Keith Stuart (1) (1971–)

This is the sort of book that pulls at your heart strings and certainly makes you realize the challenges that Autism brings to a family and the struggle it is to get the appropriate help and educational needs their child requires and is entitled to.

While I did like the book in places and felt the author did a good job getting across to the reader just how difficult life for an Austistic child can be and those who care for him, I didn't feel the book reached its full potential as the emotion or the character development just wasn't there for me and it became repetitive and drawn out in places.

The book tells the stroy of Alex a father leaning to connect with his autistc son Sam through the Computer game Mine Craft.

Its an interesting read but I felt it became quite repetitive and bland towards the middle of the story and this may be my lack of computer gaming knowledge or lack interest in mine craft.

I read this for a bookclub summer read and while it was just an ok read for me, it will be interesting to see how much discussion this one will create. This book has quite high ratings here on GoodReads and my review is just my reaction to the bo.… (more)

Camilla Piper has known for a long time that she is not destined to be happy in love. There's a curse on her family that runs down the female line and she takes it as confirmation when her boyfriend has a car crash and is seriously injured. It's only as she looks further into her family's history that she learns more about the origin of the curse and starts to wonder if it's not as clear cut as she first thought.

Love is a Curse is a gothic story both in setting and substance. Camilla lives in a converted church and this atmospheric setting plays its part extremely well in giving an impression of foreboding and long-held secrets. There's a sense throughout of something a little malevolent lurking for every female member of Camilla's lineage. This is not a dual timeline story but one which fills in the blanks from the past with letters, articles, diaries and the like, all punctuating the contemporary storyline in which Camilla must decide whether or not to risk her love for Ben. I liked this device which allowed the whole picture to present itself to Camilla and to the reader in a most interesting way.

This is a multi-layered and really involving novel, It has some unusual aspects that made it feel original, with kind of an ethereal edge to it. I haven't read any other books by Keith Stuart and I gather this one is a bit of a change of style for him. I found it well-written and intriguing, with a quick-witted and spirited narrator in Cammy, and a storyline that kept drawing me back in.… (more)

This is a nice easy to read book about Alex and his 8 year old son Sam who has Autism.
Set in Bristol Main character is Alex is now separated from Jody, Sam's Mum she kicked him out the family home. Alex used to avoid bringing Sam up as he had issues coping with his moods and tantrums.

Alex moves into his old friend Dan's flat, Alex has issues of his own he has just been made redundant from a job he hated and he has never came to terms with the death of his older brother George when he was younger.
Alex bonds with Sam over Minecraft.
Emma who is Alex absent sister who went travelling returns to the UK, Dan likes her and has for years.
Alex and Emma's Mum has a stroke just before Sam enters a Mine craft competition in London.
They make it to the competition in the nick of time. Sam has come along way and Minecraft and Alex's patience has really helped him.
Alex wants to get back with Jody and also buy a Cafe they used to visit that has now shut. Good easy to read book.… (more)