Review: Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Story

Is there such a thing as a soul mate; another person who is destined to be with you? For Jerry Newport and Mary Newport, the answer is ‘yes.’ Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Story details the relationship of two Aspies (individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism) who fall in love at first sight. This touching story chronicles their life of misunderstanding and loneliness leading up to and beyond the moment they met, which changed them both forever.

Mozart and the Whale is a compelling tale about the power of love and its ability to overcome everything, even among two individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. But the story it tells is something to which we can all relate. It provides hope to those of us who have been lonely our entire lives. Perhaps we will one day be able to experience true love, when we least expect it.

Jerry is a brilliant mathematical autistic savant who drives a taxi for a living. Mary is a talented musician who has used her gift working in places such as Radio City Music Hall and Hollywood Bowl. The two meet each other in an interesting sequence of events that explains a lot about who they truly were before they found one another.

The story’s narration alternates between Jerry’s and Mary’s voice, telling the story from both sides of the relationship. It’s quite enlightening to hear the differing perspectives and feelings of these two unique individuals. Both characters have quirks that make the story that much more interesting. But these quirks oddly attract each other. For example, Mary becomes oddly fascinated by Jerry’s answering machine message, which mentions the names of his pet parakeets. Jerry and Mary both share the common interest of keeping pet birds.

While the two characters are similar in many ways, Mozart and the Whale illustrates the different set of problems males and females with Asperger’s have with relationships. On one side is Jerry, who has not been in hardly any relationships, during his life. On the other side is Mary, who has been in many relationships, but has been consistently hurt by men who do not like her for who she is. The book effectively portrays these differences in a way that relates Jerry and Mary’s experiences to the general experiences of most males and females with Asperger’s, which, interestingly enough, seem to follow along the same divisional lines.

Telling you too much about the story would ruin the many surprises it contains, but rest assured that this is a must read for anyone who plans on or knows someone who plans on falling in love at some point in his or her life. Even if you’ve seen the movie, the fresh approach of this novel makes the Newports’ story worth a second look.

Order a copy of Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Story.

You won’t be disappointed.

Check back later this week for our review of Daniel Tammet’s Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant