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600 Hours of Edward
A thirty-nine-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Edward Stanton lives alone on a rigid schedule in the Montana town where he grew up. His carefully constructed routine includes tracking his most common waking time (7:38 a.m.), refusing to start his therapy sessions even a minute before the appointed hour (10:00 a.m.), and watching one episode of the 1960s cop show Dragnet each night (10:00 p.m.).
But when a single mother and her nine-year-old son move in across the street, Edward’s timetable comes undone. Over the course of a momentous 600 hours, he opens up to his new neighbors and confronts old grievances with his estranged parents. Exposed to both the joys and heartaches of friendship, Edward must ultimately decide whether to embrace the world outside his door or retreat to his solitary ways.
Heartfelt and hilarious, this moving novel will appeal to fans of Daniel Keyes’s classic Flowers for Algernon and to any reader who loves an underdog.
But when a single mother and her nine-year-old son move in across the street, Edward’s timetable comes undone. Over the course of a momentous 600 hours, he opens up to his new neighbors and confronts old grievances with his estranged parents. Exposed to both the joys and heartaches of friendship, Edward must ultimately decide whether to embrace the world outside his door or retreat to his solitary ways.
Heartfelt and hilarious, this moving novel will appeal to fans of Daniel Keyes’s classic Flowers for Algernon and to any reader who loves an underdog.
278 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2009
450 people are currently reading
10833 people want to read
About the author
Craig Lancaster
29 books427 followersWhen Craig Lancaster moved to Montana in 2006, at the age of 36, it was the realization of a dream he’d harbored since childhood, one that he figured had been overtaken by events, as so many dreams are.
“I have these incredibly vivid memories of visiting Montana with my folks on family vacations, and following my dad, an itinerant laborer who worked in the oil and gas fields of the West when I was a kid,” Lancaster says. “It was such a vast, beautiful, overwhelming place. From the first time I saw Montana, I wanted to be a part of it.”
Craig was born on February 9th, 1970, in Lakewood, Washington. Adopted at birth, he grew up in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, with his mother and stepfather and siblings. His stepfather, Charles Clines, was a longtime sportswriter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a connection that led to Craig’s career as a journalist, a profession he followed to a series of newspaper jobs across the country — Texas, Alaska, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington, California and, finally, Montana.
A couple of years after Craig’s arrival in the Big Sky State, he began chasing another long-held dream: that of writing novels. His first completed novel, 600 Hours of Edward, was born in the crucible of National Novel Writing Month, that every-November free-for-all of furious writing. He completed an entire first draft, nearly 80,000 words, in November 2008. In October 2009, it was published by Riverbend Publishing of Helena, Montana, and has since gone on to be selected as a Montana Honor Book and a High Plains Book Award winner.
His follow-up, The Summer Son, was released in January 2011 by AmazonEncore, to similar acclaim. Booklist called the new novel “a classic western tale of rough lives and gruff, dangerous men, of innocence betrayed and long, stumbling journeys to love.”
Lancaster’s work delves deeply below the surface of its characters, teasing out the desires and motivations that lead us through our lives.
“It’s all too easy to turn people into caricatures, but the truth is, we humans are pretty damned fascinating,” he says. “For me, fiction is a way at getting at truth. I use it to examine the world around me, the things that disturb me, the questions I have about life — whether my own or someone else’s. My hope is that someone reading my work will have their own emotional experience and bring their own thoughts to what they read on the page. When I’m asked what my stories mean, my inclination is turn the question around: What do they mean to you?”
“I have these incredibly vivid memories of visiting Montana with my folks on family vacations, and following my dad, an itinerant laborer who worked in the oil and gas fields of the West when I was a kid,” Lancaster says. “It was such a vast, beautiful, overwhelming place. From the first time I saw Montana, I wanted to be a part of it.”
Craig was born on February 9th, 1970, in Lakewood, Washington. Adopted at birth, he grew up in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, with his mother and stepfather and siblings. His stepfather, Charles Clines, was a longtime sportswriter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a connection that led to Craig’s career as a journalist, a profession he followed to a series of newspaper jobs across the country — Texas, Alaska, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington, California and, finally, Montana.
A couple of years after Craig’s arrival in the Big Sky State, he began chasing another long-held dream: that of writing novels. His first completed novel, 600 Hours of Edward, was born in the crucible of National Novel Writing Month, that every-November free-for-all of furious writing. He completed an entire first draft, nearly 80,000 words, in November 2008. In October 2009, it was published by Riverbend Publishing of Helena, Montana, and has since gone on to be selected as a Montana Honor Book and a High Plains Book Award winner.
His follow-up, The Summer Son, was released in January 2011 by AmazonEncore, to similar acclaim. Booklist called the new novel “a classic western tale of rough lives and gruff, dangerous men, of innocence betrayed and long, stumbling journeys to love.”
Lancaster’s work delves deeply below the surface of its characters, teasing out the desires and motivations that lead us through our lives.
“It’s all too easy to turn people into caricatures, but the truth is, we humans are pretty damned fascinating,” he says. “For me, fiction is a way at getting at truth. I use it to examine the world around me, the things that disturb me, the questions I have about life — whether my own or someone else’s. My hope is that someone reading my work will have their own emotional experience and bring their own thoughts to what they read on the page. When I’m asked what my stories mean, my inclination is turn the question around: What do they mean to you?”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,510 reviews
August 19, 2018
As per usual, I’m sat here contemplating my review. I’m agog at how fortuitous it is that I came to read this book. I’m considering whether any of the characters were flamboyant, austere, tenacious, ostentatious, apoplectic, or exceptional. Through this book, I have discovered that I love the words rambunctiousness, discombobulated, and onomatopoeia, notwithstanding the fact that I struggle to spell the latter, however, that’s no great shakes. I find myself flabbergasted by how much I’m rocking this book, and the thought of not loving it would be truly preposterous.
I’m rather confident that Edward, the main character in this book, would like the paragraph above.
Edward has Asperger’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and has to be one of my all-time favourite book characters, which is rather impressive, considering how many books I’ve actually read. This story is endearing, touching, emotional, sad and funny throughout.
Edward states “I don’t like to assume. I prefer facts.” I think he would love to meet my grandma, as she taught me from a very young age that to assume makes and ass out of u and me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character led stories, as Edward is such a wonderful and entertaining character. I miss him already, and can’t wait to read Edward Adrift.
I’m rather confident that Edward, the main character in this book, would like the paragraph above.
Edward has Asperger’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and has to be one of my all-time favourite book characters, which is rather impressive, considering how many books I’ve actually read. This story is endearing, touching, emotional, sad and funny throughout.
Edward states “I don’t like to assume. I prefer facts.” I think he would love to meet my grandma, as she taught me from a very young age that to assume makes and ass out of u and me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character led stories, as Edward is such a wonderful and entertaining character. I miss him already, and can’t wait to read Edward Adrift.
October 27, 2012
Fact : On October 26,2012 @ 8:00 P.M I finished reading "600 hours of Edward" my day is complete,but I won't file the book away , I will want to reread it.
Dear Author, I have no complaint,in contrary, I want to thank you for this extraordinary (I love this word) book , for creating a wonderful and unforgettable character such as Edward.
July 26, 2015
A new favorite, 600 Hours of Edward was an absolutely delightful read that hooked me from the first page. The main character, Edward, is 39 years old and happens to have Asperger’s Syndrome and OCD. In this touching story, we get a glimpse into a 25-day period (600 hours), of Edward’s life. It is the story of a challenging father/son relationship, but it is also a coming of age story in a sense, of how change affects Edward's life. It was laugh-out-loud funny, and yet at times so moving I could barely read through my tears.
What’s not to love? From Edward's endearing idiosyncrasies, to the supporting characters that impacted his life, this was an enjoyable read in which I was sad to see end. I loved the format of the book, the repetitious rituals that Edward lived by, and the things we came to expect, from the tracking of when he woke to the significance of the Dragnet episodes he watched in the evenings.
But mostly I loved the life lessons this book taught me, including accepting others for who they are and adapting to their ways, and not expecting them to conform to ours. It was a realistic and relatable story—for me at least, raising a child with special needs who has some endearing idiosyncrasies of his own—but I think this is a book anyone could enjoy. Highly recommend.
What’s not to love? From Edward's endearing idiosyncrasies, to the supporting characters that impacted his life, this was an enjoyable read in which I was sad to see end. I loved the format of the book, the repetitious rituals that Edward lived by, and the things we came to expect, from the tracking of when he woke to the significance of the Dragnet episodes he watched in the evenings.
But mostly I loved the life lessons this book taught me, including accepting others for who they are and adapting to their ways, and not expecting them to conform to ours. It was a realistic and relatable story—for me at least, raising a child with special needs who has some endearing idiosyncrasies of his own—but I think this is a book anyone could enjoy. Highly recommend.
October 31, 2013
For the first time in my life, I actually felt like a hypochondriac. And for a day I thought I had Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, my every movement tracked and accounted for, as my social skills dropped off a precipitous edge, only to return to normal the next day.
Edward Stanton rocked 600 HOURS OF EDWARD like Mick Jagger in his prime. His head (and mine) filled with numbers, as we tracked weather patterns, wrote letters of discontent, and consumed spaghetti and Diet Dr. Pepper with reckless abandon. And like Joe Friday all we’re after are the facts.
The voice jolted through my brain like I was driving down the interstate at 70 MPH with the windows down and R.E.M. blaring through the speakers. Possibly even “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” turned up to maximum volume as we cross the border. It was a beautiful feeling, and I’m sorry to say it ended way too soon.
But it was Edward’s relationship with his father that stood at the center of this novel, defining both he and his dad with every letter and lawyer intervention. Without it, this story would have been a shell of the novel it could have been, even if the words for both Edward and his father didn’t always come out right, or took on new meaning in the course of one social evening.
Since online dating has become the next big thing, there’re even a few amusing bits about what can go right (and then horribly wrong) in the course of one evening. Edward has his timetable that he follows to the letter, and now I have mine: to purchase Edward Adrift when it becomes available on my Kindle on April 9.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
Edward Stanton rocked 600 HOURS OF EDWARD like Mick Jagger in his prime. His head (and mine) filled with numbers, as we tracked weather patterns, wrote letters of discontent, and consumed spaghetti and Diet Dr. Pepper with reckless abandon. And like Joe Friday all we’re after are the facts.
The voice jolted through my brain like I was driving down the interstate at 70 MPH with the windows down and R.E.M. blaring through the speakers. Possibly even “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” turned up to maximum volume as we cross the border. It was a beautiful feeling, and I’m sorry to say it ended way too soon.
But it was Edward’s relationship with his father that stood at the center of this novel, defining both he and his dad with every letter and lawyer intervention. Without it, this story would have been a shell of the novel it could have been, even if the words for both Edward and his father didn’t always come out right, or took on new meaning in the course of one social evening.
Since online dating has become the next big thing, there’re even a few amusing bits about what can go right (and then horribly wrong) in the course of one evening. Edward has his timetable that he follows to the letter, and now I have mine: to purchase Edward Adrift when it becomes available on my Kindle on April 9.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
April 30, 2016
This book was just wonderful. It is a book that makes you feel good; a book that makes you think about life, yourself and others; a book that makes you reflect.
The thing that makes me love the books where the MC suffers from a mental illness, is the absence of filters. They are the realest people. They don't refrain their thoughts or their words, they're always direct and they don't BS you. Never! There are no misunderstandings and no dramas.
Edward is a 39 yo man diagnosed as developmentally disabled. He lives alone. He does everything at the same time of the day, everyday. He wakes up, does his daily routine, meets with his therapist once a week, drives his car, does grocery, watches his favorite TV series every night and sleeps every night at the same time. Edward life's chorus can be summarized by four sentences:
"I prefer facts.
......................................................................
Dr. Buckley is a very logical person.
.......................................................................
Tonight’s episode of Dragnet is called [..] and it is one of my favorites.
......................................................................
My data is complete.
These are mentioned many times in the book. They never get annoying.
Edward doesn't like change. He reads the newspaper everyday, especially the weather section and keeps tabs for the daily predicted temperatures, which he compares to the factual ones the next day.
The only worthwhile things in life are those that you can rely on. Change brings uncertainty. Change brings chaos. These are things I do not need.
So when new neighbors move in near him, changes in Edward's life begin to appear and he finds himself questioning his actions and beliefs.
Edward is a very complex character, as every character with Asperger Syndrome. He's not a teenager or a young man. He is more mature and his long therapy with his therapist has helped him to deal with his issues and struggles.
He is a very logical and reasonable man. Reading about how he sees the world is an amazing experience:
I’ve occasionally heard people say something like “I know his heart,” and I wonder how someone could possibly know such a thing. A heart is a mysterious thing to know. Doctors know how they work, of course, and can sometimes fix them when they’re not working correctly. But the mechanics of the heart are not what people are talking about when they say such things. They are talking about a person’s intentions or nature or goodness.
There are some heart-breaking moments so very well described. You can feel Edward's pain and his internal battles to deal with it.
“Everybody Hurts” is the perfect song to describe how I am feeling these days. I do feel like I am alone sometimes. But as you rightly point out, I am not alone. I have my mother. And I have a memory of my father that is a happy one.
Thank you, Michael Stipe, for writing such perfect songs.
The writing is exceptional. Every page makes you reflect about life. Being in Edward's mind is an extraordinary thing. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to see the world differently and more colorful.
July 3, 2023
An excellent story! 9 of 10 stars
February 9, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this one. This book was a bit different from what I would normally pick up. I heard a few good things about it so I took a closer look once I noticed that it was available to borrow from Amazon through Prime Reading. I loved the idea of a main character who is living with Asperger's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I decided to give it a try and I am really glad that I did.
Edward was a great character. I liked him from the start and as the story progressed, I liked him more and more. Edward's life revolves around routines. With few exceptions, each day looks largely like the previous one. Things do shake up his life quite a bit by the end of the book and there is definitely some character growth for Edward during the course of the story. I thought that his character felt very authentic in the way that he dealt with other people and handled his emotions.
This book is repetitive because Edward's life is repetitive. There are certain events and phrases that happen over and over throughout the book. Each day of Edward's life would bring a new cycle of the book. I think that the decision to take the reader through each day with Edward helped to really show how much the events in the story changed his life. Edward's life at the end of the book looks very different than it does at the start and it was great to take the journey with him.
Luke Daniels does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. One of the reasons that I decided to listen to this book was because I have enjoyed his work in the past. I thought that he was able to bring Edward to life in way that really added to the story. He did a great job with all of the character voices and adding emotion to the reading. I listened to this book for hours at a time and finished it within a few days and thought that he was a perfect match for the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed going along with Edward as he navigated the changes and his life and made new connections. I did notice that this book is listed as the first in a series but it tells a very complete story so I am not sure if I will read the other installments. I would not hesitate to read more from Craig Lancaster in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This isn't the kind of book that I pick up often. I noticed this one being offered in the Amazon Prime lending program. I love have enjoyed the narrator's work before so I decided to look closer at the book. When I saw that the main character of this story is living with Asperger's syndrome and OCD, I knew that I had to listen to this one. It was a really good story. It could be repetitive at times but that was just a reflection of Edward's life.
Book Source: Borrowed from Amazon Prime Lending
I liked this one. This book was a bit different from what I would normally pick up. I heard a few good things about it so I took a closer look once I noticed that it was available to borrow from Amazon through Prime Reading. I loved the idea of a main character who is living with Asperger's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I decided to give it a try and I am really glad that I did.
Edward was a great character. I liked him from the start and as the story progressed, I liked him more and more. Edward's life revolves around routines. With few exceptions, each day looks largely like the previous one. Things do shake up his life quite a bit by the end of the book and there is definitely some character growth for Edward during the course of the story. I thought that his character felt very authentic in the way that he dealt with other people and handled his emotions.
This book is repetitive because Edward's life is repetitive. There are certain events and phrases that happen over and over throughout the book. Each day of Edward's life would bring a new cycle of the book. I think that the decision to take the reader through each day with Edward helped to really show how much the events in the story changed his life. Edward's life at the end of the book looks very different than it does at the start and it was great to take the journey with him.
Luke Daniels does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. One of the reasons that I decided to listen to this book was because I have enjoyed his work in the past. I thought that he was able to bring Edward to life in way that really added to the story. He did a great job with all of the character voices and adding emotion to the reading. I listened to this book for hours at a time and finished it within a few days and thought that he was a perfect match for the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed going along with Edward as he navigated the changes and his life and made new connections. I did notice that this book is listed as the first in a series but it tells a very complete story so I am not sure if I will read the other installments. I would not hesitate to read more from Craig Lancaster in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This isn't the kind of book that I pick up often. I noticed this one being offered in the Amazon Prime lending program. I love have enjoyed the narrator's work before so I decided to look closer at the book. When I saw that the main character of this story is living with Asperger's syndrome and OCD, I knew that I had to listen to this one. It was a really good story. It could be repetitive at times but that was just a reflection of Edward's life.
Book Source: Borrowed from Amazon Prime Lending
May 5, 2022
Loved loved loved this book!
I literally cancelled my whole life while reading it as I just couldn't put it down.
This book flows so well and I really felt that I was seeing the world through Edward's eyes so massive credit to the author.
This book has left me feeling on a high and I can't wait to read the next two books.
Thanks to Helen Boyce at #TBConFB for the recommendation.
At time of posting this trilogy is available on Kindle Unlimited.
I literally cancelled my whole life while reading it as I just couldn't put it down.
This book flows so well and I really felt that I was seeing the world through Edward's eyes so massive credit to the author.
This book has left me feeling on a high and I can't wait to read the next two books.
Thanks to Helen Boyce at #TBConFB for the recommendation.
At time of posting this trilogy is available on Kindle Unlimited.
December 15, 2017
600 hours divided by 24 = 25. Yep, that’s about the span of days spent in Edward’s life during this story that is sometimes funny, sometimes touching, and all the time likeable. I’m not a fan of the e-reader, but I realized something soon after downloading and beginning 600 Hours of Edward. I looked forward to picking up that Kindle each day, with a book about a man who’s just a little bit different hidden somewhere inside its memory banks. Edward would appreciate that change in % progression and those tiny, digital page numbers lit at the bottom of the screen. They are analytic. They are factual, and that’s what he likes best. Other people? Well, that’s a little harder. They are not so easy to understand. I know Edward, I know. But inside of Edward there is a desire to step outside the routine he’s come to rely upon, sparked by a young boy and his mom who recently moved in across the street. It’s in that non-routine, and with those other people who are not so easy to quantify that he may find the few things he hadn’t realized were missing - and so needed.
June 2, 2019
*******3rd read, 2019*******
I'm not sure what else to say about this book except that it is beautifully written and wonderfully expressed. You will laugh and cry. More laughter than tears. This read was so much more meaningful because it was a buddy read with my daughter. And we both loved it. The main character had a stormy relationship with his dad and my daughter and I once had a stormy relationship as well, so this book was a perfect one for us to read together. We hope to read the rest of the series this year too!
I can't recommend this book highly enough. And if you can get a copy of the audio, it is absolutely terrific in that format as well. I recommend either reading the paper and audio in conjunction, or switching back and forth between them.
If you enjoy quirky characters, please read this book!
*******2nd read, 2018*******
Wow. Who'd have thought it'd be better the second time through? If you enjoy books that can make you laugh one minute while being introspective and meaningful the next, you owe it to yourself to try this one (books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine come to mind).
The first time I read this, I switched between the library book and the Audible, which I'd purchased. I needed to break out of a reading block and a friend reminded me that sometimes rereads are good for this. So true! This book was exactly what I needed, and for that reason, I upgraded it to a five-star read this time.
The main character, Edward, has OCD and Asperger's. He experiences quite a lot of growth throughout this story and starts to really connect with his emotions and the feelings and needs of others. Some of the themes include mental illness (obv), domestic violence, strained familial relationships, and friendship.
This is a book I'm so glad I own because I know that in another few years, I'll be able to enjoy it once again. I can't recommend this one enough if it sounds like something that will suit your mood. It may seem like just another humorous read, but it's really much more than that, and deserves a much wider readership, imo.
******First Read, 2014*******
4.5 stars. Impressive debut. I'll be continuing with the series and reading the author's other books as well.
This book reminds me of The Silver Linings Playbook and other titles by Matthew Quick. It seems light on the surface, but there's a lot of depth underneath. I loved all of the characters, and enjoyed the fact that this book made me laugh out loud several times. It's hard to get used to the main character's voice at the beginning, as he suffers from Asperger's and OCD. But stick with it, and you'll be glad you did. You'll laugh and cry with Edward, and you can't help but love him.
NOTE: The audio performance for this one is not to be missed. It is available through Audible. This is one that greatly enhances the written text. I'm amazed that all of the voices performed were actually read by only one person, Luke Daniels.
I'm not sure what else to say about this book except that it is beautifully written and wonderfully expressed. You will laugh and cry. More laughter than tears. This read was so much more meaningful because it was a buddy read with my daughter. And we both loved it. The main character had a stormy relationship with his dad and my daughter and I once had a stormy relationship as well, so this book was a perfect one for us to read together. We hope to read the rest of the series this year too!
I can't recommend this book highly enough. And if you can get a copy of the audio, it is absolutely terrific in that format as well. I recommend either reading the paper and audio in conjunction, or switching back and forth between them.
If you enjoy quirky characters, please read this book!
*******2nd read, 2018*******
Wow. Who'd have thought it'd be better the second time through? If you enjoy books that can make you laugh one minute while being introspective and meaningful the next, you owe it to yourself to try this one (books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine come to mind).
The first time I read this, I switched between the library book and the Audible, which I'd purchased. I needed to break out of a reading block and a friend reminded me that sometimes rereads are good for this. So true! This book was exactly what I needed, and for that reason, I upgraded it to a five-star read this time.
The main character, Edward, has OCD and Asperger's. He experiences quite a lot of growth throughout this story and starts to really connect with his emotions and the feelings and needs of others. Some of the themes include mental illness (obv), domestic violence, strained familial relationships, and friendship.
This is a book I'm so glad I own because I know that in another few years, I'll be able to enjoy it once again. I can't recommend this one enough if it sounds like something that will suit your mood. It may seem like just another humorous read, but it's really much more than that, and deserves a much wider readership, imo.
******First Read, 2014*******
4.5 stars. Impressive debut. I'll be continuing with the series and reading the author's other books as well.
This book reminds me of The Silver Linings Playbook and other titles by Matthew Quick. It seems light on the surface, but there's a lot of depth underneath. I loved all of the characters, and enjoyed the fact that this book made me laugh out loud several times. It's hard to get used to the main character's voice at the beginning, as he suffers from Asperger's and OCD. But stick with it, and you'll be glad you did. You'll laugh and cry with Edward, and you can't help but love him.
NOTE: The audio performance for this one is not to be missed. It is available through Audible. This is one that greatly enhances the written text. I'm amazed that all of the voices performed were actually read by only one person, Luke Daniels.
October 22, 2012
5+++ stars.
A beautifully written story about a 39 yr old man suffering from both OCD and Aspergers syndrome. I have so many emotions about this book, and I really need a few days to process them all before writing a proper review. I will say right now that this was one of the best books I have ever read, and that Edward is by far one of the most endearing characters I have ever been introduced to.
*ETA*
I am going to keep this short and sweet, since it has been a few weeks since i finished this book and I am still having trouble putting my thoughts into words about it.
I find it amazing that Lancaster was so successful in keeping the perfect balance between a sweet and touching story about an isolated man very much facing life as a misunderstood outsider, to a silly comedy about a misfit who lacks the people skills needed to navigate through day to day life. And that in a book of less than 300 pages he was able to get both sides of that man's story across so well.
Edward is all about routine. He starts his day by recording the time he opened his eyes and the weather forecast in a notebook he keeps beside the bed. He eats the same food week after week. He watches one episode of Dragnet (only from the last season) at 10pm every night. He writes a daily "Letter of Complaint" to people who anger him (a suggestion by his therapist, who also encourages him to never mail the letters but file them away instead) and is in bed each night by 12am. His life is on a continuous loop until his new neighbors arrive across the street. The way that Edward ends up dealing with that curve ball being thrown into his life is both touching and believable.
The way the author deals with Edward as a character is also damn close to perfect. His obsessive behavior never comes off as pathetic or makes the reader feel uncomfortable. Instead the author makes us fall in love with this flawed and troubled man in a way that makes his quirks only part of his charm.
I am so glad I decided to take a chance on this book, because this was a reading experience that will remain with me for a long time. And Edward is most definitely someone I will never forget.
A beautifully written story about a 39 yr old man suffering from both OCD and Aspergers syndrome. I have so many emotions about this book, and I really need a few days to process them all before writing a proper review. I will say right now that this was one of the best books I have ever read, and that Edward is by far one of the most endearing characters I have ever been introduced to.
*ETA*
I am going to keep this short and sweet, since it has been a few weeks since i finished this book and I am still having trouble putting my thoughts into words about it.
I find it amazing that Lancaster was so successful in keeping the perfect balance between a sweet and touching story about an isolated man very much facing life as a misunderstood outsider, to a silly comedy about a misfit who lacks the people skills needed to navigate through day to day life. And that in a book of less than 300 pages he was able to get both sides of that man's story across so well.
Edward is all about routine. He starts his day by recording the time he opened his eyes and the weather forecast in a notebook he keeps beside the bed. He eats the same food week after week. He watches one episode of Dragnet (only from the last season) at 10pm every night. He writes a daily "Letter of Complaint" to people who anger him (a suggestion by his therapist, who also encourages him to never mail the letters but file them away instead) and is in bed each night by 12am. His life is on a continuous loop until his new neighbors arrive across the street. The way that Edward ends up dealing with that curve ball being thrown into his life is both touching and believable.
The way the author deals with Edward as a character is also damn close to perfect. His obsessive behavior never comes off as pathetic or makes the reader feel uncomfortable. Instead the author makes us fall in love with this flawed and troubled man in a way that makes his quirks only part of his charm.
I am so glad I decided to take a chance on this book, because this was a reading experience that will remain with me for a long time. And Edward is most definitely someone I will never forget.
November 26, 2016
I finished this 5-star read at 22:02. I have recorded it on Goodreads and my data is complete. It is my 112th book of the year and it is one of my favourites.
I don't cry at books much at all. This book is one of two books that have made me cry this year. (The other is Boy's Life, which is probably my book of the year).
I went into this not knowing what to expect really. It started off slowly, getting to know the main character, Edward and all his quirks which provide many a funny moment. And then BAM!! Emotional stuff starts happening which punched me right in the heart, in a good way.
One of the most endearing, and surprising books I've ever read.
I also really like the way the author ends things.
I don't cry at books much at all. This book is one of two books that have made me cry this year. (The other is Boy's Life, which is probably my book of the year).
I went into this not knowing what to expect really. It started off slowly, getting to know the main character, Edward and all his quirks which provide many a funny moment. And then BAM!! Emotional stuff starts happening which punched me right in the heart, in a good way.
One of the most endearing, and surprising books I've ever read.
I also really like the way the author ends things.
September 25, 2016
The Triumph of Connection - Connecting any which way possible.
Loved reading this. I've made an Edward shaped place in my heart for him to stay in.
Great writing Mr Lancaster, I even came to expect the necessary data we have to complete every day, quite necessary, it shows where we are. I call the letters of complaint - letters of connection, they are the communication that Edward is unable to have face to face.
I feel quite bereft now that I finished the last page.
February 2, 2016
“I tried eHarmony, because I liked the white hair and glasses of that guy on the commercials, and his manner was gentle, but eHarmony told me that the system and it's twenty nine levels of compatibility couldn't find anyone for me.
That hurt my feelings.”
“I prefer facts, but sometimes sense is all you have to go on.”
“I have not seen a man over there, and so I wonder whether my neighbor has a husband or her boy has a father. I would be sad to think that he doesn’t, but having a father isn’t necessarily a good thing. I have one, and while he did buy this house for me to live in, he also has his lawyer send me a lot of letters and may not have given any thought to radiant floor heating.”
---
I just finished this and already know I will be re-reading *glares at mp3 audiobook* You will cooperate mister...
This is a beautiful book, I was hooked from the first page :). Edward endeared himself to me right away, I just wanted to give him a hug and watch Dragnet with him. He's easy to root for and wormed his way under my skin so that I rushed back to break at work and whatever I was doing in real life to get back to his story.
His habit/idiosyncrasies were repetitive, but there was a sort of comfort to them and I was never tempted to skip ahead, I loved seeing his take on the world and how he dealt with things.
The 'Letters of Complaint' is something I've heard other people recommend before, and I'm glad it worked for Edward
His growth through the did seem rushed at times but it was also beautiful to watch.
His friendship with Donna and Kyle had me smiling and wishing I could have taken pictures... my favorite was the Blue Blaster ones (you'll see what I mean when you read it). Kyle is a sweet boy and his mom is a good person... they've been through some rough times but are doing the best they can.
One scene I was especially proud of Edward and giving him pats on the back the entire time.
Some wonderful life lessons in the book as well, I can't recommend this highly enough :-D. Definitely going to have to thank my friend Shaun for turning me onto this amazing story.
Side note: Dr. Buckley was the perfect fit as a therapist for Edward... understanding, logical, and kind.
There was a scene near the end with someone from Edward's past that had me smiling from ear to ear as well. In fact, I seem to be smiling alot with this book... no complaints there of course :).
This did remind me of the Rosie Project in some ways but they are two different (yet equally amazing) stories.
Happy reading!!
~~~~~
Review Spotlights:
Julie's review here
Zoe's review here
Linda's review
That hurt my feelings.”
“I prefer facts, but sometimes sense is all you have to go on.”
“I have not seen a man over there, and so I wonder whether my neighbor has a husband or her boy has a father. I would be sad to think that he doesn’t, but having a father isn’t necessarily a good thing. I have one, and while he did buy this house for me to live in, he also has his lawyer send me a lot of letters and may not have given any thought to radiant floor heating.”
---
I just finished this and already know I will be re-reading *glares at mp3 audiobook* You will cooperate mister...
This is a beautiful book, I was hooked from the first page :). Edward endeared himself to me right away, I just wanted to give him a hug and watch Dragnet with him. He's easy to root for and wormed his way under my skin so that I rushed back to break at work and whatever I was doing in real life to get back to his story.
His habit/idiosyncrasies were repetitive, but there was a sort of comfort to them and I was never tempted to skip ahead, I loved seeing his take on the world and how he dealt with things.
The 'Letters of Complaint' is something I've heard other people recommend before, and I'm glad it worked for Edward
His growth through the did seem rushed at times but it was also beautiful to watch.
His friendship with Donna and Kyle had me smiling and wishing I could have taken pictures... my favorite was the Blue Blaster ones (you'll see what I mean when you read it). Kyle is a sweet boy and his mom is a good person... they've been through some rough times but are doing the best they can.
One scene I was especially proud of Edward and giving him pats on the back the entire time.
Some wonderful life lessons in the book as well, I can't recommend this highly enough :-D. Definitely going to have to thank my friend Shaun for turning me onto this amazing story.
Side note: Dr. Buckley was the perfect fit as a therapist for Edward... understanding, logical, and kind.
There was a scene near the end with someone from Edward's past that had me smiling from ear to ear as well. In fact, I seem to be smiling alot with this book... no complaints there of course :).
This did remind me of the Rosie Project in some ways but they are two different (yet equally amazing) stories.
Happy reading!!
~~~~~
Review Spotlights:
Julie's review here
Zoe's review here
Linda's review
December 9, 2014
It does seem there is rather a trend for novels with autistic narrators written by non-autistic authors, and they seem to go along something like this:
'I woke up at precisely 7:23am - I knew this from turning my head a 90 degree angle and seeing the digital clock on my bedside table. This is two minutes later than the average time I have woken up so far this year (there have been 233 days so far because it's a leap year). I keep a chart of it, along with the numbers of left turns and right turns I make in every journey, and the estimates I make of the body weight and age of every person I meet, because we autistic people love numbers and applying them to pointless things like this, and mentioning these things on every page will remind you that I'm autistic and that this book is written by a clever author who knows all about autism.'
And of course, all us genuine autistic people are reading thinking 'WTF? Is this how the world really thinks we think?'
On the other hand, as with The Rosie Project, a lot of the behaviours of this character are actually very realistic and believable. I suspect the author knows some people on the autism spectrum and has observed their behaviour pretty accurately. It's just the inner voice of the character that is so lacking. As if numbers are the main focus of an autistic person's thoughts, rather than merely a strategy to make some sense of the world. There is never any depth of personhood beneath the numbers in these sorts of books. No soul, no complexity, and certainly none of the utterly overwhelming chaos that underlies the numbers (or whatever other strategy an autistic person might use - contrary to what the media would have you believe, we don't all focus on numbers!). Just a simplistic character who is half-child, half-robot.
The plot was fairly predictable. It was an okay read. Fairly absorbing. I've no desire to read about any more of Edward's hours though!
'I woke up at precisely 7:23am - I knew this from turning my head a 90 degree angle and seeing the digital clock on my bedside table. This is two minutes later than the average time I have woken up so far this year (there have been 233 days so far because it's a leap year). I keep a chart of it, along with the numbers of left turns and right turns I make in every journey, and the estimates I make of the body weight and age of every person I meet, because we autistic people love numbers and applying them to pointless things like this, and mentioning these things on every page will remind you that I'm autistic and that this book is written by a clever author who knows all about autism.'
And of course, all us genuine autistic people are reading thinking 'WTF? Is this how the world really thinks we think?'
On the other hand, as with The Rosie Project, a lot of the behaviours of this character are actually very realistic and believable. I suspect the author knows some people on the autism spectrum and has observed their behaviour pretty accurately. It's just the inner voice of the character that is so lacking. As if numbers are the main focus of an autistic person's thoughts, rather than merely a strategy to make some sense of the world. There is never any depth of personhood beneath the numbers in these sorts of books. No soul, no complexity, and certainly none of the utterly overwhelming chaos that underlies the numbers (or whatever other strategy an autistic person might use - contrary to what the media would have you believe, we don't all focus on numbers!). Just a simplistic character who is half-child, half-robot.
The plot was fairly predictable. It was an okay read. Fairly absorbing. I've no desire to read about any more of Edward's hours though!
January 15, 2016
3 1/2 stars
Edward has OCD and Asperger’s. One is treated with medication and therapy while the other just form parts of who he is.
Edward also struggles to let grudges go, to let injustice and the perceived bad behaviour of others go unchecked. To help with this letting go, his therapist suggests that he write letters of grievance to the other parties but with strict instructions NEVER to actually send them. But rather to use this as a way to clear the air in Edwards mind. These letters made for humorous and sometimes poignant reading.
Edward is very much bound and grounded by his routines and data he collects on seemingly absurd things such as what time of the day he wakes up or his obsession with the TV show Dragnet. I found the detailed descriptions of these episodes slightly unnecessary and towards the end started speed reading over these sections.
Edward’s relationship with his father (and to an extent his mother as well) just left me sad. It’s clear that they never made a real effort to understand their son’s eccentricities and mental illness. His father felt that setting Edward up in his own home and paying for the bills was where his responsibility ended.
If you have read The Rosie Project it will be impossible NOT to compare these two books. I found Don from just a little bit more likable than Edward but both books have their merit and unique feel to them.
While Rosie Project is a humorous look at the socially inept Don, with this book I felt a lot more sympathy for Edward’s loneliness and inability to do anything about it. This is not necessarily a fast-paced edge-of-your seat kind of story as a lot of what Edward does is defined by repetitive routines but I was charmed by his story and really enjoyed the reading experience.
Edward has OCD and Asperger’s. One is treated with medication and therapy while the other just form parts of who he is.
Edward also struggles to let grudges go, to let injustice and the perceived bad behaviour of others go unchecked. To help with this letting go, his therapist suggests that he write letters of grievance to the other parties but with strict instructions NEVER to actually send them. But rather to use this as a way to clear the air in Edwards mind. These letters made for humorous and sometimes poignant reading.
Edward is very much bound and grounded by his routines and data he collects on seemingly absurd things such as what time of the day he wakes up or his obsession with the TV show Dragnet. I found the detailed descriptions of these episodes slightly unnecessary and towards the end started speed reading over these sections.
Edward’s relationship with his father (and to an extent his mother as well) just left me sad. It’s clear that they never made a real effort to understand their son’s eccentricities and mental illness. His father felt that setting Edward up in his own home and paying for the bills was where his responsibility ended.
If you have read The Rosie Project it will be impossible NOT to compare these two books. I found Don from just a little bit more likable than Edward but both books have their merit and unique feel to them.
While Rosie Project is a humorous look at the socially inept Don, with this book I felt a lot more sympathy for Edward’s loneliness and inability to do anything about it. This is not necessarily a fast-paced edge-of-your seat kind of story as a lot of what Edward does is defined by repetitive routines but I was charmed by his story and really enjoyed the reading experience.
May 18, 2013
What an absolute little gem of a book! Great characters, great story and so very well written. Loved it! Edward is such an adorable character that you absolutely cannot help falling in love with him. There are many laugh out loud moments nicely counterbalanced with many heartbreaking moments, most especially his turbulent relationship with his father. We could all learn lessons from Edward through his thoughts and perspectives on life. I adored his 'letters of complaints' and I want to watch Dragnet! I would send my own 'letter of complaint' right now to the author if there wasn't a follow up book already available...but thankfully there is in Edward Adrift. Looking forward to reading more about Edward very soon. I read this in 24 hours because I just could not put it down... highly recommended.
June 3, 2017
Craig Lancaster tells a tale of Edward Stanton, a man with OCD & Asperger's syndrome & how he records his life changing during an important 600 hours. Stanton is a marvellous character & the author brings him to life so well you can almost believe you are reading the diary of a real person.
There are endless moments to make you smile throughout this story & Edward's interactions with other people are wonderfully told.
Some readers may find his repeated entries about the weather & the TV series Dragnet (where he is always watching one of his favourite episodes!) a bit repetitive, but this just underlines his OCD issues. I am already missing reading about Edward (even if he isn't real), but I am pleased to see that Lancaster has written two further novels featuring the character. I might have to check these out too.
There are endless moments to make you smile throughout this story & Edward's interactions with other people are wonderfully told.
Some readers may find his repeated entries about the weather & the TV series Dragnet (where he is always watching one of his favourite episodes!) a bit repetitive, but this just underlines his OCD issues. I am already missing reading about Edward (even if he isn't real), but I am pleased to see that Lancaster has written two further novels featuring the character. I might have to check these out too.
September 15, 2015
I was on a bus for about 3 ½ hours, today, so I was glad that I paid $1.99 for the audible add-on. I have never regretted an audible-add on, yet. You can’t beat the kindle-sync feature. The narrator was excellent. I wanted to wait and finish book on my commute over the next few days, but curiosity got the better of me, and I finished it when I got home.
This book is very easy reading. Edward, the main character, is endearing. I’m pretty sure that a real person could not experience so much growth and change in just 600 hours, but I loved the tone. Edward was someone that you wanted to root for, but not someone you felt sorry for. There was, also, an inherent optimism in the story.
This book is very easy reading. Edward, the main character, is endearing. I’m pretty sure that a real person could not experience so much growth and change in just 600 hours, but I loved the tone. Edward was someone that you wanted to root for, but not someone you felt sorry for. There was, also, an inherent optimism in the story.
June 7, 2015
4.5 STARS! I just spent 600 delightful, intense, happy, annoying, enlightening, frustrating, hopeful hours , in the life of Edward Staton, a 39 year old man with a developmental disability. Although, people on this spectrum can vary quite a bit, many of Edward's "hours" reminded me of my precious son, Kevin. I'm very thankful for this book, and others, which give people insight into the world of this ever growing, segment of our population. My hope is that people will become more accepting and understanding as our adults maneuver their way though a society which is often very complicated and irrational to them.
I became very emotionally involved in this story and at times I wanted to put Edward in a protective "bubble". However, like all other young people, Edward had to experience both the wonderful and the painful aspects of life in order to grow. I'm getting there with my Kevin, too.
So, the only reason this was not a 5 star read for me was the "rushed" ending. However, I do recommend it very highly.
I became very emotionally involved in this story and at times I wanted to put Edward in a protective "bubble". However, like all other young people, Edward had to experience both the wonderful and the painful aspects of life in order to grow. I'm getting there with my Kevin, too.
So, the only reason this was not a 5 star read for me was the "rushed" ending. However, I do recommend it very highly.
January 2, 2019
OMG.
It is my first book of 2019. AND THIS BOOK IST SIMPLY FANTASTIC. It makes me hope for a great 2019 Reading Year!
I don't even know WHY I decided to start it on the 30th December, because I normally read a silly romance novel into the New Year and NORMALLY a book about a thirty-nine-year-old man with Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder is not my first choice.
Edward Stanton is...incredible. His first person POV is...a reading pleasure(?). The writing is brilliant. The story is unusual and full of surprises, and somehow absolutely ingenious in its idea.
I laughed LAUD, and then I cried, and I can't wait to read more about Edward.
He is incredible, and this book is incredibly good.
It is my first book of 2019. AND THIS BOOK IST SIMPLY FANTASTIC. It makes me hope for a great 2019 Reading Year!
I don't even know WHY I decided to start it on the 30th December, because I normally read a silly romance novel into the New Year and NORMALLY a book about a thirty-nine-year-old man with Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder is not my first choice.
Edward Stanton is...incredible. His first person POV is...a reading pleasure(?). The writing is brilliant. The story is unusual and full of surprises, and somehow absolutely ingenious in its idea.
I laughed LAUD, and then I cried, and I can't wait to read more about Edward.
He is incredible, and this book is incredibly good.
November 8, 2013
Eh...this book was and interesting read. I liked Edward, and he was relatable, which I really liked given his mental health issues. I was unsure how real his experiences would be compared to someone who actually struggles with Asperger's; I would be interested in reading a non-fiction book about this. I found myself skipping over the parts about Dragnet and the Dallas Cowboys just to get through the story. This book was just ok for me, so I won't be reading the next book about Edward.
March 6, 2016
This was a great book! I found myself smiling broadly and even laughing out loud while I read it. The premise of the story was no laughing matter, however. Mental illness is always a tough subject for an author to tackle in a fictional setting. I can't imagine the difficulty they encounter trying to capture and illustrate the issues a mentally ill subject must deal with while at the same time ensuring that the character doesn't come across as "too crazy". Mr. Lancaster has done a superb job working through this potential dilemma. Edward Stanton is a likeable, middle aged man who just happens to have a mental illness. He has feelings and thoughts just like any of us. This story focuses on the accomplishments Edward makes, little by little, one step at a time. I rejoiced with him for his achievements and cried with him for his setbacks and challenges. This is a heartwarming tale that demonstrates what the human spirit is capable of if one possesses enough will and determination.
January 10, 2016
I expect this will be the best book I will read in 2016, although (obviously) I have, as yet, no data on that.
A wonderful, warm, utterly compelling portrait of a man at odds with the world he lives in, and tantalisingly close to understanding what it has to offer. The subtle shift in the narrative style, the gradual uncoupling of the prose from its formula as its central character is estranged from the routines that drive his day-to-day existence, is handled brilliantly, almost the perfect marriage of form and content. The "incidental" characters - none of them are truly incidental, in truth - burst from the page, wreathed in Edward's descriptions of them and the details we surmise but Edward doesn't quite see. And Edward himself is unquestionably the most endearing narrator I've come across in years.
I'd recommend this book to anyone with eyes and a heart.
A wonderful, warm, utterly compelling portrait of a man at odds with the world he lives in, and tantalisingly close to understanding what it has to offer. The subtle shift in the narrative style, the gradual uncoupling of the prose from its formula as its central character is estranged from the routines that drive his day-to-day existence, is handled brilliantly, almost the perfect marriage of form and content. The "incidental" characters - none of them are truly incidental, in truth - burst from the page, wreathed in Edward's descriptions of them and the details we surmise but Edward doesn't quite see. And Edward himself is unquestionably the most endearing narrator I've come across in years.
I'd recommend this book to anyone with eyes and a heart.
December 3, 2018
I'm not sure what I can possibly say about "600 Hours of Edward" that would do it justice.
The author (Craig Lancaster) gives us a clear picture of all the participating characters in such a way, we get to enjoy feeling lost in the story as it happens. There are no paper cut-out characters here, this is fiction you forget is fiction. It's novels like these that make me swoon with awe that someone was able to *create* this. How? How is this possible?
"600 Hours of Edward" is a beautiful journey everyone should take. I'm not ready for mine to be over, so I'm off to go purchase the sequel, "Edward Adrift."
Read. Smile. Love Edward.
The author (Craig Lancaster) gives us a clear picture of all the participating characters in such a way, we get to enjoy feeling lost in the story as it happens. There are no paper cut-out characters here, this is fiction you forget is fiction. It's novels like these that make me swoon with awe that someone was able to *create* this. How? How is this possible?
"600 Hours of Edward" is a beautiful journey everyone should take. I'm not ready for mine to be over, so I'm off to go purchase the sequel, "Edward Adrift."
Read. Smile. Love Edward.
June 10, 2010
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
As I've said here before, although I'm a big fan and champion of small-press, basement-press and self-published books, after reviewing hundreds of them now I've discovered that such designations are largely a self-regulating system, and that 95 percent of these titles were published under the circumstances they were because they really don't merit mainstream national attention. So it's always worth celebrating, then, when coming across a book from that five percent that legitimately do deserve a lot more acclaim than they're getting; and the latest of these is the remarkable 600 Hours of Edward by veteran journalist but first-time novelist Craig Lancaster, and put out by the tiny Montana-based Riverbend Publishing, a book which could easily be an NYT bestseller right now if put out by HarperCollins and given a million-dollar marketing budget. And that's because Lancaster puts together here a nearly perfect combination of traditional literary elements, mixing crowd-pleasing sappiness with indie-friendly subversion, a masterful blend of character and action that takes advantage of traditional framing devices in just about the best way possible; and all this is even more astounding when you realize that the first draft of this book was the result of Lancaster participating in Nanowrimo, the popular literary challenge held every November where as many people as possible try to write an entire novel from start to finish over the course of exactly one month.
As the title indicates, the book is essentially a deep character study regarding 25 days in the life of one Edward Stanton, obsessive letter-writer and sufferer of Asperger Syndrome, the so-called "genius disease" that in the last ten years has gone from almost complete obscurity to nearly every nerd on the planet now claiming to be a victim of it, and which I'm convinced that future citizens will one day count as a major historical touchstone of the early 2000s, right up there with Facebook and Prozac. But as Lancaster deftly shows us, when legitimately manifested Asperger's can actually be quite the crippling condition, basically a combination of obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD) with a high-functioning version of autism, making its socially challenged victims essentially just a few steps away from being one of those sullen hospital patients who sit in the corner of a room for 16 hours a day muttering to themselves and rocking back and forth. I mean, certainly this is the state that we find the middle-aged Edward in as the novel opens, as Lancaster takes the time at the beginning to show his highly regulated, OCD-dominated life of rituals -- awake at exactly 7:37 every morning, grocery shopping every Thursday at 2 pm, where he buys the exact same list of goods each time, videotaped episodes of "Dragnet" at precisely 10:00 every night, but only the color episodes from 1967 to 1970, and which absolutely must be watched in the order they originally aired.
Like all good traditional three-act stories, then, the bulk of 600 Hours concerns what happens when a series of special events start disrupting this all-important routine more and more, and the various ways that Edward both successfully and unsuccessfully handles them -- like the arrival of a new neighbor, for example, a harried single mom whose rambunctious nine-year-old son starts hanging out around Edward's place more and more, and whose abusive ex eventually drags Edward into the middle of a court battle that almost puts him into an apoplectic state; or his rapidly deteriorating relationship with his aging father, an infamously curmudgeonly local politician and former oil-industry executive, who has always suspected half of Edward's mentally imbalanced behavior to be a deliberate put-on, and who has started resorting more and more to official missives from his lawyer whenever needing to communicate with him. And indeed, it's in these elements where Lancaster really shines, and is the main point of reading this novel, because of him quickly pushing past all the easy stereotypes of such characters to show us the much deeper, much more complex human beings who lie underneath. But then again, as mentioned, Lancaster also employs a series of traditional framing devices in order to hold the story together, well-known ones to be sure (for example, Edward's weekly visits to his psychiatrist, which occur four times in the book and serve as nice recaps to everything we've just learned), but that never wear out their welcome because of Lancaster always using them with a light touch (or, well, almost always using them with a light touch, which is why this book isn't receiving a perfect score today -- for example, Edward's obsessive recaps of that night's "Dragnet" episode at the end of each chapter wear thin by the end, and the whole mini-essay in the middle about the ten greatest Dallas Cowboys games in history was something the book could've done completely without).
And yes, as so far described, it'd be easy to dismiss 600 Hours as yet another afterschool special regarding an adorably quirky handicapped hero overcoming the odds and teaching all the people around him a little more about life; and indeed, arts history (especially the history of Oscar-bait Hollywood tearjerkers) is littered with such cutesy, pandering trash, and I'm usually as much of a hater of such crap as you are. (And seriously, Sean Penn, if you play even one more plucky but lovable mentally-challenged person, I may just possibly kill myself out of sheer disgust.) But what saves this book is that Lancaster takes the time and energy to show us the dark sides as well of dealing with someone who suffers from Asperger's, to show us the various ways that such a person will simply fail the people around them in certain situations, no matter how hard they try not to (and in fact, since a notorious trait of Asperger victims is an almost complete lack of social skills, such people many times fail to even understand why they should put in an effort in such situations in the first place); see as a fantastic example Edward's truly cringe-inducing attempt at internet dating, and the poor, poor woman who is subjected to an evening with him without realizing that he is in fact mentally imbalanced. But then again, Lancaster also manages to mine a lot of humor out of such situations too, which helps keep the darkness not too overwhelmingly dark; to stay with this example, see Edward's hilarious complaint letter to the CEO of dating site eHarmony, on how the happy smiling couples seen in their commercials could technically be considered a form of false advertising.
Ultimately I can give the book no higher compliment than this -- that it was one of only a handful of titles each year that made me cry in public while reading it (and by "cry," I mean literally weeping, big fat tears running down my cheeks at the coffeehouse like literally a little girl watching freakin' Bambi), an event I always take as a good sign, when a book can emotionally move a cynical bastard like me that much without making me disgusted at myself afterwards. For all you editors and agents who trawl the CCLaP website looking for obscure but proven winners ripe for turning into bigger hits, this is one of those winners, and there's no doubt in my mind that it will remain by the end of the year one of my top-ten favorite reads in the entirety of 2010. It's the very definition of an unknown book you should take a chance on, and I highly encourage you today to do just that.
Out of 10: 9.7
As I've said here before, although I'm a big fan and champion of small-press, basement-press and self-published books, after reviewing hundreds of them now I've discovered that such designations are largely a self-regulating system, and that 95 percent of these titles were published under the circumstances they were because they really don't merit mainstream national attention. So it's always worth celebrating, then, when coming across a book from that five percent that legitimately do deserve a lot more acclaim than they're getting; and the latest of these is the remarkable 600 Hours of Edward by veteran journalist but first-time novelist Craig Lancaster, and put out by the tiny Montana-based Riverbend Publishing, a book which could easily be an NYT bestseller right now if put out by HarperCollins and given a million-dollar marketing budget. And that's because Lancaster puts together here a nearly perfect combination of traditional literary elements, mixing crowd-pleasing sappiness with indie-friendly subversion, a masterful blend of character and action that takes advantage of traditional framing devices in just about the best way possible; and all this is even more astounding when you realize that the first draft of this book was the result of Lancaster participating in Nanowrimo, the popular literary challenge held every November where as many people as possible try to write an entire novel from start to finish over the course of exactly one month.
As the title indicates, the book is essentially a deep character study regarding 25 days in the life of one Edward Stanton, obsessive letter-writer and sufferer of Asperger Syndrome, the so-called "genius disease" that in the last ten years has gone from almost complete obscurity to nearly every nerd on the planet now claiming to be a victim of it, and which I'm convinced that future citizens will one day count as a major historical touchstone of the early 2000s, right up there with Facebook and Prozac. But as Lancaster deftly shows us, when legitimately manifested Asperger's can actually be quite the crippling condition, basically a combination of obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD) with a high-functioning version of autism, making its socially challenged victims essentially just a few steps away from being one of those sullen hospital patients who sit in the corner of a room for 16 hours a day muttering to themselves and rocking back and forth. I mean, certainly this is the state that we find the middle-aged Edward in as the novel opens, as Lancaster takes the time at the beginning to show his highly regulated, OCD-dominated life of rituals -- awake at exactly 7:37 every morning, grocery shopping every Thursday at 2 pm, where he buys the exact same list of goods each time, videotaped episodes of "Dragnet" at precisely 10:00 every night, but only the color episodes from 1967 to 1970, and which absolutely must be watched in the order they originally aired.
Like all good traditional three-act stories, then, the bulk of 600 Hours concerns what happens when a series of special events start disrupting this all-important routine more and more, and the various ways that Edward both successfully and unsuccessfully handles them -- like the arrival of a new neighbor, for example, a harried single mom whose rambunctious nine-year-old son starts hanging out around Edward's place more and more, and whose abusive ex eventually drags Edward into the middle of a court battle that almost puts him into an apoplectic state; or his rapidly deteriorating relationship with his aging father, an infamously curmudgeonly local politician and former oil-industry executive, who has always suspected half of Edward's mentally imbalanced behavior to be a deliberate put-on, and who has started resorting more and more to official missives from his lawyer whenever needing to communicate with him. And indeed, it's in these elements where Lancaster really shines, and is the main point of reading this novel, because of him quickly pushing past all the easy stereotypes of such characters to show us the much deeper, much more complex human beings who lie underneath. But then again, as mentioned, Lancaster also employs a series of traditional framing devices in order to hold the story together, well-known ones to be sure (for example, Edward's weekly visits to his psychiatrist, which occur four times in the book and serve as nice recaps to everything we've just learned), but that never wear out their welcome because of Lancaster always using them with a light touch (or, well, almost always using them with a light touch, which is why this book isn't receiving a perfect score today -- for example, Edward's obsessive recaps of that night's "Dragnet" episode at the end of each chapter wear thin by the end, and the whole mini-essay in the middle about the ten greatest Dallas Cowboys games in history was something the book could've done completely without).
And yes, as so far described, it'd be easy to dismiss 600 Hours as yet another afterschool special regarding an adorably quirky handicapped hero overcoming the odds and teaching all the people around him a little more about life; and indeed, arts history (especially the history of Oscar-bait Hollywood tearjerkers) is littered with such cutesy, pandering trash, and I'm usually as much of a hater of such crap as you are. (And seriously, Sean Penn, if you play even one more plucky but lovable mentally-challenged person, I may just possibly kill myself out of sheer disgust.) But what saves this book is that Lancaster takes the time and energy to show us the dark sides as well of dealing with someone who suffers from Asperger's, to show us the various ways that such a person will simply fail the people around them in certain situations, no matter how hard they try not to (and in fact, since a notorious trait of Asperger victims is an almost complete lack of social skills, such people many times fail to even understand why they should put in an effort in such situations in the first place); see as a fantastic example Edward's truly cringe-inducing attempt at internet dating, and the poor, poor woman who is subjected to an evening with him without realizing that he is in fact mentally imbalanced. But then again, Lancaster also manages to mine a lot of humor out of such situations too, which helps keep the darkness not too overwhelmingly dark; to stay with this example, see Edward's hilarious complaint letter to the CEO of dating site eHarmony, on how the happy smiling couples seen in their commercials could technically be considered a form of false advertising.
Ultimately I can give the book no higher compliment than this -- that it was one of only a handful of titles each year that made me cry in public while reading it (and by "cry," I mean literally weeping, big fat tears running down my cheeks at the coffeehouse like literally a little girl watching freakin' Bambi), an event I always take as a good sign, when a book can emotionally move a cynical bastard like me that much without making me disgusted at myself afterwards. For all you editors and agents who trawl the CCLaP website looking for obscure but proven winners ripe for turning into bigger hits, this is one of those winners, and there's no doubt in my mind that it will remain by the end of the year one of my top-ten favorite reads in the entirety of 2010. It's the very definition of an unknown book you should take a chance on, and I highly encourage you today to do just that.
Out of 10: 9.7
November 20, 2018
Books about people with mental illness have become quite a popular theme in recent years.
I've read a few of them now, but this is definitely one of my favourites. It's funny but not over the top slapstick, touching, but subtle and filled with characters that are likeable but imperfect - just the way I like them.
Edward is a lovely little book.
Listened to this on audiobook narrated by Luke Daniels who is the best narrator that I've ever heard. It makes such a difference!
I've read a few of them now, but this is definitely one of my favourites. It's funny but not over the top slapstick, touching, but subtle and filled with characters that are likeable but imperfect - just the way I like them.
Edward is a lovely little book.
Listened to this on audiobook narrated by Luke Daniels who is the best narrator that I've ever heard. It makes such a difference!
March 31, 2019
Brilliant. I hope everyone reads this. I am forcing the two people I live with to read it.
I'm back. That was far too short for such an amazing book, that measly little review. Two thirds of the people in this house have pneumonia. Yeah. The high fever, coughcoughcoughcough, wander around in bathrobes wolfing down handfuls of medicine designed to heal. It's been very sobering. Ramp up the vulnerability, oh, let's say 100%. That's about right. Me who can get MANY things done in the course of a day, a week, a month. Not any more. I look at the little plastic blue container of Oral B floss and think weakly, "Yeah, I used to floss." Illness is wretched. We all know that, right? We all agree on that front. Illness is wretched.
That combined with the TORPIDITY that accompanied the illness, well, I could barely read. I couldn't get to the library so I ordered this book online. I need to backtrack and figure out WHY I ordered it. Did someone recommend it to me? I think I just found it in casual online bookstore browsing. The Advil Cold and Sinus has stolen my short term memory.
Well, I'd never heard of the guy and went into this book with no expectations. Wait. I had one. I can tell you my last expectation. The LAST thing I thought I'd do is laugh. The second to last thing I thought I'd do is feel enveloped and overwhelmed in the best possible way. Words. Words just might save me.
This guy is the real deal. I am now torn between how I approach his fiction. Do I go into the second Edward book OR do I behave like I used to and start at the beginning and read everything he's ever written in chronological order so I can experience his progression as a writer? Pam, do you that? Yes, I do that. NOT OFTEN. I think the last time I did it was after "Motherless Brooklyn" and I read all of Jonathan Lethem's work. It really is a great way to see the growth of a writer, see what themes call to them, watch them stretch and learn.
I went online last night and bought this book for my cousin who knit me a scarf and wrote me a hugely kind letter about my Mom. He has an amazing memory, my cousin. He was reminiscing about when we got an electric can opener in my house. I was six, he was five. He said we'd drop everything and run as fast as we could once we heard it start working and pray, pray hard, that it was gonna be a two can meal so we could watch it work it's magic twice. Yeah. I miss my Mom something terrible. She'd have loved this novel.
So if you're reading this review, please, please read this book. Like, please! Observe the coughing and germy reviewer, pleading. Let me try the stern approach. READ IT! I can't, that makes me cough more. Back to pleading. Read. It. Read. It.
I was on page thirty and had fallen fully into it and I had this moment of icy fear and thought no, do not let this have a sad ending, I do not have the capacity right now to deal with hopelessness or something terrible happening to characters I love. Hey Craig Lancaster, thank you! Happy! You made me very happy in a very bleak time.
"Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough..."
Ha. Long may you work your magic.
Gratefully,
Fishgirl/Pam
I'm back. That was far too short for such an amazing book, that measly little review. Two thirds of the people in this house have pneumonia. Yeah. The high fever, coughcoughcoughcough, wander around in bathrobes wolfing down handfuls of medicine designed to heal. It's been very sobering. Ramp up the vulnerability, oh, let's say 100%. That's about right. Me who can get MANY things done in the course of a day, a week, a month. Not any more. I look at the little plastic blue container of Oral B floss and think weakly, "Yeah, I used to floss." Illness is wretched. We all know that, right? We all agree on that front. Illness is wretched.
That combined with the TORPIDITY that accompanied the illness, well, I could barely read. I couldn't get to the library so I ordered this book online. I need to backtrack and figure out WHY I ordered it. Did someone recommend it to me? I think I just found it in casual online bookstore browsing. The Advil Cold and Sinus has stolen my short term memory.
Well, I'd never heard of the guy and went into this book with no expectations. Wait. I had one. I can tell you my last expectation. The LAST thing I thought I'd do is laugh. The second to last thing I thought I'd do is feel enveloped and overwhelmed in the best possible way. Words. Words just might save me.
This guy is the real deal. I am now torn between how I approach his fiction. Do I go into the second Edward book OR do I behave like I used to and start at the beginning and read everything he's ever written in chronological order so I can experience his progression as a writer? Pam, do you that? Yes, I do that. NOT OFTEN. I think the last time I did it was after "Motherless Brooklyn" and I read all of Jonathan Lethem's work. It really is a great way to see the growth of a writer, see what themes call to them, watch them stretch and learn.
I went online last night and bought this book for my cousin who knit me a scarf and wrote me a hugely kind letter about my Mom. He has an amazing memory, my cousin. He was reminiscing about when we got an electric can opener in my house. I was six, he was five. He said we'd drop everything and run as fast as we could once we heard it start working and pray, pray hard, that it was gonna be a two can meal so we could watch it work it's magic twice. Yeah. I miss my Mom something terrible. She'd have loved this novel.
So if you're reading this review, please, please read this book. Like, please! Observe the coughing and germy reviewer, pleading. Let me try the stern approach. READ IT! I can't, that makes me cough more. Back to pleading. Read. It. Read. It.
I was on page thirty and had fallen fully into it and I had this moment of icy fear and thought no, do not let this have a sad ending, I do not have the capacity right now to deal with hopelessness or something terrible happening to characters I love. Hey Craig Lancaster, thank you! Happy! You made me very happy in a very bleak time.
"Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough..."
Ha. Long may you work your magic.
Gratefully,
Fishgirl/Pam
November 22, 2016
Must read story.
While reading/listening this book, in some parts I teared up, at the same time I was smiling. Thoughtfully written story that will make you think, he just doesn't have problem with his father, he has problems with both parents. Because of his OCD and Aspergers syndrome, lots of things repeated again and again, to make us understand Edward character. At the end not only he made peace with his parents and looks like he will have a bright future too. He keeps very close eye on the clock, but author missed the time change that happens about those days.
By the way today I'm 26757 days, 642168 hours old. Thank you Amazon for recommending this book to me.
While reading/listening this book, in some parts I teared up, at the same time I was smiling. Thoughtfully written story that will make you think, he just doesn't have problem with his father, he has problems with both parents. Because of his OCD and Aspergers syndrome, lots of things repeated again and again, to make us understand Edward character. At the end not only he made peace with his parents and looks like he will have a bright future too. He keeps very close eye on the clock, but author missed the time change that happens about those days.
By the way today I'm 26757 days, 642168 hours old. Thank you Amazon for recommending this book to me.
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