With the Light

You know how it is, you hear the word Manga and the image that immediately springs to mind is either your dungeons and dragons type thing, or something from the cyber punk genre.I mean, if you look at the dvd titles that are available to us, you have the likes of Ninja Scrolls, Akira, Winds of Amnesia and the great Ghost in the Shell series. All great, and cover cyber punk and ancient Japan. That is what I personally think of when Manga is mentioned.

So when I was asked to review With the Light, I had some preconcieved idea that the book would be about some sort of spiritual awakening.

Er, no. Appropriately, With the light tells the story of a young couple in modern Japan, who have their first child, who is diagnosed with Autism, hence the full title being With the Light: Raising an Autistic child. The story tells of the trials of raising a child with this condition, with the initial lack of support from official departments and so on.

So it was with a heavy heart that I started to read this book.

Initially, I viewed the book as a dig at the Japanese goverment for the inadequate facilities available. But as you read on, once you get past the little rants, the why will noone help us, is my child like this because of me?, parts, this is a very touching story.

There were points when I would feel frustrated for the parents, angered by the aggressive attitude of those who just didn't understand why this child was the way he is. But once you get past that, and it seems to be an ongoing theme throughout the book, there are moments of light, of joy. There were moments when I genuinely had a lump in my throat, caused through the simplest little thing. A touch of a hand, the little boy acknowledging his mothers exsistence. All things that we take for granted, are amazing steps forward for the family in this book.

No, it's not an easy book to read, and I can only imagine more difficult for those who have children of all ages who have been diagnosed with the condition. But it is a book worth reading to high light, even just that small amount, the difficulties faced by those who are bless with an autistic child, because they can be special for all the right reasons.

It's not a happy, happy, joy, joy kind of book. It's thought provoking, and it makes you realise that some people have more to contend with in life.

Or at least that's my two penny worth.....