User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
first, some blathering. it is, after all, me...
i understand why writers like carl hiaasen and james patterson and them are now writing books for younger readers, after having already established themselves as writers of adult fiction with considerable staying power. get 'em while they are young and then when they grow into the adult section, they already have the name-recognition. friends for life, paying their electricity bills...
but why do authors like this one and suzanne collins write exclusively for the teen audience? and this opinion may be untrue in a post-potter, post-twilight world, but fewer adults are interested in teen fiction than teens are interested in adult fiction. for teens, it is something of an intellectual triumph to cross over into the growed-up section of the library or bookstore, but many adults scoff at reading books for children.
so why choose the teen path if you are an exceptional writer? is this how writers slum?
this book is just wonderful. it is about a high-functioning autistic kid who is forced by his father to spend a summer working for him in his law firm to prove that he can function in "the real world" and doesn't need to be in his safe school surrounded by other kids who are less likely to be able to integrate successfully. during this summer, he questions loyalty and trust and sex and god and a hundred other great things, and he is such an easy character to fall in love with and be thankful that he was written into existence.just a real charmer of a book that doesn't sacrifice realism for shock value.
this would have been a five star book except for two complaints, only one of which is an actual complaint.
i don't know why the characters spoke the way they did. it seemed like this took place in a town where contractions had been banned. it made everyone sound very stiff and stylized. had it only been marcelo, it would have made perfect sense, because of his rigid formality across the board, but the rest of the cast had no such excuse. ''''''''' those are free.
secondly, chinchillas look nothing like "long, skinny rats"
who you calling skinny?
but i loved this book. it is sweet and very naturally written; a real gem of a teen fiction book that i would never have read except for this class.
thanks, grad school!
oh, and another thing! i have felt mildly guilty reviewing these teen books because i have a tendency to curse like a racehorse, and i felt that that might not always be appropriate for the poor innocent teens who might be reading the reviews, and greg has even gotten internet-scolded before for the same thing. HOWEVER, if teen fiction itself is going to drop the f-bombs, then why should i be any different?? thank you francisco x. stork. i mean, fuck.
come to my blog!
Rating: really liked it
I have a lot of conflicting emotions about this book.
The good: It's a fast read and an interesting story. There's shades of gray, interesting moral dilemmas, attention to detail that makes situations and characters come brilliantly to life, and a main character whose situation is way intriguing. An autistic teenager who's gone to a school for disabled kids his whole life, and now suddenly has to adjust to working at his dad's law firm for the summer. There's a lot of inherent conflict and story in there, and for the most part, the book delivers.
I actually really loved reading about his work at the office, as I've been exactly where Marcelo was: autistic teenager brought into the office because of her personal connection with the boss who goes from simple copying to much more complex tasks. I appreciated the detail with which Stork described his work--the challenges, his strengths, the way he could do the work but needed more time for it, his enjoyment at organizing, everything.
I was really excited about this book for several reasons, primarily a) autistic protag!! b)
Latino autistic protag, which is great, as the usual portrayal of autism is very, very white, c) Latino autistic protag who ponders issues of religion and ethics, rather than making the entire conflict about his autism, and d) I've seen a lot of good things about the book's portrayal of autism and how it immerses you into Marcelo's PoV.
Unfortunately, that leads me into the bad, as d) is where the book started chafing at me. I particularly struggled with the writing style and how it conveyed Marcelo's thoughts. This is a difficult thing to criticize, because it's entirely possible that many autistic people do think this way, but to me, his point of view came across as distant, almost mechanical. It read like the book was spoon-feeding "autistic reactions" as if for a neurotypical audience to digest--explaining everything for the "abled gaze," if you will.
By this, I'm referring to the way the book is chock-full of lines like, "I like strong smells" and "This is an unexpected response" and "I like this question" and "I do not know what to say to this." I want to believe Marcelo's reactions, rather than be flat-out told about them. It kept me from connecting emotionally. And--as an autistic person who reacts to some things in a very similar manner to Marcelo--I really, really wish I could have felt that connection.
This "autism voice" would probably not have bothered me as much if I hadn't already come across it so often. Again, I'm not saying autistic people don't think that way--that'd be preposterous, and I refuse to speak for autistic people as a whole--but I do take issue with how common it seems to be in fiction, as I don't feel it's representative.
Some other autism-related parts made me wince, too, like a friend's reaction to hearing about the "internal music" Marcelo has heard in his head for a long time, but has stopped hearing now that he's working at the law firm. "This ability you had before, that was out of this world. A special gift, I don't know. What if it was impossible for you to have it and
be a regular person? You don't hear the music anymore,
but now you can be flesh and blood like... me, for instance."
Another quote: "
Marcelo has never felt confusion before. It is painful. There is no peace. No certainty."
In both cases, I don't think I need to explain why it bothered me.
An interesting note that I haven't seen mentioned often: Marcelo seems to be written as asexual. On one hand, I am pleased with this, as we strongly need more asexual representation, including within the autism spectrum. On the other hand, his asexuality never seemed to be explored as being a legitimate sexuality that exists separately from his autism. I ended up unwillingly reading it as being a "side effect" of his autism, rather than him simply happening to be both autistic and asexual. The fault may be with me, but I would have really appreciated a sign that the author was aware of the pitfalls and stereotypes with regards to linking those two together.
As usual, the bad takes far more explanation than the good. I do think this book does a lot of things right, including about the autism: it never portrays Marcelo as ill or wrong; it respects his point of view and reactions; it doesn't demonize or infantilize his experiences at his school; he makes genuine friends and connections; he has hobbies and interests; he is very aware of his privilege as being able to function in a way that's somewhat acceptable to society at large, unlike many of his classmates; et cetera.
So I would cautiously recommend this book--it's an interesting, quick read--but with reservations.
For a more positive look at the portrayal of autism in this book, check out s.e. smith's review at Disability in Kidlit.
Rating: really liked it
I actually finished this book a few days ago, and aside from a general glow of well-being and happiness, I wasn't sure what I thought of it. Was it really a five star book to go on my goodreads page? But then, after recommending it once every single day since then, I've realized . . . yep, it is. It's a quiet book, thanks to the subdued narration style on Marcelo's part, but it's a good one.
Marcelo is a very high-functioning autistic -- so high-functioning that even the label Asperger's doesn't quite fit him. He has been "coddled", to a certain extent, all his life, by being allowed to go to a school for autistic children. His father, a high-powered lawyer, thinks it's well past time for Marcelo to join the real world, as he could've years before. In preparation, he has Marcelo get a summer job at his law office -- a crash course in the real world.
As someone who knows a handful of people very like Marcelo -- people with autistic tendencies more than anything else -- I found this book very true and earnest and sweet. Some reviewers have complained that the narration is inconsistent for an autistic narrator, and yes, it would be if Marcelo was truly autistic. But as is mentioned several times in the novel, he really could be out in the world functioning if he hadn't gone to his specialized school. I found the inconsistencies to be intentional, showing how Marcelo is making strides towards becoming normal and then sliding back, and then stepping out again.
I found Marcelo a perfectly wonderful narrator -- kind, principled, and very, very honest with both the reader and with others. Watching him "grow up" in the cutthroat atmosphere of the law office was at once heart breaking and satisfying.
I definitely have been recommending this quiet book to all the introverts in my life.
***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can't believe I just said "hearty." It sounds like a stew.***
Rating: really liked it
Marcelo Sandoval is 17 and has a mild form of autism which makes him... well, different. Knowing that he is often perceived to be mentally challenged, Marcelo prefers to stay close to the circle of his friends and people who know that there is nothing wrong with him intellectually. He is planning to spend his final school year at Patterson, a specialized school where he is surrounded by the students just like him, he also has a summer job lined up working with horses in his school's stables. However Marcelo's father, Arturo, does not approve of these plans. He wants his son to challenge himself, to learn how to function in the "real world" better, to be prepared for the life outside Patterson's walls. Marcelo has no choice but to surrender to his father's wishes and learn about the "real world" he does...
Marcelo In The Real World is a part story of self-discovery, part criminal investigation, part love story and is definitely one of the strongest examples of quality YA fiction. The story is told from a unique POV of a person whose thought process is different from ours and although I personally do not know any autistic people and can't vouch for accuracy of Marcelo's portrayal, his "voice" sounds authentic.
Marcelo's journey through the "real world" is a compelling one, albeit frustrating and infuriating at times. It is almost unbearable to see him insulted by people who have no understanding of his condition and often treat him as if he is mentally handicapped. Yet Marcelo's experiences are not all bad. Along the way he meets people who help him to get a better understanding of what is good and evil, what is love and, most importantly, that being in the "real world" is as much satisfying as it is painful.
The only reason I knocked down 1 star from my rating was that some parts felt a little slow or too introspective, but overall Marcelo In The Real World is a remarkable YA adult novel.
Rating: really liked it
Marcelo in the Real World, Francisco X. Stork
Marcelo Sandoval, is a seventeen-year-old who hears music in his head as a result of mild [autism], described as a “[cognitive disorder]” by his father. He attends a school that caters to the needs of special children. His father, a [lawyer], confronts Marcelo about needing experience in the “real world” and Marcelo ends up working at his father's [law firm]. At the law firm, Marcelo meets Jasmine, who works with him in the mail room. He also meets Mr. Holmes, who runs the law firm with Arturo, and his son, Wendell, who is “about three years older” than Marcelo. Wendell, described as a character with “the emotional maturity of an eight-year-old” according to Jasmine, attempts to befriend Marcelo. Wendell, who is attracted to Jasmine, explains mating to Marcelo, and how attraction feels and works.
تاریخ خوانش نسخه اصلی روز چهاردهم ماه نوامبر سال 2015 میلادی
عنوان: مارسلو در دنیای واقعی؛ نویسنده: فرانسیسکو ایکس. استورک؛
ا. شربیانی
Rating: really liked it
Absolutely stunning. I haven't read a book worthy of five stars in a while, and I am so grateful to my friend for recommending this to me.
Marcelo hears music that no one else can. He has been diagnosed with an impairment similar to autism, but higher-functioning - he can process things but it takes him time, and he is able to adapt to social situations through learning and experience. However, this is not enough to satisfy his father, a powerful and persuasive lawyer. His father decides to have Marcelo work in the mail room of his law firm for the summer, giving him a taste of the real world. He meets Jasmine, his beautiful and no-nonsense coworker, and learns of the greed, jealousy, and beauty of mankind.
This book touched me. There are many words to describe what Stork has achieved created with
Marcelo in the Real World: poignant, profound, glorious... but when it comes down to it, this is a book that reveals the truth of human nature in its darkest and most illuminated form.
Protagonists like Marcelo only come once in a blue moon - so perfectly toned in voice and dialogue, yet flawed enough to make the reader empathize with him. He has a mental illness similar to Asperger's, but it provides him with an even more secular view of the world. Thought-provoking, inspiring, and even humorous at times, readers will cheer for Marcelo throughout this book and beyond it.
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Rating: really liked it
This book is so good I may have to take a break from reading--anything else wouldn't measure up. It's so good I'm consumed with despair that I will never write anything as beautiful or as important. It's so good I can't review it properly--any words I might choose wouldn't do it justice.
Rating: really liked it
It's not really a three, but wasn't quite a four.
Seventeen year old Marcelo Sandoval is different. He hears music no one else can hear, his social development is stumped, and his special interests include religion, classical music, and therapy ponies. Marcelo is looking forward to a summer of working as a stable boy at Paterson, a school for kids with special needs, when his father tells him that he must get out of his comfort zone and join the "real world" or else he won't be able to go to Paterson for his senior year. The real world in this case is his father's law firm's mailroom where Marcelo will have to learn how to get along with Jasmine, his beautiful and quirky boss, complete tasks on time, and wade the truth out of all the corporate muck.
I was a tad disappointed in this book. It wasn't Marcelo. I loved him. I could read books in his voice all the time and never get sick of it. It's blunt, but honest and insightful. Marcelo was a great character, and the topic of autsim didn't deter me either. I was quite excited to see how he would survive in an average person's reality. I also liked Jasmine and Arturo, as well as Marcelo's fluctuating relationships with them. I didn't like Wendell, but I wasn't supposed to. He was the designated douche.
What I really didn't like was practically the entire middle part which consisted of the "legal thriller". There was nothing thrilling about it. It was dull, and I found the discussions, both internal and external, to be dull too. I just felt that out of all the paths that this book could have taken, why this one? I would have rather liked to see it spent more on Jasmine and Marcelo's stay in Vermont, or with the Rabbi or something. I just didn't like that part.
Marcelo was a great character though, and overall the book was a worth-while experience. I recommend it to anyone looking to get into the head of an autistic kid.
Oh, and the author's name is epic. Francisco X. Stork? Sounds like a James Bond character. I really hope it isn't a pseudonym.
Rating: really liked it
UPDATE 2/8/09
My initial impression still stands. Although I liked the way the author had the main character Marcelo speak, and how he added certain quirks that were realistic, Stork was unable to keep it consistent.. and some characteristics were not compatible w/someone w/Aspergers..such as speaking in literal terms only and then suddenly speaking/understanding metaphors, for example. The plot was sort of intriguing but I thought kind of trashy too.
Oh, I am not sure I like this book. A goodreads friend gave me a copy recently and while I do enjoy the interesting writing style (the author writes from the point of view of a 17 year old boy with Asperger's who refers to himself and his parents in the 3rd person- strange but interesting) I'm not sure I like the story line at all. It is a bit painful to read, how this boy is forced into working at his father's law firm for the summer, where he is vulnerable and subject to manipulation and exploitation. I've seen positive reviews of this book, with comparisons to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.. I liked that book- not sure of this one.. I'm on p 131 as of now, I will try to finish it and see if I feel the same way.
Rating: really liked it
I loved Marcelo. The struggles he faced as a not so normal guy in the real world were truly touching. I can't say the same for other characters, the only likable character we actually get to know being Marcelo's co-worker Jasmine.
There's nothing much to say about the plot of the book, given that it is what the title suggests. Marcelo in the real world, away from his comfort zone - how he struggles, makes mistakes and learns.
One of of the many things I looked forward to in this book was the music aspect. Marcelo hears music. Although no one has been able to tell the exact cause, the Doctors have classified it as closest Asperger's - a condition in the autism spectrum. I was intrigued by that, but once I started reading I felt there wasn't enough of this particular facet and my interest lowered significantly.
Anyhow, it was a pretty good book. Not something that worked perfectly for me, but I'm sure some of you contemporary lovers out there will adore this a lot more.
Rating: really liked it
3.5/5
plɹoʍ lɐǝɹ ǝɥʇ uı olǝɔɹɐɯmarcelo can be a bit naive, but not in an annoying way. he's naive in the way that makes you wonder how the hell you turned out so bitter and question why the world can't be as simple or straightforward as someone like marcelo sees it. marcelo is just a great person and anyone would be lucky to have him as a friend. many of the people marcelo encounters at the law firm treat him like crap or act as though he's stupid. so being marcelo's friend would probably lead me to an aggravated assault charge or two, but marcelo is constantly running into people who need to get
bitch slapped.
[ fya | megan crane ]
some notes:the relationships were not fully fleshed out, but that was fine. i wasn't really that interested or invested (what i read about that anyway) in any of the other characters (parents, jasmine or the rabbi for example), but i appreciated them nonetheless. marcelo was an endearing literary character, i was glad i had the opportunity to meet.
his thoughts on religion, his internal music, various other opinion pieces and bible passages he discussed with the rabbi were the most enjoyable for me to read about.
[ navigating love & autism | nyt article ]
borrowed: (view spoiler)
[Sandra jäggli 03.2016 (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
Don't be fooled by the YA-label.
Even if that genre isn't your cup of tea, this book is different enough to appeal to a much larger public.
Hence, the many award nominations are totally deserved.
The narrative voice of the main character is quite strange in the beginning (in that regard it reminded me a little bit of 'The flatshare' by Beth O'Leary), as he speaks of himself and other persons in the third person. But after a while you get used to it.
And once you're really drawn into the story, you begin to care for all the characters and want to know what will happen next.
Some things are a bit predictable, but there are also a few nice surprises.
This was my first encounter with author Francisco X. Stork, who was born in Mexico but moved to Texas at the age of 9 with his adoptive father.
And it certainly leaves me yearning for more.
To be continued …
Rating: really liked it
Have you ever gotten to the end of a book and wished there was more? Or better yet, wished your writing could move people the way that the story moved you? Marcelo in the Real World is that kind of book.
It's no secret that I love fantasy, but I try to read outside of the genre as well. Marcelo isn't a super hero. He's a teenage boy with an unidentified cognitive disorder who is comfortable with his routines, his special-ed school, his job at the therapeutic riding stables. His father decides that for the summer Marcelo needs to move outside of his comfort zone and so Marcelo goes to work in the real world: at his father's law firm. But neither of them is prepared for what that means.
In the hands of another author, this story could end up being a sentimental tear-jerker. Author Francisco X. Stork doesn't take that route. Instead he gives us an unflinchingly honest look at what it means to be normal. While there are some obvious fish out of water situations, there are also some unexpected consequences that make this book a real page turner. As Marcelo tries to live up to his father's expectations, he starts to learn that choices aren't always black and white in the real world. The way he approaches these discoveries is what makes this story unique.
There is so much to love about this book. I love that in spite of his differences, I never felt sorry for Marcelo. I love that while the family is Mexican, they are completely American. I love that the story made me think about how what's right in one situation might not always be the right answer.
Marcelo in the Real World is Francisco X. Stork's third novel and it has garnered a lot of awards. His newest book, The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, came out in March. If it's half as good as Marcelo, it'll be well worth the money.
Rating: really liked it
Approximate Interest Level/Reading Level: High School
Format: Chapter Book
Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2010), ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2010)
At the insistence of his father, Marcelo, a male adolescent with a condition resembling Asperger’s Syndrome, is forced to participate in the “real world” by working at his father’s law firm over the summer. The typical behaviors of autism, accompanied by atypical introspection and insight, leads Marcelo into the position of contemplating a moral judgement that could ruin his father's law firm.
It may be my special education background, but I did not really like this book. The author never really fully commits to Marcelo’s diagnosis, but leads to reader into thinking it is AS by giving the character some of the more stereotypical behaviors associated with the disorder and ignoring the rest in order to create what seems to me to be a false tension and climax. Marcelo’s characteristics felt inconsistent and in conflict, similar to an oxymoron.
Disability: Protagonist-Asperger's Syndrome
Rating: really liked it
This is the best YA book I've read in a long, long time. It's the kind of book that makes me sad that the majority of the genre is filled with gimmicks and pandering, because it's always had the potential to be
so much more. This book hit a bit close to home for me, but even if you're not compelled by the same moral issues that Marcelo is, I still think this is just a wonderful book that you'll probably enjoy.
