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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Dara writes beautifully about his experiences in nature. He is passionate about the natural world and his role in protecting it and enhancing our relationship with it. This diary also evokes his family life and the wonderful closeness between him, his parents and siblings. It was an eye opener into the challenges faced by autistic teenagers especially in mainstream schooling. Even if you're not especially interested in nature, it's a beautiful, albeit at times challenging, read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
"Friendship has always alluded me - what is it anyway? [...] Kids in my class, they walk around town together, they might play football together or whatever other sport takes their fancy. They don't talk, though. They smirk and snigger at anyone who is different. Unfortunately for me, I'm different. Different from everyone in my class. Different from most people in my school. But at breaktime today I watched the pied wagtails fly in and out of the nest. How could I feel lonely when there are such things? Wildlife is my refuge. [...] Wildlife never disappoints like people can. Nature has a purity to me, unaffected."
I'll admit that I bought this a little on a whim - the subject matter interested me, it looked to be an interesting book and I found Dara's passion for nature bursting through the screen on Countryfile a few weeks back. Put simply - this is one of the best books that I've read this year and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to find it shortlisted for Book of The Year prizes in a few months time - it certainly should be!
The book is a really impressive debut from the young author and activist, taking us through a year of his life through diary entries. While reading I felt incredibly moved and somewhat refreshed in my urge to appreciate the nature around me. We could all do with looking up from our phones a little more. Dara articulates himself in a way that often seems far beyond his years (he's 16 now, and started writing the book at 13) - his passion for the natural world, from the largest of trees to the smallest of insects, shine through and are captured beautifully through his writing.
In a somewhat busy year, Dara's family moves home within Northern Ireland, he starts at a new school, discovers his new physical surroundings and engages with eco activities online and further afield with the likes of Chris Packham - all while leading up to his GCSEs. Somewhat memoir, somewhat enormous appreciation for the natural world, the combination makes for a brilliant read. It's clear just how much Dara's feelings, both good and bad, are interwoven with his surroundings, and his firsthand account of autism I found particularly interesting and illuminating. At several points I found myself strongly relating to his experiences - as Dara wrote at one point, "maybe we're not so different after all."
I love this quote from the start of the book - The McAnulty's seem a powerful bunch... "Not only is our family bound together by blood, we are all autistic - all except Dad - he's the odd one out, and he's also the one we rely on to deconstruct the mysteries of not just the natural world but the human one too. Together, we make for an eccentric and chaotic bunch. We're pretty formidable, apparently."
I'll leave you with this: excited to hand-sell a copy to a customer today by rambling to him about just how brilliant the book is, and I will continue to do this to anybody who will listen...
I'll admit that I bought this a little on a whim - the subject matter interested me, it looked to be an interesting book and I found Dara's passion for nature bursting through the screen on Countryfile a few weeks back. Put simply - this is one of the best books that I've read this year and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to find it shortlisted for Book of The Year prizes in a few months time - it certainly should be!
The book is a really impressive debut from the young author and activist, taking us through a year of his life through diary entries. While reading I felt incredibly moved and somewhat refreshed in my urge to appreciate the nature around me. We could all do with looking up from our phones a little more. Dara articulates himself in a way that often seems far beyond his years (he's 16 now, and started writing the book at 13) - his passion for the natural world, from the largest of trees to the smallest of insects, shine through and are captured beautifully through his writing.
In a somewhat busy year, Dara's family moves home within Northern Ireland, he starts at a new school, discovers his new physical surroundings and engages with eco activities online and further afield with the likes of Chris Packham - all while leading up to his GCSEs. Somewhat memoir, somewhat enormous appreciation for the natural world, the combination makes for a brilliant read. It's clear just how much Dara's feelings, both good and bad, are interwoven with his surroundings, and his firsthand account of autism I found particularly interesting and illuminating. At several points I found myself strongly relating to his experiences - as Dara wrote at one point, "maybe we're not so different after all."
I love this quote from the start of the book - The McAnulty's seem a powerful bunch... "Not only is our family bound together by blood, we are all autistic - all except Dad - he's the odd one out, and he's also the one we rely on to deconstruct the mysteries of not just the natural world but the human one too. Together, we make for an eccentric and chaotic bunch. We're pretty formidable, apparently."
I'll leave you with this: excited to hand-sell a copy to a customer today by rambling to him about just how brilliant the book is, and I will continue to do this to anybody who will listen...
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Absolutely adored this memoir. As a fellow autistic, it was affirming and refreshing to read about someone experiencing some of the same things I do. I laughed, I cried, I yearned. I have always had an interest in nature and conservation, and this book has definitely reignited that flame of passion. I wish Dara all the best in his journey through life
I really don't like the writing style, it feels overwritten in a way that is super distracting. Also I don't think I am actually interested in the subject matter any more.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced