What do you think?
Rate this book
The Record Player
While visiting a small antique store on their honeymoon, John and Beth MacFarlane received the most vital gift of their new life together—a tarnished, old Victor gramophone—along with a charge from the owner to “fill your house with music.” Music, as it turns out, was the only thing that would calm their colicky son, Gabriel. They were soon to discover that colic was the least of their problems when their beautiful, first child was diagnosed with autism. This is the story of how a young family navigates the demanding and frequently heart-wrenching journey of raising a non-verbal special-needs child and ultimately uncovers his unique talent.
278 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2016
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2016
I'm so proud of my high school friend, Bryan Jepson for writing this novel. It is the story of John and Beth McFarlane--we watch them fall in love, get married, and start a life and family together with all of the youthful hopes and ambitions of newlyweds. When their son turns 18 months old, Beth starts becoming concerned with his lack of progress, and in fact regression. The remainder of the story is a mix of heart-ache and challenge at the difficulties of raising a non-verbal autistic child, and celebrations at progress made.
Remember the movie, "That Thing You Do?" Remember the scene when their song is first played on the radio and they are running all over town, telling people to turn on the radio because their song is on the air? That scene has become a catch phrase for me to describe any scene which makes me stand up and shout hooray and feel the excitement of a great success. There is such a scene in this book--an incredibly thrilling, goosebump producing scene!
As a father of two autistic children, and a doctor who has worked with many autistic children and their families, Bryan is in a perfect place to write a story about the challenges and struggles of raising autistic children. I'd be curious to know how much of this book is autobiographical.
While reading, I kept thinking of the people I know who have autistic kids. I think for them, reading this book would feel like being part of a support group.
I was also really interested to know some of the history of how autism has been understood, and treated over the past 50 years or so. We've come a long way from institutionalizing kids with autism.
Great job Bryan!
Remember the movie, "That Thing You Do?" Remember the scene when their song is first played on the radio and they are running all over town, telling people to turn on the radio because their song is on the air? That scene has become a catch phrase for me to describe any scene which makes me stand up and shout hooray and feel the excitement of a great success. There is such a scene in this book--an incredibly thrilling, goosebump producing scene!
As a father of two autistic children, and a doctor who has worked with many autistic children and their families, Bryan is in a perfect place to write a story about the challenges and struggles of raising autistic children. I'd be curious to know how much of this book is autobiographical.
While reading, I kept thinking of the people I know who have autistic kids. I think for them, reading this book would feel like being part of a support group.
I was also really interested to know some of the history of how autism has been understood, and treated over the past 50 years or so. We've come a long way from institutionalizing kids with autism.
Great job Bryan!
May 30, 2016
This is a nice book for frustrated parents of autistic children.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews