Book Review: The Mu Rhythm Bluff

As autism awareness increases, so too do the number of autistic characters in novels and movies.  Plot lines that involve some aspect of autism are becoming more and more common.   Since autism is such a complex disorder, it is difficult to do this effectively.  I've read a few novels with autistic characters and many of them make me roll my eyes.  Admittedly, it may be because I look at autism through the prism of my own experience with Naomi, but I still believe it takes a gifted author to include autistic characters that ring true to life.  Jonathan Mitchell brings autism into his novel, the Mu Rhythm  Bluff, in a way that comes across as truly  authentic.  Mitchell himself is autistic and has a profound knowledge of neurology which comes through in his writing.  This is one of the novels that gets it right.

The main character, Drake Dumas, is an autistic man who appears to be going through a midlife crisis in a way that few of us experience.    Mitchell sets the scene of his life in a way that helps the reader really understand the frustration of living with autism. His attempts at romantic relationships never work out, he always feels like he is on the verge of losing his job and his landlord is constantly complaining about his ‘twiddles’ (Drakes form of a stim).  He attends a social group for autistic adults called RASCAL, (Respite and Adult Social Club for Autistics with Loneliness) but even those meetings cause him angst since the neurodiversity advocates rub him the wrong way.    (He is criticized by some for participating in a study for an autism research organization and hoping for a cure.)   Drake also has a problem that is common in this country: He is a gambling addict. After losing huge sums of money, being thrown out of a scrabble club, losing his car, getting fired from his job and moving back in with his parents,  Drake considers suicide.  Before he goes through with it, he decides to go for one last poker blow-out.   To his surprise his last poker binge turns into a boon and Drake wins again and again.  From what seems to be out of nowhere, he acquires an intuition that puts him among the most skilled poker players in the country.   As he gets lucky in cards, he also gets lucky in love.  Over time his poker game peaks and bottoms out, so Drake has to evaluate what gives him a winning edge.   Is it the TMS treatments from the autism study? His mu rhythms? His love life? The story continues with interesting twists and turns involved in the world of poker and includes some dramatic shifts along the way.  I won’t spoil it for you.  Go read it!  (If you are wondering what mu rhythms are he explains that in the book.)  If you don’t know much about poker (as I don’t) you may get lost in the strings of poker play, but this didn't keep me from enjoying the story.

Those who are familiar with the autism world will recognize some of the reference points in the story. ‘Autism Money Talks’ is clearly “Autism Speaks”  Dr. Blalock  comes from the world renowned neurosurgeon ‘Dr. Blaylock’  and I’m really curious if RASCAL is a real group with a different name. My heart really went out to Drake Dumas throughout the story.  When I read about him, I thought of my own daughter.  I often think that I will be happy if Naomi can work and live independently, but this book sharpened the reality that the challenges with autism don’t end with independent living.  Autism is a challenge on every level of the spectrum.   Reading his book is a very entertaining way to deepen one’s understanding of autism.  I think it is a great way of increasing awareness. 

So help Jonathan Mitchell become the best-selling author he deserves to be.  If you have a Kindle the book is a bargain at $2.99.   It comes in paperback too.  Apparently Mitchell has also written a book about growing up within the special education system.  It’s not publicly available, but maybe if his book sales get a boost, he’ll be motivated to release it! I sure hope so.