At 45, Laura James was diagnosed with autism, a diagnosis she has found to be the key to understanding her past struggles, present issues, and process of finding her bearing in the world. Lucinda Clare narrates James's well-composed combination of memoir and guide for both neurotypical and high-functioning autistic listeners. Her pace is well suited the audiobook’s unfolding discoveries, reports of rough patches, and ongoing insights. Clare maintains James’s English accent throughout most of the passages, even when the author is quoting others she's consulted, both specialists and other women with adult-diagnosed autism. An exception to the English accent is the fine local lilt given to a Scottish interviewee. A bonus for those interested in adult-diagnosed autism is James's several plaudits for the audiobook medium. F.M.R.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Odd Girl Out: My Extraordinary Autistic Life
Narrated by Lucinda Clare
Laura JamesUnabridged — 8 hours, 43 minutes
Odd Girl Out: My Extraordinary Autistic Life
Narrated by Lucinda Clare
Laura JamesUnabridged — 8 hours, 43 minutes
Audiobook (Digital)
Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
Already Subscribed?
Sign in to Your BN.com Account
Related collections and offers
FREE
with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription
Overview
From childhood, Laura James knew she was different. She struggled to cope in a world that often made no sense to her, as though her brain had its own operating system. It wasn't until she reached her forties that she found out why: Suddenly and surprisingly, she was diagnosed with autism.
With a touching and searing honesty, Laura challenges everything we think we know about what it means to be autistic. Married with four children and a successful journalist, Laura examines the ways in which autism has shaped her career, her approach to motherhood, and her closest relationships. Laura's upbeat, witty writing offers new insight into the day-to-day struggles of living with autism, as her extreme attention to sensory detail -- a common aspect of her autism -- is fascinating to observe through her eyes.
As Laura grapples with defining her own identity, she also looks at the unique benefits neurodiversity can bring. Lyrical and lush, Odd Girl Out shows how being different doesn't mean being less, and proves that it is never too late for any of us to find our rightful place in the world.
Editorial Reviews
"Profound and essential. Laura James generously allows us to envison the world through her eyes, as the mundane is infused with a synesthetic beauty. A testament to the aspects of autism that are so rarely appreciated."
—John Elder Robison, author of the New York Times bestseller Look Me in the Eye
"Too often a woman's success is pegged to the 'posse' with whom she surrounds herself. Laura James, relying on her independent spirit and the differences that set her apart, becomes an accomplished writer and starts a communications agency while raising four children. Odd Girl Out offers a choice of freedom over conformity through the understanding and embracing of one's disabilities."
—Eileen Cronin, author of Mermaid: A Memoir of Resilience
"A masterpiece about autism and a vivid narrative about human frailty and strength."
—Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome Safety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life
"There are so many myths about what it means to be autistic and Laura tells her story beautifully and truthfully. You will live every moment with her, feel her pain and want to right the wrongs. Some books make a big difference, this is one of them. It should be read by everyone."
—Natasha Harding, The Sun
"An important, touching and incredibly honest book with a wry sense of humor, which challenges the preconceived ideas people have about autistic life."
—Rachael Lucas, author of Sealed With a Kiss and The State of Grace
"Courageous and graceful...Readers will walk away with a new understanding of how autism actually functions."
—Booklist
"Witty and illuminating, James' book offers an intimate look into the mind and heart of an autistic woman who learns to understand her difference not as brokenness but as the thing that makes her unique. A candid and unexpectedly moving memoir of identity and psychological upheaval."
—Kirkus
"Honest and revealing...James demonstrates the complexity of autism, with its strengths as well as weaknesses."
—Library Journal
"James's story, told in an affecting, honest way, is at once intensely personal and extremely relatable... [it] reminds us to have compassion for those who defy our definition of normal, whether or not they have a label."
—New York Journal of Books
At 45, Laura James was diagnosed with autism, a diagnosis she has found to be the key to understanding her past struggles, present issues, and process of finding her bearing in the world. Lucinda Clare narrates James's well-composed combination of memoir and guide for both neurotypical and high-functioning autistic listeners. Her pace is well suited the audiobook’s unfolding discoveries, reports of rough patches, and ongoing insights. Clare maintains James’s English accent throughout most of the passages, even when the author is quoting others she's consulted, both specialists and other women with adult-diagnosed autism. An exception to the English accent is the fine local lilt given to a Scottish interviewee. A bonus for those interested in adult-diagnosed autism is James's several plaudits for the audiobook medium. F.M.R.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
2018-01-08
A British journalist reflects on living with autism.From childhood, James knew that she behaved and thought differently from other youngsters. Hyperfocused and sensitive to external stimuli, she tried to fit in by copying the behavior of neurotypical girls her age. She also "create[d] imaginary worlds in my head" that suited her need for predictability, logic, space, and calm. Yet James would be in her mid-40s before a psychiatrist officially diagnosed her with autism. Until then, she "genuinely believed most of my problems stemmed from the fact that I was adopted as an infant." Told from the point of view of a mature adult looking back on and piecing together fragments of her earlier life, the introspective book intersperses the narrative of her present life as a married career woman and mother with reflections and stories about key moments from her past life. Success came only after overcoming great personal difficulties. Lacking in self-confidence, unable to secure a place in college, and fighting to "pass" for normal, James began adulthood with a disastrous marriage. Instead of making her feel complete, that union—coupled with early motherhood—left her feeling terrified and confused. Doctors misdiagnosed James and gave her medication that caused addiction and forced her into rehab. Her second, happy marriage was not without issues rooted in James' need for constant communication. Motherhood also brought its own challenges, including coping with an inability to deal with her children's negative emotions. At the same time, autism also contributed to the author's success in journalism. Her profession gave James structure and the leeway to ask "any question that pop[ped] into my head and…[not be] seen as impolite." Witty and illuminating, James' book offers an intimate look into the mind and heart of an autistic woman who learns to understand her difference not as brokenness but as the thing that makes her unique.A candid and unexpectedly moving memoir of identity and psychological upheaval.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170120451 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Hachette Audio |
| Publication date: | 03/27/2018 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
Videos
