conuly: (Default)
conuly ([personal profile] conuly) wrote2004-11-25 02:51 pm

So, decided to finally catch up on my autistic-related reading list.

I always feel mildly ignorant when other people bring up book 1 or book 2. Which doesn't happen very often, but I've run out of new books anyway, so.

And I added a bunch of random books to my wishlist! I'm going to get very annoying by Christmas, aren't I?

*sighs*

Okay. I'm sorry.

It's thanksgiving. I need to go eat. And it's raining. I love the rain, so that's no problem. And now I'm being boring. Sorry again. Djusk' a.

[identity profile] rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I've read Speed of Dark. I don't recommend it, especially if you dislike curebies.

[identity profile] ex-chaos-by-699.livejournal.com 2004-11-26 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with that. That book made me really angry.

[identity profile] moggymania.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I second [livejournal.com profile] rainbow_goddess -- all of the reviews I've encountered of it mentioned that it's highly curebie-oriented. Yick.

I also recommend against Stephen Shore's book... It is the *dullest* autiebiography I've ever read, partly because nothing ever happened to him, partly because it's written entirely in tell-not-show style -- it can be summed up in:
I had a nice childhood. I liked to play musical instruments. Then I grew up and went to college, where I played more music. My teachers were nice. I met a nice woman and she loved me. We got married. I taught some autistic kids. They were nice too. I am a happy person despite being autistic, because I have overcome it, and so I try to help children overcome being autistic through music. The end.

It annoyed me enough that I sold my copy!

If you didn't put "Elijah's Cup" on your list (it's too long for me to tell) that's certainly a good one...and if you're into history at all, Uta Frith's "Autism: Explaining The Enigma" is absolutely fascinating. And since you're also getting books for when the kids are older, you might consider the "Asperger Adventure" books by Kathy Hoopman -- not that the kids are on the spectrum, but just to enlighten them early on. ;)

Re: The Speed of Dark

[identity profile] prezzey.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I sent you e-mail on how to get it free of charge. No one should EVER EVER pay for that book. It managed to offend me more than the worst Bettelheim crap, which is definitely an accomplishment of sorts. It starts out fairly nicely, though it annoyed me to no end that most of the protagonist's thoughts were about social interactions. It was very tiring after a while. Heck if I were in his place, I would have raved on and on about my job, something the protagonist obviously likes, not about all those people. (And we never get to find out exactly *what* his job is!) I don't buy it. Anyway, discounting the above, it was fairly good up till a certain point, where it suddenly changed into a book glorifying The Cure and robber capitalism (I don't know if that expression exists in English - it means a certain kind of market economy where you can get away with breaking all laws and regulations in the name of The Holy Profit.). It felt like a really sharp change for me, not in keeping with the rest of the book. *shrug* I've made up my own conspiracy theories about editors and publishers, but after visiting her website, I'm strongly sure that yes, this is the author's own opinion. (Eg. she calls Uta Frith an idiot, then can't even get it right about which theory she proposed. I don't agree with Frith on everything, either, but I know what she wrote, something Moon doesn't, while being extremely judgemental on her writing. Maybe she's the idiot.)

Read it. Rant about it. Just don't spend money on it. Read my offer, or visit the library, or whatever. (Sorry for being repetitive... ceterum censeo, y'know ;] )

I have to leave now but I'll continue my rant later (only after Shabbes, I'm afraid)
ext_12881: DO NOT TAKE (Default)

[identity profile] tsukikage85.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
What does djusk'a mean? What language is it?

[identity profile] rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I've read Speed of Dark. I don't recommend it, especially if you dislike curebies.

[identity profile] ex-chaos-by-699.livejournal.com 2004-11-26 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with that. That book made me really angry.

[identity profile] moggymania.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I second [livejournal.com profile] rainbow_goddess -- all of the reviews I've encountered of it mentioned that it's highly curebie-oriented. Yick.

I also recommend against Stephen Shore's book... It is the *dullest* autiebiography I've ever read, partly because nothing ever happened to him, partly because it's written entirely in tell-not-show style -- it can be summed up in:
I had a nice childhood. I liked to play musical instruments. Then I grew up and went to college, where I played more music. My teachers were nice. I met a nice woman and she loved me. We got married. I taught some autistic kids. They were nice too. I am a happy person despite being autistic, because I have overcome it, and so I try to help children overcome being autistic through music. The end.

It annoyed me enough that I sold my copy!

If you didn't put "Elijah's Cup" on your list (it's too long for me to tell) that's certainly a good one...and if you're into history at all, Uta Frith's "Autism: Explaining The Enigma" is absolutely fascinating. And since you're also getting books for when the kids are older, you might consider the "Asperger Adventure" books by Kathy Hoopman -- not that the kids are on the spectrum, but just to enlighten them early on. ;)

Re: The Speed of Dark

[identity profile] prezzey.livejournal.com 2004-11-25 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I sent you e-mail on how to get it free of charge. No one should EVER EVER pay for that book. It managed to offend me more than the worst Bettelheim crap, which is definitely an accomplishment of sorts. It starts out fairly nicely, though it annoyed me to no end that most of the protagonist's thoughts were about social interactions. It was very tiring after a while. Heck if I were in his place, I would have raved on and on about my job, something the protagonist obviously likes, not about all those people. (And we never get to find out exactly *what* his job is!) I don't buy it. Anyway, discounting the above, it was fairly good up till a certain point, where it suddenly changed into a book glorifying The Cure and robber capitalism (I don't know if that expression exists in English - it means a certain kind of market economy where you can get away with breaking all laws and regulations in the name of The Holy Profit.). It felt like a really sharp change for me, not in keeping with the rest of the book. *shrug* I've made up my own conspiracy theories about editors and publishers, but after visiting her website, I'm strongly sure that yes, this is the author's own opinion. (Eg. she calls Uta Frith an idiot, then can't even get it right about which theory she proposed. I don't agree with Frith on everything, either, but I know what she wrote, something Moon doesn't, while being extremely judgemental on her writing. Maybe she's the idiot.)

Read it. Rant about it. Just don't spend money on it. Read my offer, or visit the library, or whatever. (Sorry for being repetitive... ceterum censeo, y'know ;] )

I have to leave now but I'll continue my rant later (only after Shabbes, I'm afraid)
ext_12881: DO NOT TAKE (Default)

[identity profile] tsukikage85.livejournal.com 2004-12-02 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
What does djusk'a mean? What language is it?