Gianluca Nicoletti, a journalist and radio broadcaster, captures in this book the daily life of raising his autistic son Tommy. The author calls it "an upbeat story, anything but sad"—yet the pages reveal several moments of genuine hardship that undermine that initial claim.
In trying to lighten situations that are sometimes grotesque, Nicoletti cannot quite hide the obvious sadness that wells up from the everyday struggles with Tommy.
Getting him to school, worrying that he never be left alone, wondering what his future holds—these are just some of the reflections of a father who, in a slim volume, has written chiefly about himself and his own formation as an educator and "guardian" to Tommy. Many other parents will recognize themselves in this journey and will appreciate the author's honest reflections, even when they don't agree with them all.
His intimate gaze takes shape in words full of realism yet, overall, flowing easily—making the book a genuine pleasure to read.
Matteo Cinti, 2013