Reviews
Fascinating.... Gottlieb's imaginings of what's going on in the mind of an adult living somewhere on the autism spectrum feel credible and real.... Lyrical., Powerful and engaging.... Gottlieb has created something quite exceptional in [Todd Aaron]. His interior life and psychology are convincingly drawn.... A deeply moving portrait of a kind and gentle soul. Recommended for all readers., This astonishing story of goodness and resilience, about the adventure of loving and being loved, is a marvel of Wordsworthian perception, inviting us to behold existence through unclouded eyes, with an unguarded heart, as though we and the world had never grown apart. The music of consciousness playing in these pages will stay with you long after you've finished reading. A literary experience of piercing, invigorating, profound humanity. A homecoming that restores the mind and soul., [An] eloquent, sensitive rendering of a marginalized life.... Gottlieb merits praise for both the endearing eloquence of Todd's voice and a deeply sympathetic parable that speaks to a time when rising autism rates and long-lived elders force many to weigh tough options., [An] eloquent, sensitive rendering of a marginalized life.... Gottlieb merits praise for both the endearing eloquence of Todd''s voice and a deeply sympathetic parable that speaks to a time when rising autism rates and long-lived elders force many to weigh tough options., The latest from Gottlieb (The Boy Who Went Away) is written through the perspective of Todd: his voice is spectacular, oscillating between casual and obsessive and frequently challenging the stereotypes that haunt those with autism and similar conditions. The story will appeal to a very broad range of readers: it's a fast read, and the plot is never less than captivating.... Gottlieb's attention to crafting Todd's internal monologue is something to behold., Best Boy is a remarkable achievement - an intimate and convincing portrayal of what the world looks like from inside the mind of a mentally handicapped but unusually sensitive, observant, and decent man., Engrossing.... Taking us into Todd's consciousness where emotions are visceral sensations, Gottlieb beautifully illuminates a little-understood world., Amid the flood of books about autism in childhood comes this gripping novel about the fresher territory of autism in midlife. It is written with elan, wit, and great empathy, and it limns in fiction the crisis our nation faces in real life as we try to construct viable supports for this burgeoning population., Raw and beautiful.... With a mesmerizingly rhythmic narration.... What rises and shines from the page is Todd Aaron, a hero of such singular character and clear spirit that you will follow him anywhere. You won't just root for him, you will fight and push and pray for him to wrest control of his future. You will read this book in one sitting or maybe two, and, I promise, you will miss this man deeply when you are done., This astonishing story of goodness and resilience, about the adventure of loving and being loved, is a marvel of Wordsworthian perception, inviting us to behold existence through unclouded eyes, with an unguarded heart, as though we and the world had never grown apart. The music of consciousness playing in these pages will stay with you long after you''ve finished reading. A literary experience of piercing, invigorating, profound humanity. A homecoming that restores the mind and soul., Readers will cheer--and shudder--for intelligent, compassionate Todd as he grows in this powerfully sad slice-of-life title., In the clear-as-a-tinkling-bell voice of Todd Aaron, Gottlieb reveals how certain events and experiences cause this fiftysomething man with autism to suddenly go into a post-post-post-adolescent rebellion.... But in the way of all things happening for a reason, Gottlieb's marvelous novel has happened so that readers may be in awe of all the universe'screations., Best Boy is a remarkable achievement--an intimate and convincing portrayal of what the world looks like from inside the mind of a mentally handicapped but unusually sensitive, observant, and decent man., Affecting.... Todd's is an engaging and nuanced consciousness, so vital that the reader feels profound tenderness--and distinct fear--as this sweet man ventures out into the world.... As ill-advised as his flight might be, we stand on the ground below...enchanted by the simplicity of his soaring.