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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Laura James is a British freelancer and journalist who receive an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis as an adult in her late 40's/early 50's. Throughout this memoir, James examines how her brain working differently from neurotypicals affects her daily life from her marriage, her work, her eating habits, her living habits, her socialization habits and friendships, and really every aspect of her life.
While Odd Girl Out does provide excellent insight into a neurodivergent woman's brain, it rambles at times. As to be expected of someone who struggles with identifying her own emotions and the emotions of those around her, it is clinical in tone, and I often was exasperated at her whining and helplessness. Because there is a dearth of information regarding women and ASD compared to men and ASD, this memoir is a good early primary source, but I'm looking forward to more.
Ability diverse and mental health:
- James has Ehlers Danos Syndrome
- James's husband has depression
While Odd Girl Out does provide excellent insight into a neurodivergent woman's brain, it rambles at times. As to be expected of someone who struggles with identifying her own emotions and the emotions of those around her, it is clinical in tone, and I often was exasperated at her whining and helplessness. Because there is a dearth of information regarding women and ASD compared to men and ASD, this memoir is a good early primary source, but I'm looking forward to more.
Ability diverse and mental health:
- James has Ehlers Danos Syndrome
- James's husband has depression
For my full review: http://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/2017/12/review-odd-girl-out-laura-james.html
Laura James was an ordinary woman - married, four children, successful career. But then she was diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. Odd Girl Out is in parts memoir as she looks back on her life and re-examines how her long unnoticed autism has stalked her along the way, but the book is also an attempt to understand better what it means to be on the autistic spectrum. Female memoirs have become increasingly common in recent years but James engages with her subject with a great deal of intelligence and with a clear desire to look not for sympathy but for solutions, not for a cure but for improved consideration. No matter one's relationship to autism, whether or not one is within the spectrum, James' perspective is an interesting one and well worth the heeding.
Laura James was an ordinary woman - married, four children, successful career. But then she was diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. Odd Girl Out is in parts memoir as she looks back on her life and re-examines how her long unnoticed autism has stalked her along the way, but the book is also an attempt to understand better what it means to be on the autistic spectrum. Female memoirs have become increasingly common in recent years but James engages with her subject with a great deal of intelligence and with a clear desire to look not for sympathy but for solutions, not for a cure but for improved consideration. No matter one's relationship to autism, whether or not one is within the spectrum, James' perspective is an interesting one and well worth the heeding.
This is an autism memoir, of a woman with autism. Laura is married and has four children, she gets diagnosed later in life (when her children are teenagers-ish). I quite liked reading this book. I recognised quite a few things (even if some might work a bit differently for me). I of course didn't recognise the motherhood parts, I have no children and I have no intention of ever having any (though I do have animals). I also didn't recognise the parts to do with EDS and POTS, as I don't have these diseases.
I liked that Laura spoke with some experts and quoted them in the book. The story spans a period of Laura's life but sometimes goes back in time and describes an earlier time period. A couple of times I was a bit confused but mostly this format worked for me and it was nice to find out things about Laura in this way.
One small thing I missed, was that nowhere in the text it was mentioned when Laura decided to write the book / memoir. Unless I missed it, of course! (Which is totally possible, concentrating is hard for me and sometimes I do miss things). It's not a big thing or anything, but I was expecting for it to come up some time in the text and it didn't.
Overall I enjoyed learning about Laura and her life and I enjoyed recognising some things from my own life. I am amazed at how Laura managed to deal with all the things she did. I enjoyed this memoir and found it a nice read.
I liked that Laura spoke with some experts and quoted them in the book. The story spans a period of Laura's life but sometimes goes back in time and describes an earlier time period. A couple of times I was a bit confused but mostly this format worked for me and it was nice to find out things about Laura in this way.
One small thing I missed, was that nowhere in the text it was mentioned when Laura decided to write the book / memoir. Unless I missed it, of course! (Which is totally possible, concentrating is hard for me and sometimes I do miss things). It's not a big thing or anything, but I was expecting for it to come up some time in the text and it didn't.
Overall I enjoyed learning about Laura and her life and I enjoyed recognising some things from my own life. I am amazed at how Laura managed to deal with all the things she did. I enjoyed this memoir and found it a nice read.
3.5 stars
Very interesting. It's a good blend of the personal and the science behind it.
Very interesting. It's a good blend of the personal and the science behind it.
Interesting to compared to Katherine May’s book. More on anxiety in this one.
Super interesting look into how someone else processes the world.