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bubbleybrain 's review for:
Sounds of Yesterday
by Jacob Hubbard
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A pining contemporary romance shrouded with the difficulties of mental health and neurodivergence. Sounds of Yesterday is a different and daring read, since its 1st person perspective is attached to Rob, who has level 1/high functioning autism spectrum disorder. In the writing of this story, it's clearly an own voices narrative as I can't imagine anyone who is neurotypical being able to pull the depth of disassociation and emotional turmoil that comes with being different yet trying to rationalize the romantic interludes of those around them.
In terms of the above, the story is both fantastic and fascinating, and is an enlightening read. Rob stumbles through relationships, through the average banality of it all, looking for triggers when there are none and missing the red flags when slapped in the face. Its detriment, however, is that it is in a journal format that runs much longer than necessary. Rather that go from crisis to crisis, it lingers on micro aggressions and tiny wins that drag the plot, bogged down in disassociative episodes that while serve the narrative become too much when viewed in entirety. While some might criticize the ending as middling and maybe without needed closure, this does speak as a contemporary novel first and romance second, which makes it true to its genre.
The book is well-written with impeccable clarity and skillful editing, and possibly one of the better examples of autism in its rawness while navigating everything from school, work, family, and relationships. If there is someone in your life you don't understand, read this, you'll gain some empathy.
In terms of the above, the story is both fantastic and fascinating, and is an enlightening read. Rob stumbles through relationships, through the average banality of it all, looking for triggers when there are none and missing the red flags when slapped in the face. Its detriment, however, is that it is in a journal format that runs much longer than necessary. Rather that go from crisis to crisis, it lingers on micro aggressions and tiny wins that drag the plot, bogged down in disassociative episodes that while serve the narrative become too much when viewed in entirety. While some might criticize the ending as middling and maybe without needed closure, this does speak as a contemporary novel first and romance second, which makes it true to its genre.
The book is well-written with impeccable clarity and skillful editing, and possibly one of the better examples of autism in its rawness while navigating everything from school, work, family, and relationships. If there is someone in your life you don't understand, read this, you'll gain some empathy.