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Liked It3 of 3 members found this review helpful “Anyone who liked "Flowers for Algernon" would love this book. It takes place in the near future and is narrated by an autistic man named Lou. He lives a fairly normal life and works with a group of people like himself. They look at life a lot differently, noticing patterns and colors to an...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Fascinating read. Like others I felt the end to be a bit less than satisfying, at first. Upon reflection though I believe the end to be statement.
ToFarGone wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Everything before the end is tossed aside and doesn't matter. Think about how the majority of people perceive individuals living with significant differences and challenges compared to the perceived norm. The challenged are blocked out and often forgotten in society, it's like they don't exist or in this case discarded like the majority of the book, it never happened.”
“Ok, this is not a sci-fi book. I would describe it rather as a psychological one. But it is really good. I have not known a lot about autism before and reading about the experiences and feelings of such people is more than interesting. It is like entering a totally new world, not easy to understand for us - "normal" people. ”
AJM wrote this review Tuesday, October 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A remarkable book. The protagonist is autistic, and about 85% of the novel is first-person from his perspective. I believe the author's experience raising an austistic son has been converted into a fictionalized account of an autistic that to my ears rings very true based on what I know.
Will T wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The book is set slightly in the future where nano-technology and such are available. The central conflict is the availability of a new treatment to "cure" autism. I must say that the ending of the book suprised me and was not immediately satisfactory. But upon reflection I think I understand. This book is worth reading.”
“Lou Arrendale is an autistic man who is content with his life despite the annoyances (like his mandatory visits to his clueless psychiatrist) and the anxiety that his autism brings. Lou is a genius at his job where he works at a pharmaceutical company, he fences--very skillfully--with a group of friends who he cares for deeply, and he is romantically interested in a particular woman. This routine is interrupted when his company begins to attempt to force Lou and his fellow autistic workers to try the highly experimental 'cure' for autism. Lou must decide if this 'cure' is something he truly wants, consider if it will change the very nature of what makes him Lou, and combat a want to be 'normal' with a life he thought he was happy with.
TJ wrote this review Tuesday, September 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Lou's story takes place in an unspecified "near future". The story can be considered as a very, very light science fiction. In Speed of Dark the major advancements of this near-future are in the medical field. Disease and 'defects' are eliminated either before birth or during early child hood. Due to his age, Lou missed out on these medical benefits. Regardless, Lou is utterly real and beautiful as a person. Moon's prose reinforces all of Lou's thoughts, obsessions, worries, and other details of life. Every second of the book is a second inside of Lou's very real character. Moon created Lou so that he's utterly believable and sympathetic. I was rooting for him the entire book, worrying along with him and wanting to actually be there with him. That alone is a fantastic feat for an author.
Then Moon throws in an absolutely worthwhile and well-done moral dilemma. Society has a firm, ignorant view about people who are autistic. Why wouldn't an autistic person want to be normal? Therefore, when Lou is being coerced into trying the 'cure', most do not understand his hesitance. Their blithe reassurances do not calm Lou, because it is his decision and he needs to gather all knowledge and think things through before making it. Lou is often told what he should want--by his employers and by his psychiatrist and by others who think they know better--but Lou has to figure out what exactly he wants. Lou's not unhappy with his life, even when the actions of others tell him he's not 'normal'. In fact, Lou's doing pretty well for himself and I loved to see that strength.
In fact, I have no problem with the novel at all until the end. I won't say anything specific and spoil it for any potential readers, but I definitely felt that the ending was emotionally cheating. The ending didn't address properly Lou's main concerns through the novel or the major theme of the novel well at all. I felt cheated; I felt like Lou had been cheated. However, I've heard arguments both ways, though, as to the reception of the ending with readers, so it may very well be that I'm in the minority here. That wouldn't be too unusual.
So many things about THE SPEED OF DARK were so right. Lou was perfect down to the last detail. The book is insightful, interesting, and heartbreaking in many ways--absolutely graceful and beautiful. The only issue I have with THE SPEED OF DARK is the ending, which actually makes me quite angry. Even still, I think this is a book that should be read.
AS A NOTE: It's really difficult to rate a book that's near perfection until the last chapter or two. I'm giving it 5 stars, but only because of how well the text before the end stands on its own.”
“Whenever I see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on a "best" list I think of how much better The Speed of Dark is in every way. Dark does a better job in every way -- conveying what it is like to be autistic -- the descriptions are just wonderful, what it is like for family and friends and the plot is much more compelling. Unfortunately Dark didn't get nearly the buzz that Curious Incident got -- a real loss for readers. The Speed of Dark is one of my favorite books.”
NaylorGutierrez E wrote this review Sunday, July 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in autism.”
Gail N wrote this review Saturday, June 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very Fascninating look at a future that utilizes those with disabilities and creates a workplace condusive to their needs. All of that wrapped around a juicy little mystery.”
Angela C wrote this review Tuesday, June 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is set in the near future and the plot revolves around a pivotal period in the life of a highly functional autistic young man. It is a very engrossing story and an amazing insight into how the world would appear to such an individual.”
Potch wrote this review Monday, March 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Even though I am not a big science fiction reader, I enjoyed this book. Elizabeth Moon portrayed a convincing if somewhat high functioning autistic hero. His obsession with detail and his confusion over exceptions to rules was endearing. I wanted him to succeed.”
Solveig V wrote this review Saturday, February 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
