Flying at Night
-
-
4.4 • 14 Ratings
-
-
- $5.99
Publisher Description
An emotionally charged debut novel of a family on the brink--an autistic child, his determined mother, and her distant father--who learn that when your world changes, you find out who you really are. . . .
While she was growing up, Piper's father, Lance "the Silver Eagle" Whitman, became a national hero piloting a plane through an emergency landing. But at home, he was a controlling and overbearing presence in her life, raining emotional and verbal abuse upon the entire family.
It's no surprise, then, that as an adult, Piper has poured all of her energy into creating a warm and loving home for her own family, while catering to her son Fred's ever-growing idiosyncrasies.
Then Lance has a heart attack, leaving him with a brain injury--and dependent upon Piper for his care--just before tests confirm Piper's suspicions that Fred is on the autism spectrum.
A powerful and extraordinary novel, Flying at Night gives voice to Fred, trying to find his place in a world that doesn't quite understand him; to Lance, who's lost what made him the man he was, for better and worse; and to Piper, who, while desperately trying to navigate the shifting landscape around her, watches as her son and father start to connect--in the most miraculous ways. . . .
Customer Reviews
I Absolutely Loved It!
Wow, I can’t believe Flying At Night is a debut novel! This book is written with rich details, colorful characters, authentic dialogue, and a compelling plot.
Flying At Night is told from three points of view, Fred, a nine-year-old boy with Autism, his mother, Piper, and Lance, Fred’s grandfather. My favorite was experiencing the world through Fred’s eyes. This book is not only about Autism. It’s also about growing up in a toxic environment. Piper’s father, Lance, was a narcissist. He was cruel and abusive. He was also a famous pilot. The pain Lance caused his family is described throughout the book. Everyone had their limit, and after forty years, Lance’s wife had had enough.
Piper suffered from severe depression for years. Her father’s constant verbal and emotional abuse kept her down. Her brother left home as soon as he was able. Piper never found a way to fully free herself from her father. But, in the end, life had a way of righting itself.
My heart broke for Piper when she thought that she might have caused her son’s autism. Piper had taken antidepressants during her pregnancy, out of necessity, not out of negligence. But the guilt she felt because of it, ate at her very soul. It took Piper a while to accept Fred’s diagnosis. She often made excuses for his quirky behavior. Piper didn’t want to see what was so obvious to others.
I loved the professor who took Fred under his wing. He was kind, thoughtful and “got” Fred. This book put me on an emotional rollercoaster. I loved Piper and Fred from the very first page; Piper’s parents, though, not so much.
I read Flying At Night in one sitting. I hated to put the book down for even a moment. The book is touching, beautifully written and a story that I won’t forget for a long time.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing and Edelweiss, for my advanced review copy. I loved it!