House Rules, Disc. 2

[aero63]

It angers me that from the beginning of the interrogation and throught the arraignment that Jacob did not have an advocate, or guardian of the court. Just like people that do not speak English are given an interpreter, there should have been someone there for him, other than his mother.
How heartbreaking is it upon his mother's first visit that he appears to be hugging through a partition, when in all his past he has avoided such things. His desire to "cry like humans do" is so touching and gives the biggest glimpse into his private world, more so than anything I have read so far about him. I understand his mother taking him off the antipsychotic drug. My daughter was put on lithium when she was thirteen and I took her off of it. She would just sit down in the middle of the store or wherever we were, and stare. It was horrible and she wasn't really there. I have worked with autistic children that have banged their heads when they can't handle situations and one that just sang the same song over and over. One student used to bite, the other bang his head, and another would bite his hand and smack his head. It was sad then and this is bringing back so many of those memories.

Theo is grappling with his guilt and he also gives a tenderness throughout this by his remembering the sandbox episode with Jacob and the attempt at friendship. Poor Theo is trying to be a good brother despite all his own emotional conflicts.


The lawyer, Oliver, is someone that I can admire. He may have been inexperienced but he took on the case with zeal. I don't think Emma left him much choice thogh, .

I continue to hope that the detective can truly begin to see the real Jacob. I know a cases a case ans callousness comes with a job over time, but.... I can hope.

Well, at least the judge suppressed the statements Jacob gave to the detective, even if he still believes Jacob was stable enough to be held. I wonder if the judge is friends with Jess' father?

I like how Oliver gave Emma the money to cut Theo off at the pass so to speak. I doubt any lawyer would do that without having a vested interest in the client and their own future. It is a shame that the one question that Theo does ask his father, he can't answer. At least that man has the decency not to preach to Theo about running away...etc.

I love the way Emma and Jacob bonded on the plane on the way home and that Emma came to the realization that she should spend alone time with Theo.

Can't wait for the next reading. I am hoping that Emma gets a more social life going. I thought that her and the detective at first, but it is looking like that is wrong. I guess when the trial is done we will see.

[susanny]

Well, if you're looking for romance, Aero, Oliver would sure like to get something going with Emma, . He really has the hots for her. But he is doing a great job for all his inexperience. He made a major goof in the beginning with the incompetency business and getting Jacob held in jail, but he worked it out quickly so kudos to him. He is definitely emotionally involved with this case and this family, but at the same time he doesn't want to know if Jacob really did it or not.

Which begs a big question for me: Why doesn't anyone ask Jacob exactly what he saw when he entered the house? We know Jacob has figured out what happened to her. He says he 'fixed' the scene to make it easier for the police to figure it out. I'm just surprised that Emma or/and Oliver haven't asked him point blank what he saw when he got there. He can't lie. Even Rich, the policeman, knows how good he is at forensics and crime scenes, although he thinks he's got is all wrapped up as it is. In the last chapter we read, where Jacob has created the fake crime scene in the bathroom, he starts to say what the difference was between Jess's murder scene and this fake one, but everybody stops him. They need to have a bit more faith in his innocence and let him explain what happened. Ask him who did it, for Pete's sake, as he'll tell them.

As for his statement being denied to the jury, the prosecution has his crimebusters notebook to use against him, esp. the page where he's written about Jess' murder scene. It's as bad as his statement.

You were as upset as I think we all are about the way Jacob was mistreated and denied interpretation in police questioning. I think the judge did good by allowing most of Oliver's requests for the trial, but Oliver should have asked for an interpreter then, since he couldn't get the last provision accepted (the way the questions are put forth).

Amazing the similarity between Jacob and his father. Makes you wonder how much of this disability is heredity. Maybe that's part of the reason he left the family; he saw too much of himself in Jacob, in addition to needing more of the attention that poor Emma had to devote to her son.

And Theo, that poor kid. The weight of the world is as much upon his shoulders as it is his mother's, I believe, maybe even more so. No wonder he's so messed up. I don't suspect, as I did in the beginning, that he had anything to do with Jess's 'murder', but could it be possible that she fell and hit her head when running after him? Mary was the first to bring up the thought that it wasn't a murder after all. You just know that someone is going to find the things that he's taken from the house and wonder about his involvement.

I'll be thinking of more to say after reading other's words.

[mary57]

well where to begin, I was horrified with Rich's interrigation of Jackob, and the way he set him up. Then to have the arraignment go the way it did was terrifying. It's no wonder Jackob went off the deep end. Then to not allow Emma access, or to give him ANY of his required meds. without a Drs note.
I have to agree with you Antionette about the memories that come back when reading this and also about some of the lights that suddenlly go off. This is proving to be a rough read in spots.
I give Theo all the credit due him for stepping up the way he has. Even to running across country to get some money from Dad. But I do like how Emma caught up with him and took the wind out of his sails. This showed him that he was very important to her, even if he had been feeling shunted to the side. I think Dad must have mild Aspergers too, but probably not diagnosed as it wasn't when he would have been young. His job is in computers, and dealing with factual stuff so aside from his personal life he would be able to cope. His home life is set up to his needs also, if you caught that his wife is there to smooth all edges and the 'girls' are quiet around the home.
Oliver sure is attracted to Emma, though with the 10 yr age difference and her inexperience I'm not sure Emma is picking up on it. Rich is also attracted to her, but I think he feels that he has treated the family so badly, that he doesn't deserve to even think about acting on his feelings. He puts 'work' ahead of himself and is under a lot of political pressure to wrap this case up.
I love the way Oliver has stepped up and learned what he needs to do on the run. He has proven to be a true advocate for Jacob. His getting the accomidations for the trial was genius. I can 'see' why the judge didn't grant the last one though, how can you order the way questions are asked without subtly altering the content?
As for his not asking Jacob outright about what he saw when he entered Jess's, that is typical of lawyers to not want to know what they might have to declare knowledge of. But I do wish someone would ask. Emma finally asked is he killed her, but didn't think to follow through.
I really thought it was a godsend the way Oliver was able to get experts advice/council and testimony for 'trade'. Showed real caring on his part. I wonder about Mrs S the restraunt owner, she keeps popping up with both Oliver and Rich. Could she know more than she appears too?

I have to say I can't wait to finnish this one up and find out just what's next with it.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Well; you ladies are still way ahead of me so I can only comment on what I've read thus far....

Where to begin? The detective (Rich is it?) reminds me in some ways of a sleazy used car dealer. Do anything to get the sale. Only in his case; do anything to get the arrest then "out of sight" and "out of mind" once Jacob is handed on. Pretty dirty tactics. He was certainly taken with Emma but....... has too much damage been done?

Oliver sounds like he can be a pretty decent kinda guy but I have trouble seeing him and Emma getting together; perhaps becasue of the age difference. If they were both "older" might be different but he's young to get involved with a complicated kinda family.

I think I agree Mary/ Sue that none of the 3 "potentials" killed Jess. I think she slipped and hit her head. As for Jacob; his true interest is in forensics..... I think he "staged" a few things certainly "after" the fact, possibly to see if the police could figure things out, but murder?.... One part of me wants to say it's possible, the other part is saying not probable.

Poor Emma, having to see her son that way and not be able to do anything about it. Gut wrenching..... and Theo.... it's sad

You know..... I'll bet Jacob comes out of this whole situation much better off, maybe all of them will.

This must be a bit of a challenge for you Antoinette and Mary....for you both


Antoinette; may I ask how your daughter fares these days?

[aero63]

Jackie, I thought about her falling and hitting her head too. That would certainly set Jacob off. But, he is "setting up the scene and leading them" also, something about the spatter in the bathroom, they don't say how high or low it is, and would there be spatter if she just fell?

I agree with you about Rich the detective. He did find her attractive. I don't remember the age difference between Oliver and Emma.

As far as my daughter, I believe she still has problems but there is nothing that can be done. After the age of 14 in PA, a child can refuse counseling...but we are still liable for their actions...never could figure that one out....

I figure we can read Cases 9 through 11 and meet back here on Friday. How does that sounds to everyone?

[susanny]

I'll be here! I've been anxious to get back into it, but afraid that if I read too soon I'll forget what happens. I think I am the type to have to keep notes, but that takes all the fun out of the whole thing.

[mary57]

That's great, I'll post on Tues though as that's when we'll be back. Then I'll be returning the book, so I will finish and take notes to do the last (?) discussion. Does that sound reasonable to e'one?

Sue, I always jot down a few notes at the end of each reading, that way I remember the highlights and jog my memory to the rest.

[aero63]

Sounds good Mary.

Sue, I always have to re-scan the reading also.

[susanny]

Finished the book. Think I will be reading some of Piccoult's other books now. The manager at my salon saw me reading the book at my pedi yesterday. She has a sister with Aspbergers and was interested in what the book was about. Says the show "Parenthood' on tv has a young boy on it portrayed with Aspberger's and is done very well. Might have to check that out. I remember when the show first started I watched and they were just admitting there was something very different about the boy.