces

Description

Jem Lesterxa0was a journalist for nine years who covered the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 before teaching English and Media studies at secondary schools. He has two children, one of whom is profoundly autistic. Hexa0lives in London with his partner, Catherine and her two children.

Features & Highlights

  • “A very powerful book . . . written beautifully.” ―Scott Simon, NPR’s “Weekend Edition”
  • The international literary triumph with rights sold in seven countries,
  • Shtum
  • is a powerhouse debut that untangles the complicated strands of personal identity, family history, and lapsed communication. Drawn from Jem Lester’s experience of raising an autistic child,
  • Shtum
  • is “a darker, sadder version of
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
  • , but just as moving” (
  • Observer
  • ).
  • In this darkly funny and emotive novel, Ben Jewell has hit a breaking point. His profoundly autistic ten-year-old son, Jonah, has never spoken, and the family is struggling to cope. So when Ben and Jonah are forced to move in with Georg, Ben’s aging and cantankerous father, three generations of men―one who can’t talk, two who won’t―are thrown together. As Ben confronts single fatherhood, he must learn some harsh lessons about accountability, all before the arrival of a tribunal that will determine the future of Jonah’s education.
  • Funny and heartbreaking in equal measure, Lester’s debut is a powerful and unapologetic story of love, sacrifice, and determination that examines the vagaries of human emotion and provokes discussion about an often misunderstood disorder. With streaks of brilliant humor and levity,
  • Shtum
  • is ultimately uplifting and compulsively readable, easy to recommend, and memorable long after the final pages.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(1.1K)
★★★★
25%
(889)
★★★
15%
(533)
★★
7%
(249)
★
23%
(817)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Don't Miss This One

Based on the author’s personal experiences, Shtum follows the story of Jewish father, Ben Jewell, is struggling to cope with the care of his ten-year-old son Jonah. Jonah is on the spectrum and non-verbal. Stress of his care and navigating the British social services system, which will decide Jonah’s placement for future education causes a breakdown in his marriage, Ben and Jonah move in with Ben’s father, Georg. Georg is a survivor of the Shoah and rather colorful character. While the relationship between father and son is at times contentious the two need to put their differences aside in order to advocate for Jonah’s future.

Lester’s debut novel is truly a must-read. It’s darkly funny. At times, emotional. I am not a parent but this gave me a new appreciation for the challenges parents of children on the spectrum face on a daily basis.

The first-person narrative is very well-written. Lester demonstrates a wide range of emotions as the protagonist works through a very difficult situation. I found myself getting incredibly angry with Ben’s wife and her handling of this situation. Having never been in her situation, I don’t have a right to judge but her choices disturbed me. I also enjoyed Ben’s father, Georg. He adds an interesting perspective to the story.

In short, I laughed, I cried. This story is incredibly moving! Don’t miss this one.

Related Books