A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: A Novel [Paperback]

Edward is nearly four years old when he begins his slow, painful withdrawal from the world.For those who love him -- his father, Jack; his pregnant mother, Rachel; his younger brother, Matt -- the transformation of this happy, intelligent firstborn into a sleepless, feral stranger is a devastating blow, one that will send shockwaves through every nook and cranny of family life.

A Wild Ride Up the Cupboardsis the story of Edward's descent into autism, and Rachel and Jack's struggle to sustain their marriage under this unanticipated strain. Threaded through the novel, too, is the tale of Rachel's late uncle Mickey, who may have suffered from a similar disorder during a time when society's notions of parenting, pediatrics, and psychology were dramatically different from today's. As Rachel delves into her own family history in search of answers, flashbacks to Mickey's life afford moving insights into both the nature of childhood trauma and the coping mechanisms that families employ. Carefully crafted and deeply entertaining,A Wild Ride Up the Cupboardsreveals the author's remarkable gift for language and offers a striking exploration of domestic life that will resonate with readers everywhere.Ann Baueris an essayist, journalist, and fiction writer whose work has appeared inThe Atlantic MonthlyandSalon.com,among other publications. Currently a visiting professor at Macalester College, she lives with her three children in Minneapolis. Please visit her website,www.annbauer.com.Wild Ride Up the Cupboards: Reading Group Guide
1) Bauer shows us two families, past and present, dealing with kids who don't fit the norm. Discuss how these two families cope, comparing their parenting styles and attitudes. How much is personality and how much is a reflection of the times? How are Mickey and Edward alike? different? What are the similarities and/or differences between Rachel and Jack's ml3&