Published on 12, July, 2020
So, my latest Autistic obsession seems to be reading the autobiographies of other Autistic people. Anyone else noticed that there has been an explosion of these since the beginning of the pandemic? It was the pandemic that forced a crescendo in the problems that lead me to a very late diagnosis too. Clearly, a lot of us have been busy spending lock down on a voyage of discovery and then writing about it. It's heartening to see so many women are coming to the fore.
To whit, I've just been reading Fern's article in the Your Autism mag...oh there we go again male Dr misdiagnoses woman with BPD ...don't get me started! Seriously though, I'm really looking forward to her book due out in Feb 23 - got my pre-order in and was just feeling the need to give it a plug here.
Meanwhile, I am noticing how many more biographers are not just narrating their personal journey but really taking on the political dimensions of autistic identity. I'd also recommend Clem Bastow's Late Bloomer and Jane McNiece's The Umbrella Picker.
What's your favourite? Anyone else got any recommendations for me I may have missed in my trawls on amazon?
Thank you. Added to my list :-)
I thoroughly recommend this, it made me feel closer to the glow attached to positive traits associated with ASC
www.amazon.co.uk/.../0544705343
Bless you. Yours was much appreciated too. You were honest and that matters. We need all our voices out there. Together we will make a difference. :-)
I feel humbled that my book has received a mention here. Thank you Fern Brady, you don't know how much this means to me :)
You are very welcome. The book is great.
Just added Neuroqueer Heresies to my reading list. Thank you.
I re read it a lot really great.
Definitely do it's a fabulous read :)
(Not autobiography: David Plante's Difficult Women: A Memoir of Three, recently reprinted by NYRB, has a whole section on Greer)
I have put the book Late Bloomer on my ‘to read list.’
Yes, one of the best I've read
Sara did interviews? K. That's got me occupied tonight. Thanks
I've wondered about quite a few people of whom I've read auto/biographies.
Two writers who spring to mind are Virginia Woolf and Daphne Du Maurier.
There are probably loads more writers/whoevers who may well have been 'on the spectrum' when there was no diagnosis.
Good question.
Not that her work was autobiographical really, but I've wondered about Germaine Greer
There didn't seem to be too many books even just 5 years ago, about females. The first one I got was Rudy Simone. I got about 3/4 through until there was a chapter about autism and diet. And from what I remember she was sort of implying you can cure autism with diet. Or something ridiculous. I shut the book and never picked it up again. And she kept using "we" instead of "I" like her experiences represented the collective autism experience. Not recommended!
I've got Cynthia Kim, Sarah Hendrickx and Liane Halliday-Wiley. They are all really good.
I've read and own Late Bloomer How An autism diagnosis changed my life by Clem Bastow. Really interesting to read and a lot of it I could relate to. Highly recommend Dawn. X
Oh thanks. Drama Queen I have read and the lovely Chris' book is on my shelf and next in line. I'll now be hunting the other two and following your link
Indeed, Odd Girl Out was the first I read. Following my assessment, one of the recommendations was to read it...I already had :-)
Lol, yeah it probably does
Yes probably.