The Boy Who Fell to Earth

By: Kathy Lette

Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Meet Merlin. He's Lucy's bright, beautiful son - who just happens to be autistic. Since Merlin's father, the reserved, cerebral workaholic Jeremy, left them in the lurch shortly after Merlin's diagnosis, Lucy has made Merlin the centre of her world. Struggling with the joys and tribulations of raising her adorable yet challenging son, Lucy doesn't have room for any other man in her life ... so why bother trying to find one?

When Lucy realises she's becoming increasingly cynical about life in general, she finally resolves to dip a toe back into the world of dating. Things don't go quite to plan, yet just as Lucy is resolved to a life of singledom once more, the most imperfectly perfect man for her and her son lands on her doorstep. But then, so does Jeremy, begging for forgiveness and a second chance....

©2012 Kathy Lette (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Great story - Funny, Clever, Sad, and Moving!

I delayed reading this book - who want to read about mother struggling with raising child with autism???? Boy, was I in for treat! Clever, funny, witty, real, raw and absolutely beautiful! People turned heads on the street when I would burst out in laughter all of a sudden listening to the book. Then, my husband would ask if I am ok when I would get tears in my eyes in some parts of the book. This is what a good book should be: real, honest, funny, sad, and absolutely moving.

A Mind Blowing Exercise in Love!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This book opened my mind to some of the joys and heartache of having an autistic child but it was written in such a way, and with such wonderful humour, that I didnt know wether to laugh or cry.The verbal wit of this author is both amazing and brilliant and her way of telling a tale makes you feel that the story is a bio. I believed every word.

Laugh out loud and cry

Very real description of the experiences of being a mother of a son with autism. Great job writing and the performance was animated and talented.

I just can't read any more of this dreadful book!

For once I didn't read the reviews of a book - I had read "How to kill your husband....." and enjoyed that, so thought I'd give it a go. Big mistake! Like so many others, I found the first part of the book interesting and funny - then the author just seemed to go off on a tangent and lose the plot completely.

It's like she wrote down every one-liner she could think of - the more caustic & nasty the better - and then stuck a bit of dialogue in between to pretend there is a story.
It just got stupider and stupider, Lucy is so angry all the time, no wonder she's exhausted!

I am the mother of two sons who have Autism, and whereas it's true that anger and 'why me (again)' is the first stage of grief when you find out your children are different; you move on, you move towards acceptance and get on with living your lives. Lucy seems to have stayed at the first angry stage for 13 years???? No, you couldn't sustain that kind of emotional state, you'd go mad.
During many years working at a special school and meeting all sorts of children and young adults, I can honestly say I never met anyone who even remotely resembled Merlin - small areas of his behaviors sure, but not all in one child.

But back to the characters: Lucy is so horrible, why would any man want her? Let alone two of them! She's nasty, overbearing, overprotective, shrill and controlling.
Her mother is sensible and has raised the two daughters on her own and given them a good life and education. Now she is enjoying her life and the girls resent her for it. The sister says "You're tripping around the world spending our inheritance" For goodness sake - they've had enough already, let the woman have some fun.
Jeremy is just a lying pompous twit.
Archie is the redeeming character, he loves Merlin and Lucy but does Lucy appreciate him? Does she heck as like! And even he is trying to 'make Merlin a man' aged 13 - really? He takes Merlin for a ride on a Harley, the boy loved it but Lucy goes MENTAL and completely spoils it for him.

I have got as far as the aftermath of the brothel episode, and I'm afraid I just can't listen to any more of this twaddle - I'm rolling my eyes and thinking to myself "How much longer is this stupid book?" so I'm going to ask for a refund and delete the book.