3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it! Another great success by this author!, January 14, 2011
I laughed. I cried. I felt the author's every emotion as I devoured this book.
Other reviews complain about the author's spending habits in the book, but I took it as the sacrifices this mother made to make sure her son had every opportunity possible to help him reach his full potential. That money would never stand in the way of making sure her son had what was needed to open possibilities for him.
The book is very well written and easy to lose yourself in. From the very first few sentences, you're instantly transported into the author's world as you travel through her journey to bring her son out of his thick shell so that he may experience life to it's fullest.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Dog Shall Have Her Day, September 22, 2009
This review is from: Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is one of the most heartwarming stories about how pets can change lives for the better. When Wills Holloway was born in 1998, he soon began displaying autistic behavior. He was finally diagnosed at age 3, after a year and a half of early intervention work with a specialist. An extraordiarily bright child, Wills could explain the parts of a Boeing 707; he could give good, detailed information about the trains he loved to watch and things that were part of the world he knew. "Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you." -- Paul McCartney, from "Matha, My Dear."
His sensory issues were quite severe - bubbles in water irritated his skin; he did not like to touch anything sticky and scrupulously avoided messy things and, for years was extremely reluctant to use public bathrooms.
Autism is inherited. There is strong evidence that supports the genetic link. Although not autistic herself, Monica Holloway describes herself as compulsive and lists several of her own behaviors which she identifies as being OCD. Buying multiple pets sounds like it might fit under that same umbrella.
As isolated from her family save for her sister JoAnn and screenwriter husband Michael, Wills is as isolated from peers. He fears loud noises as they are painful to him; does not like crowds and can remain intent on something he is interested in doing. It is clear from his behavior that he has autism; the one thing I didn't like was when Monica lied about her son's not having a condition he clearly had at that time.
However, one pet stands out. Despite the many fish, hamsters, an obese rabbit named Ruby and fiddler crabs, Cowboy comes through for Wills like the Cavalry. A beautiful blond lab, Cowboy Carol Lawrence becomes Wills' passport to social life. Kids want to stop and play with Cowboy and Wills, after having accomplished preschool and kindergarten, is all too happy to talk about his dog with peers. In time, Cowboy would coax Wills into his own bedroom to remain for the night; she would, in her gentle and non-threatening way encourage him to venture outside his comfort zone. She remains affectionate and loyal at all times. "Take a good look around you/Take a good look you're bound to see/That you and me were meant to be for each other ." -- Paul McCartney from "Martha, My Dear"
School continued to be challenging for Wills. He did not like sing-alongs, but learned in time, to tolerate them such as he learned to endure birthday parties. Finding a private school for Wills was done with the zeal and ardor of college applications. Fortunately, Wills is accepted into a private preschool that is not a special needs school. I did not like it when another child's mother accused Monica of not giving Wills enough love at home when he had a meltdown in class. I am tired of such Bettelheiman bull and hoped that it would have long been put to rest.
In the case of the rude comment, it might have been best to clue that mother in by saying in a private aside that Wills had been diagnosed with autism and has made remarkable strides since then. Wills' classroom aide should have been a tip off that he needed more time to adjust and flourish.
Cowboy picks up where others left off. It is her incredible bonding with the boy that made such a huge impact in his life. By the time Wills reached the grades, his posiiton on the autism spectrum had changed radically. He appeared to be more near the Asperger's end of the continuum. Autism/Asperger's, as with ANY continuum will show overlapping behaviors. As Wills progressed, he could often pass for neurotypical. A kind boy named Cole appeared to help keep Wills on the social track. "Martha my dear you have always been my inspiration./Please be good to me Martha my love./ Don't forget me Martha my dear." Paul McCartney, 1968
"Martha My Dear," Paul McCartney's beautiful 1968 classic about his beloved sheepdog could easily be about Wills and Cowboy. "My Love," Paul's beautiful classic to his wife Linda could be the soundtrack of this book as well because Cowboy, in Wills' case held the other key, the key outside of autism.
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