http://www.mjhyland.com/interview-with-vulpes-libris/ the official website of novelist MJ Hyland Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:06:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.mjhyland.com/interview-with-vulpes-libris/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Lesley Connelly Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:24:25 +0000 http://www.mjhyland.com/?p=163#comment-299 When I read 'This is How' I could not help but have in mind a person whom I know well. I think that his behaviour is easy to both understand and explain, given that he was violently abused by his step-father. He suffers from constant pain in his neck and shoulders and frequent headaches. Drinking helps to alleviate the pain. This does not surprise me, given his background and that he is alone and has a very stressful job. He is prone to outbursts of rage. He is also highly intelligent, well educated and has a quick and cutting wit. When I read the book, I felt unsettled by the lack of explanation for his behaviour. I discussed this with my book group. Several of them were of the opinion that it was your intention that he was autistic. They believed that his awkwardness, inability to understand the consequences of his own actions and his obsessive behaviour were indications of this. I wonder, what your own understanding of Patrick's behaviour is as I found this explanation unsatisfying. Are they right? Was I wrong? When I read ‘This is How’ I could not help but have in mind a person whom I know well. I think that his behaviour is easy to both understand and explain, given that he was violently abused by his step-father. He suffers from constant pain in his neck and shoulders and frequent headaches. Drinking helps to alleviate the pain. This does not surprise me, given his background and that he is alone and has a very stressful job. He is prone to outbursts of rage. He is also highly intelligent, well educated and has a quick and cutting wit. When I read the book, I felt unsettled by the lack of explanation for his behaviour. I discussed this with my book group. Several of them were of the opinion that it was your intention that he was autistic. They believed that his awkwardness, inability to understand the consequences of his own actions and his obsessive behaviour were indications of this. I wonder, what your own understanding of Patrick’s behaviour is as I found this explanation unsatisfying. Are they right? Was I wrong?

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