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SN children

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Original poster

New Autism Novel - Daniel Isn't Talking

20 replies

Davros · 08/03/2006 19:51

If this book isn't out yet then its just about to come out. I have read it and have my own views! I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks once they've read it. The author, Marti Leimbach, is embarking on a tour round the country talking to media, parents and any other interested parties. I only have info about this talk in Herts and some other media info:

Marti Leimbach, author of Daniel isn't Talking and speaker at the PHEAT AGM 7:30pm Thurs 9 March, Novotel Stevenage featured in an article in the Sunday Times on 5 March (www.timesonline.co.uk). If you would like to come and hear her speak about autism in her family and her novel "Daniel isn't Talking" this Thursday evening, please email [email protected] to book your seats.

She will be featured on:

Radio Berkshire 10h30 am Wednesday 8 March

BBC Breakfast News approx 08h45 Thursday 9 March

Three Counties Radio, Hertfordshire, approx 12h45

OP posts:

spursmum · 08/03/2006 19:56

OOOh I'll see what she's chatting about on the brekkie news before I think about booking a seat for the speech.
Come on Davros, what's your views? Don't hold out on us!

zippitippitoes · 08/03/2006 20:00

I would like to read this, there was an article in a weekend paper \nd I was a bit confused she had "cured" her son's autism

Original poster

Davros · 08/03/2006 20:13

Quite Zippi! I found the book fairly vomitous but its not aimed at me, someone who knows all about autism and ABA. Its not badly written but no humour and full of cliches. Having said that though, I really can't judge as I have such strong views and she is "doing good" raising awareness and trying to raise some money on her tour.

OP posts:

getbakainyourjimjams · 08/03/2006 20:18

It's not another let me hear your voice is it? Did she do ABA?

JakB · 08/03/2006 20:22

I've read it (got a proof copy innocently given to me by a features ed who I work for). I was VERY ANGRY after reading it. Not badly written, good in raising awareness of ABA but a few bits in it really got my shackles up. And, yes, full of cliches. I remain silent until others have read it!

misdee · 08/03/2006 20:29

spursmum if we can both get baby sitters then i may drive you, its only up the rd isnt it? mind you peter is coming home in the afternoon, dd1 has dermo appointment in the afternoon, so i may be rushing it a bit. let me know what it is like anyway.

getbakainyourjimjams · 08/03/2006 22:08

oh its not an "i'm such a wonderful mother and put in so much work that my child recovered" thingy is it jakb? Nothing guaranteed to make me crosser.

misdee · 08/03/2006 22:09

i have read the bumpf, it soudns too 'urgh' to me. romance and all that.

sphil · 08/03/2006 22:37

Will def watch her tomorrow on breakfast telly. Just tried to look up the article but Times make you pay to look in their archive, mean old gits. Is it one of those 'you too can cure your child if you spend every waking second interacting with him/her' books? Guaranteed to bring on a panic attack in these quarters...

Pixel · 08/03/2006 23:04

I'll be driving dd to school at that time so won't be able to watch it. I also hate those books that tell you that if your child doesn't 'recover' it's because you didn't put in enough effort. 'Course, now that this one has been mentioned I'm going to have to read it because I'm too nosey to not want to know what you are all talking about .

zippitippitoes · 09/03/2006 07:55

This is the Sunday Times article, not terribly in depth/focussed

\link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2069713,00.html\ Here}

ScummyMummy · 09/03/2006 08:01

Hmmm.

getbakainyourjimjams · 09/03/2006 10:55

I can understand what's she's saying though in the ST article (no idea about the book). Dh has had to look after himself (he's a grown man so he's quite capable of doing that), and there are lots of things he can't do because of ds1- like go off and play cricket for the day- at the moment its just not possible (ditto for me, no point getting the violins out about it, it's life). As it continues and we know we're in for the long haul (like rest of our lives), then we have started to try and set things up so we can take a few hours out together and apart every now and then, but these things do take time to set up. Luckily for us dh is loyal and mature and would do anything for ds1, so it works, but I dread to think what would have happened if we had romance but no friendship.

Original poster

Davros · 09/03/2006 19:44

It is a sort-of replacement to Let Me Hear Your Voice.... I feel quite mixed about it as I think its basically rubbish but if it raises awareness and helps anyone then fine. Its not for me and so much of the story made me want to get the bucket!

OP posts:

getbakainyourjimjams · 09/03/2006 19:46

ooohhhh one of those. let me hear your voice is one of the most pukesville things I've read :o

sphil · 09/03/2006 23:50

Did anyone see her on breakfast tv? I thought she came across well - not into a 'cure' - but just pushing the importance of early intervention. Annoyingly the interviewers never asked what kind! I haven't read article though.

mummytosteven · 17/07/2007 21:22

Just read this, I had a feeling the MN view wasn't exactly glowing praise and realism, but hadn't remembered vomit related words being used so much

My opinions.
1.the romance with the "play worker", the lovely oirish andy is a bit contrived and mills and boonish.
2. it quite astounded me that Daniel at the age of 3 went from non-pointing/non-verbal to loads of word and some sentences in less than 6 months. It just felt like an unrealistic level of progress.
3. But as a parent of a verbal but rather delayed child, some of the sentiments were spot on - the fear that children less than half your child's age can say more, the discomfort at hearing the complexity of what an NT child your child age's can say.
4. Husband was a bit too unsympathetic, (especially by comparison to Andy), and I didn't feel it rang true that he was the one who was keen for Daniel to go to SN nursery.

gess · 18/07/2007 22:48

I read it and did find it irritating tbh- mainly because Daniely growing up into a child like DS1 seemed to be the worst possible outcome to be avoided at all costs according to the novel. I sold it on Amazon I think :-)

BUT I did like the line about (and I still remember it see) 'they dont have an autistic child they have no right to an opinion" (to do with toilet training).

God I still have your vids here. Bloody hell I'm hopless (I always have 1 or 2, never all 3 in the same place). I resolve to send out beforte the end of term!

Original poster

Davros · 19/07/2007 09:22

Hmmmm, I think I was a bit harsh tbh! M2S has given a good account of the book and the author is very committed to raising awareness and even fundraising through book readings etc

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 19/07/2007 20:08

LOL gess - I have used a similar line - until you have 2 children you don't have the right to an opinion I'm being selfish to have only one to a tactless childess friend.

glad that the author is assisting general fundraising etc Davros.

Another non-fiction book I was looking at today was much more realistic (1001 things to do with autism or similar title.

Gess - never mind, am aware you are always very busy and have limited free time!

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