Compilation: A Dozen Books on Autism/Asperger's

April is Autism Awareness Month. If you are seeking general informative books on autism, this isn't the post for you. But, if you enjoy diving into fictional and non-fictional stories of individuals with autism (mostly Asperger Syndrome), you might find some titles of interest in this post. The first ten (in order, first read to last read) tell of characters or individuals with autism:

1. Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robison - memoir
2. The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to be a Better Husband by David Finch - memoir
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon - novel
4. The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon (author of Riding the Bus With My Sister) - novel
5. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - novel
6. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion - novel
7. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin - middle grade novel
8. Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb - novel
9. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd - middle grade novel
10. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth - novel

My final two Autism/Asperger's recommendations are compilation books. I cannot recommend the first of the two highly enough. It is an outstanding read, even if it only briefly mentions music therapy for those with autism (in section 3). The second of the two is a quirky collection of creatives and thinkers. It explores the idea that Einstein may have had Asperger's.

1. Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks - non-fiction
2. Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder by Claudia Kalb - non-fiction

Book Review: Home Detox

I should admit from the outset that I only skimmed Home Detox by Daniella Chace. The horror was too great to go in-depth with these terrifying discussions. The amount of toxicity in our homes is staggering. How can we even still be alive? I joke, but it is only because I lack the will-power, the financial investment, or the patience to overhaul our whole living spaces to follow these tips and pointers. It was an exhausting skim. 

For example, the top kitchen toxins include: aluminum, coffee pods (guilty), plastic cutting boards (guilty), food packaging, food storage containers, teflon and nonstick cookware (guilty), plastic utensils (I should just put myself in the dock because I'm guilty of all of them). Then there's my memory foam in the bedroom (the thing that saved me from my uncomfortable mattress and made sleep possible again). Is it giving me illness and allergic reactions? Yikes! 

I checked this book out from the library because I battle a chronic need to clear my throat (for four or five years now). Despite doctor visits and an ultrasound on my throat, we found no answers. Now, my husband is experiencing the same thing, and the boys occasionally struggle, too. With legions of toxins, which do I blame? I'd love to have someone come in and overhaul our living areas. Yet, I think I'm going to turn the book back in and stick my head in the sand (or should I say plastic).

Since this book released on January 31, 2023, it cannot give any recommendations for our more current and pressing dilemma. Days later, on February 3, 2023, 38 train cars carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The powers that be decided the best action would be to burn off the chemicals involved. An accident? In November 2022, Netflix released a movie called White Noise, with a story line about a train derailment of toxic chemicals in an Ohio town. In January 2023, the CDC released an updated toxicology report for vinyl chloride, increasing the amounts of acceptable exposure. And now, the powers that be also transported the toxic waste from that derailment to Roachdale, Indiana, a town less than 25 miles from us. This waste material, now deemed "safe" by "authorities" is deep in the ground. Will it contaminate water tables that feed into our well? Who can say? This toxicity concerns me far more than the plastic wrap on my counter or the memory foam in my bedroom.

Book Review: Maureen - Highly Recommend

In 2014, I read a book I fell head over heels in love with, called The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It tells the story of an older man who receives a postcard from an old friend, Queenie, explaining that she is in hospice in the uppermost part of England. Harold writes a condolence letter and heads off to the postbox. Yet it seems so inconsequential, just popping a note in the mail in response to her weighty missive. He spontaneously commits to walk to her, an over 600-mile trek, and begs her to wait. Of course, his journey is arduous, but it is the emotional path of the journey that needles its way into the reader's heart. Since I listened to the book in audio form, and have visited many places in England, it felt like I was on the journey alongside Harold. Though I cannot remember all the details of the story, its emotional resonance lingers still.

When Harold's story took the world by storm, a reader approached the author, Rachel Joyce, and told her it was really going to be a triptych (or 3 stories). Sure enough, a year later, I read Queenie's side of the story in the book, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey. While I didn't rave about that book, as I did for Harold's perspective, it was comforting to return to familiar and beloved characters. As soon as I saw my library had Maureen, I knew I wanted to pick up those old threads, even though I've been away for almost a decade.

Maureen's tale is like the other two. Harold's trip helps him process the past. Queenie's wait reconciles her to her fate. So, Maureen goes on a journey to visit Queenie's garden. Unsure what she will find, but knowing Queenie has set up a tribute to her husband and son, Maureen feels compelled to see it for herself.

Maureen isn't like Harold. She doesn't like people. With no desire to walk a lengthy journey, she goes by car, and even then, begrudges many of the moments of intersection with others. Maureen is a caustic and prickly character. But her hurts and sorrows run as deep as anyone else's and the path to healing, like Harold's journey, is healing for the reader, as well. 

I adored this novel. Perhaps not as much as Harold's. He is easy to like; Maureen is not. But, again, Joyce creates such emotional pull that her story will surely touch you. At 132 pages, it is a brisk and meaningful read. Joyce's ability to hone in on the depth and intimacy of a character is a testament to her craft. Each book can stand on its own, but if you're new to this author, I suggest starting with Harold's pilgrimage. Don't miss the sections at the end (the author's interview with her character and a set of book club questions). I may just have to read all three books over again, because the experience is worth a repeat performance.

Mid-month Mention #2: Ben's Ranch Barn Bash Fundraiser

I've been fortunate in my life to have benefited from some excellent counseling. Not just the kind where a counselor sits and listens and jots notes on a notepad, expecting the mere act of vomiting forth all your pain to somehow alleviate your mental and emotional anguish. No, my life changed by some grace-based, in-your-face counseling. The kind where you're called on the carpet for your dysfunction and have to look it square in the eye, perhaps for the first time in your life.

But when my son was full of anxiety and seeking all the wrong answers to overwhelming questions, our stab at counseling came up empty. Sometimes traditional therapy and counseling can't make a dent in a problem. For me, I felt a gentle internal nudge to seek something for him in nature and with animals. So, on the heels of our failed counseling attempts, I discovered Ben's Ranch, a non-profit organization in the Indianapolis area that recognizes the powerful elixir available to young people when they connect with nature and animals by working on a farm or ranch. Time with animals is healing. Hard work on a farm is enriching and character-building. My son's internship with Ben's Ranch bore out tangible improvements.

He wasn't riding the horses or even brushing them down, but his work clearing their stalls and replenishing water and hay nurtured a new self-confidence. A sense of accomplishment. He recognized visible results from his efforts. It was hard, outdoor work and required the discipline of heading to the ranch for two hours every weekday morning to muck out the stalls.

Our benefits surpassed individual maturity. Our son was 16 and still learning to drive, so I had to accompany him. I relished those morning commutes because, while he was driving, he was a captive audience. We had many in-depth conversations we might not have snatched were it not for those morning trips to a ranch in a town twenty minutes away. Because of the distance, it seemed a waste of time and gas for me to return home, so instead I brought along my lap-top and began working on a collection of poems about the experience of parenting a struggling teen. When your teen is in a rough patch, the road is bumpy for you, too.

Ben's Ranch is a relatively new non-profit organization. They have a fundraiser coming up and I wanted to highlight many of the ways you and I can partner with them to bring these healing opportunities to anguished teens. Here is the information on their flyer:

My husband and I have purchased tickets to the Barn Bash and plan to attend. In fact, I'll be there selling my book, with part of the proceeds going to support their foundation. It's an opportunity to visit Connor Prairie, enjoy yard games, and maybe even fit in a hot air balloon ride. 

If you live in the Indianapolis area and are interested in finding a helpful non-profit organization to support, consider following this link to the Ben's Ranch website events page.

You don't have to commit to the whole afternoon or dinner. You might wish to simply purchase tickets to the 4 p.m. panel discussion on "Teen Mental Health and Our Schools." Panel participants are highlighted on the above linked events page. Even if you can't attend the Barn Bash, consider making a donation or check out the items up for bid in their silent auction. The silent auction is available for on-line bidders, as well, at this link. The bidding opens 4/24/23 and closes at 5:30 p.m. on 4/30/23. You don't have to attend or live in Indianapolis in order to bid, as they will ship items to winners outside the area. My book is the only Buy-it-Now item available. Why not support this helpful organization?

Mid-month Mention: Wheaton College Summer Institute

This week I received an e-mail about an opportunity I desperately wish I could snag. Wheaton College, my alma mater, wrote to inform alumni of their Wheaton College Summer Institute for high school students. Yes, I have a high school student who fits the requirements (will enter junior year with a strong academic record). No, I do not have a high school student willing to participate. I mentioned to Sean that Ivy Tech was offering free summer school courses to high school students this summer. His response? "Why would I want to take summer school? Besides, I plan on getting a job." Well, there's that. Plus, I cannot imagine Sean heading off for two weeks to a camp experience, even if it would prepare him for the college application process. He always hated our annual Bible camp excursions. But this opportunity sounds like something I wish I could give my child.

The Wheaton College Summer Institute offers a two-week campus stay from June 18th through July 1st, 2023. Students not only experience living in the dorms and eating in the cafeteria, developing friendships with other college-bound teens, but also take one college course for credit. There are 16 courses to choose from and I see several that appeal to me (say Shakespearience, Otherworlds of Imagination in C. S. Lewis, The Brain: A Neuroscience Primer, or The Makings of Middle Earth). Besides earning college credit, they receive hints and strategies for college entrance applications and essays. Plus, if you complete the program, you gain an expedited Wheaton College application (with fee waiver) and the chance to earn a renewable $500 scholarship.

My time at Wheaton was wonderful and full of many happy memories. It was a chance to make life-long friendships and sit under excellent professors who taught fascinating courses. I enjoyed the Wheaton-in-England program and the rare opportunity to work in The Marion E. Wade Center, transcribing C. S. Lewis' correspondence. Although it was expensive, I received outstanding financial aid and worked three jobs to keep myself afloat. I could think of nothing better than to send my child off to experience the same. Perhaps you have a teen contemplating a Christian college journey. Look into the Wheaton College Summer Institute today!

Pilgrim's Progress in Many Forms

In February, a lovely friend of mine contacted me to ask if I would write a four-part play for her church's Vacation Bible School. She was reading Pilgrim's Progress for the first time with her sons and the story moved her. She wondered if I could work the book into a children's play with appeal for kids from ages 5 to 12. This sent me on a hunt for the beautiful children's version I had purchased in England during my time living there. (Side note: My husband is desperate for me to lean down our extensive collection of children's books, since our boys are now teens and young adults. This book reminds me why I hang on.)

My edition was retold by Jean Watson and published through Scripture Union in England in 1980. It is a beautiful book. The illustrations by Peter Wane are described as "warm, energetic drawings [that] capture the unique spirit of Bunyan's world, where dragons and demons mix with very human heroes and down-to-earth villains." The sketches are stirring and accompany the story well. After reviewing (and working from) several children's versions of Bunyan's esteemed book, I think this one is my favorite. Here is an example of one of the drawings within the book:

My second favorite children's version is also adapted by Jean Watson. It is called The Family Pilgrim's Progress and was also published in England by Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., in 2007. What I appreciated most about this version was the inclusion of accompanying scripture passages. I noticed this, too, in the one adult version by Bunyan that I checked out on my library's Hoopla. This is so helpful, because it parallels the story line to truths from God's Word. Clearly, John Bunyan was working from a solid knowledge of the Bible.

My third favorite was a bit of a surprise to me. One of my favorite middle grade authors is Gary D. Schmidt. He is the author of The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Orbiting Jupiter, and a major favorite, Trouble. I had no idea he had written a retelling of Pilgrim's Progress. His version was published by Eerdmann's Books for Young Readers in 2008. I was dismayed when my library said the book was due back with no renewals available because someone else wanted to read it. I milked the last 3 days with that book for all they were worth.

I consulted three other versions: A 2-volume Pilgrim's Progress Comic version published by Kingstone Comics. This would hold more appeal for young people seeking a heightened visual re-telling but, given some of the content, might be more appropriate for teens than children. Then there was Dan Larsen's retelling for Illustrated Christian Classics, published by Barbour and Company, Inc., in 1992. Finally, I briefly consulted Helen L. Taylor's Little Pilgrim's Progress, which claims over half a million sold, yet it was my least favorite version. I think my chief complaint is portraying Christian as a "little pilgrim." I suppose the constant identifier of "little Christian" didn't sit well with me. Not that this is a bad re-telling. I simply prefer the others over this one.

Since my library had an animated movie version, I figured I should research that, as well. Wow! If I had sat down with my young children, I might have turned this off. It is incredibly dark and the portrayal of evil, with grunts and screeches, and guttural sound effects, is almost terrifying. I understand that this is a story of good versus evil. I know that evil is always attempting to lure Christian off the path. Yet, in attempting to maintain children's attention, I think the embellishment of evil in the tale was extreme.

I was thrilled with the opportunity to work on a writing project again (my focus has been so absorbed with marketing my book that I haven't written regularly, apart from my daily morning pages). Plus, it was exciting to draw so many spiritual applications through re-telling Bunyan's splendid story. I guess my enthusiasm for these applications took hold because without prompting, I also worked up supplemental materials (curriculum they could use with the play presentation, scripture memory verses and games, and even a Walk-Through-the-Journey exercise to help kids cement the main ideas into a logical pattern with phrases and actions - similar to the Walk-Through-the-Bible program).

I came across one other version I would have loved to review. My sister texted to ask if I had seen the children's Pilgrim's Progress book that our friend, Sonja, sent with her grandchild as their family moves to do missionary work in Albania. It looked marvelous! Thankfully, I had enough options to work with to complete the task. The press for completion was so intense that I often woke from a dream about the play (that, and dreams of praying, since I've been laser-focused on that, as well).

Book Review: Paths of Glory - Highly Recommend

I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Archer's writing. Known for his supreme skill for the surprise ending, the unexpected twist, he always delivers an engrossing and entertaining tale. Since I was already heading to a partner library that is farther away (to return Indiana Winter to their Indiana Heritage Room), I took a moment to scan their audio book selections. I'm so glad I landed on this excellent Archer book on a Mt. Everest climber.

George Lee Mallory had a dream. He hoped to one day reach the summit of Mt. Everest. From an early age, he climbed whatever stood in front of him. I cannot imagine the terror it must have been to mother a child with such a propensity. His story is colorful and moving. Jeffrey Archer captures not only the height of this man's imagination and drive but also the depth of his love for two ladies (one being a mountain - wink).

Swept into this story, I eagerly awaited time for my morning walk and moments snagged while waiting for Sean (something I no longer have to do, now that he has his driver's license). When the last sentences were done, I let the car CD player start the final CD all over again, wanting to hear those last bits on repeat. It was clean (maybe one minor scene - can't remember), entrancing, and unforgettable. I highly recommend this Jeffrey Archer tale. And if you're more of a series person, I also recommend his Clifton Chronicles series. His pacing is perfect. Each story holds the reader spell-bound.  

Book Review: Spare

Yes, I gave in to the hype. Currently at #1 for Audible books and #1 for British biography, it seems like everyone wants to get their hands on this book. My natural curiosity (would he trash his family?) kicked in. It was funny. My middle son saw the audiobook case and said, sneering, "You're listening to that? Seriously. Have you heard the snippets they're playing?" He then played me a horrifying bit that Prince Harry shares about his private parts. Oh, brother! I could have done without that bit! Do they think people want to hear stuff like that? Thankfully, most of the book was clean.

My heart grieves for Prince Harry and also for his family (both his wife and children, and his father and brother). Like everyone, I remember the images of Harry and William walking behind their mother's coffin. Difficult for any pre-teen, but Harry wasn't just any pre-teen. He was a royal pre-teen in the middle of embroiled relational discord from adulterous parents. He watched the press hound his beautiful, beloved mother, and he knew it was during pursuit that she met her demise. Well, he knew, but part of his childlike soul still wondered whether she had fabricated the incident so she could just disappear and start up a life elsewhere.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the author proclaims he wants the press to cease and desist. On the other, he draws attention by saying, "I don't want all this attention." Yet, I understand he feels that the truth needs to be published since the tabloids and general press delight in producing enough lies to keep the gaping masses purchasing their rags. They wronged him, and he hopes that by telling "his side" the wrongs will go away. Sadly, not likely.

I understand his need to withdraw from the pressures of royalty. His desire to protect his small family is honorable. If entering with an open mind, the book is certain to nurture sympathy. All he wants is to live a normal life without being smeared and criticized by the masses who consume tid-bits written and photos taken to generate profit. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be hounded and chased, drawn and quartered, pinned on a specimen board for entertainment.

The void left by his mother led to problems (including drugs - the drug use in this book is staggering). What a different world it might have been for him, if someone had protected and championed this young man when his mother died. You would think that family would step up and meet those needs. You would think. Alas, not so for Harry. Yet, in his desire to proclaim the truth, he ended up smearing his family. His portrayal, while it may have been truth, will not heal what is broken.

I can only go back to my response to James Patterson's book on Diana and her boys. When we elevate mere humans to god-like worship, they will disappoint us. Sin and dysfunction cause problems in every family. Salvation through Christ's blood is the only cure. But will they ever hear and heed the gospel? I doubt it. The mess will proliferate and expand. Now that Harry has put his side out there, reconciliation will be hard-won.

Content Caution: 📒 - language, drug use