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Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Extraordinary” by Brad Schaeffer, Post Hill Press, 2021. On Tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours
Brad Schaeffer, author of “The Extraordinary” writes a thought-provoking and memorable novel. The genres for this story are Family Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, and Literary Fiction. The author describes his characters as flawed, complex and complicated. The author writes about a family in crisis, and the main narrator is Wesley the young autistic teenage son. This almost reads like a memoir or biography, but is fiction. The author is an amazing storyteller vividly describing his characters, scenery and plot.
I also appreciate that Brad Schaeffer discusses such important topics in contemporary society of the effects of alcohol, coming of age problems, living with children on the autistic spectrum and the effects of Post-traumatic stress disorder on serviceman returning home, and the effects on their families. The author also discusses the problems of suicide, and the guilt of the families.
What is so amazing is that Wesley’s father, a Marine Captain, could understand his son’s problems. Wesley is much more aware, and has his own ways of describing things. When Wesley’s father comes home injured, and new problems surface, the reader gets to see how Wesley interprets them. His older brother and sister have their own problems, and their mother is trying to hold herself together. The new reality is difficult.
I found this to be intriguing and captivating. I would highly recommend this book to other readers.
Linda's Book Obsession: 