Customer Reviews

600 Hours of Edward

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I could have gone on reading about Edward long after his 600 hours ended. Glued, I ignored all else until I finished--and was sorry it was over, although I think the ending is perfect. Endearing characters, the author's unique voice, and the large-hearted plot still haunt me long after the reading is done. Edward is so real, and I know him so well that he affects my life--in a good way, as do his therapist and his neighbors. 600 Hours of Edward "celebrates life's potential" as John Gardner says that true art should. I highly recommend this book.

I really didn't expect to enjoy this book so much. I think I kept putting off reading it because of the title, somewhere in the back of my head thinking it would take me weeks and weeks to read it. However, once I read the first chapter, boom -- I was off and running. I would have plowed through it even faster if not for my kids needing things, sleep, etc.

It's a really great book. Edward is a fascinating character and I cared about him almost right away. Great arc. Well done, Mr. Lancaster.

600 Hours of Edward is a heartwarming, quirky, funny and delightful debut novel by Craig Lancaster. The main character, Edward Staton, is like no character you'll ever meet and this book leaves you wanting more of him. I truly hated to see the story end. The gist of the story can be found in the other reviews listed here, but the true originality of the writing and character development deserve higher praise. Lancaster's novel is exceptional writing from beginning to end and will leave you wanting more.

Sometimes it's GOOD to read a book with no expectations. I had read and re-read so many times, the synopsis of this book and could not figure out if I wanted to read it or not. Even after having it recommended to me by a respected friend, I was not sure if I was going to like it. Not sure if I could get on board with a guy like Edward. After I got my new Kindle, I decided it was time. It was one of my first downloads and still, I put it off. Just not sure about Edward. IF YOU ARE HAVING THIS DILEMMA, it's time to dive in and throw your expectations to the wind. Every story has a set up. This one may confound you at first. You'll ask yourself, how many times [spoiler, spoiler, spoiler]? Hang in there. The reveal is slow and smooth. I didn't read this book in the book-cram manner that a lot of people have written about as my time doesn't allow for it. It took just long enough for me to form somewhat of a relationship with Edward, a guy I visited every day. Don't let him get away. You will be better for knowing him.

Craig Lancaster takes you on a journey through Edward's life over a 600 day period that encompasses struggle and heartache while exemplifying the human spirit at its best. The main character Edward Stanton has a mental illness, but he overcomes the barriers the best of his ability. Finding his way in life is not easy with a father who does not express emotions and a mother who puts on a facade. Even though it is difficult for Edward to understand emotions because he deals in fact, the journey of the 600 days is a reflection of the struggles any family could go through. He desires recognition from his family and wants to be successful and not disappoint them. He works through the anger by writing letters of disagreement. These letters are a way for him to let go of his ill will towards others who he feels has done him wrong. Edward's triumph does not come easy, and he does not overcome all of it. He does though make strides in which we all can relate and hope to achieve in our own lives. The 600 Hours of Edward is a book that leaves the reader reflecting on the possibilities of success even with a multitude of barriers life puts up.

Marking this one as one of my all time favorite reads! This book screams Oprah's Book Club pick, it is that awesome. I hope the author writes a continuation of Edward because I didn't want it to end!
Edward is 39 and he says he is not stupid, he's mentally ill and stupid he is not.
Edward has a daily routine; he wakes in the morning, usually between 7:37 to 7:40 and he'll tell you that he has waken at 7:37 15 times this year, 7:38 221 times and 7:39 22 times because he documents the time when he wakes up every morning. He also reads the newspaper a certain way and he documents the weather from the previous day.
Edward is a loner, he keeps to himself and doesn't talk to people if he doesn't have to but Edward decides after seeing the happy commercials about finding your soul mate to sign up to Montana Personal Connect. He tried EHarmony but they couldn't find anyone for him. This starts his "normal" life to twist and turn in a downhill spiral but the end was very sweet.
I'm not going to say any more because I would spoil it for you. You just have to read it!!

From the back of the book:
"Edward Stanton is a man hurtling headlong toward middle age. His mental illness has led him to be sequestered in his small house in a small city, where he keeps his distance from the outside world and the parents from whom he is largely estranged.
For the most part, Edward sticks to things he can count on... and things he can count. But over the course of 25 days (or 600 hours, as Edward prefers to look at it) several events puncture the walls Edward has built around himself.
In the end, he faces a choice: Open his life to experience and deal with the joys and heartaches that come with it, or remain behind his closed door, a solitary soul."

T. L Hines, author of Faces in the Fire and Waking Lazarus says:
" This is the rare book that stay with you long after you read the last page. With shades of Flowers for Algernon, author Craig Lancaster doesn't just give life to Edward Stanton's world; he gives life to the reader's world" ---- That really says it all, its so true!

I received 600 Hours of Edward as a Christmas present and once I started it I absolutely could not put it down. I consider the mark of a good book if I barely notice time passing as the story comes to life and which is exactly what happened for 600 Hours of Edward. I don't have any experience with Autism but Lancaster's wonderfully written book helped me understand what life is like for some people with Aspergers. Each character is richly layered and complex, with their own prejudices and back stories but you feel compassion and empathy for each and hope that their lives will turn out for the better. You want the best for them and while not everyone can expect a happy ending there is a measure of satisfaction in seeing how each person grows and changes throughout the book leaving the reader feeling hopeful about Edward and Co.'s life after the last page has been read.

It is an absolutely all-around excellent book.

Closing oneself off to the world isn't as bad as it seems. "600 Hours of Edward" tells the story of Edward Stanton, a man facing middle age and his own solitary life. But all barriers eventually crumble, and Edward has only the matter of weeks to decide if he wants to rebuild those walls or see what lies beyond them. "600 Hours of Edward" is a quirky and entertaining novel, highly recommended.

Having a son with autism, I can confidently tell you that this book gives the reader a realistic view of the disorder. It does not glamorize it, yet it doesn't down play the day-to-day struggles faced by individuals with Aspergers and mental illness. The author has done a wonderful job of letting us into Edward's world without judgement or criticism. A must read for parents, teachers, employers and friends of individuals with disabilities.

I have to admit I began reading 600 Hours of Edward with a bit of trepidation. This is fellow Montanan, journalist and friend, Craig Lancaster's first novel and I wanted to like it. But, I wondered, 278 pages about a man with Asperger's syndrome who obsessively-compulsively records the exact minute he awakes each morning? Someone who eats the same thing for lunch every day, drives to the grocery store every Tuesday, and makes only right-hand turns?

Well, I fell in love with Edward.

Rather than a comedic sketch of a person with mental illness, Craig created an endearing character who faces many of the same life questions and obstacles that the rest of us do: A shaky relationship with his father, a not-so-successful on-line dating experience, and an attempt to better himself through counseling. In the end, he faces a choice: Open his life to experience and deal with the joys and heartaches that come with it, or remain behind his closed door, a solitary soul.

This story is humorous and it is touching. It kept me eagerly turning the pages from the first to the last, and it is a story that stays with me long after I finished. I give 600 Hours of Edward Five Stars and highly recommend it.

Heidi M. Thomas, author of Cowgirl Dreams.