A Different Kettle of Fish

A Different Kettle of Fish

A Day in the Life of a Physics Student With Autism

by Michael Barton





This book really strikes a chord with me . I am autistic myself and can struggle with idiom sometimes , and it usually leads to confusion. The cover of this book sums it all up - to my autistic mind I see a drawing of two kettles of fish and wonder why there is such a thing . Then I realise it is there to illustrate an idiom that I don't quite understand . However - to a neurotypical mind , they would probably look at the illustration and see the allusion straight away and be amused at the joke that would take me some time to get .


This is a brilliant book which uses situations and illustrations to highlight occurrences that tend to confuse the autistic mind , and by so doing enables neurotypicals to understand what it can be like to be autistic . Often people get frustrated when I don't understand typical everyday situations , but I'm living in a world that constantly throws confusion at me that I struggle to get by . At times , reading the book I would think "and...?" as I was reading from an autistic perspective and the author was just highlighting the kind of things that happen to me all the time , but when I  try to see how a neurotypical would look at that situation , then I fully understand the point that he is trying to convey.


This is a great book , but one that I would strongly advise for neurotypical people to understand the autistic mind and just what it can be like to have autism .


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Haunted Stuff

Haunted Stuff

by Stacey Graham

The thing that really drew me into this book was the cool cover , and because I had recently watched the film 'The Conjuring' , in which a possessed doll features heavily . The book is basically a study of objects which are purportedly 'possessed' , and gives us tales of dolls with lives of their own and even gives us help in buying and collecting them.


I'll not spoil any of the tales for you by telling you the stories now , but this book makes for an interesting and at times unsettling read . After a few pages you will be asking yourself questions like - did that teddy bear just move ? I could have sworn that doll was sitting on the living room shelf and not staring away at me in my bedroom . Also , you will think twice about that bargain you have found in the antiques shop or flea market.


It is great to see a book like this on the market , as living objects are guaranteed to raise the creepy stakes and the stories in the book leave you feeling decidedly uneasy .


Brilliant stuff , and this book is due to be published on August 8th.


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Clairvoyance For Beginners

Clairvoyance For Beginners

by Alexandra Chauran

We normally think of clairvoyance , mediumship and psychic ability as something which other people have an innate ability for , but this book attempts to show us that we can all be clairvoyant albeit with a little practice and determination .


Whilst I cannot guarantee that you will be a fully-fledged clairvoyant or psychic after reading this book's contents , the book definitely provides you with a solid foundation on which to build . Breathing and visualisation exercises are the mainstay of the book , and help you to become more relaxed and attuned to your environment , thereby becoming more sensitive to what is going on . You learn the importance of keeping a dream diary and how to regularly check it to look for patterns which you can interpret .


This is a most enjoyable little book and even if you do not gain any psychic ability by the end of it , you will definitely develop a greater sense of inner peace and relaxation.


This book is due for release on July 8th.


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Teach Yourself : Get Started In Creative Writing

by Stephen May , Jodie Daber

Personally I find it easier to communicate in writing than I can verbally , that is one part of me being autistic I suppose , and so I am always trying to work at improving the quality of my writing as much as I can .


This is a great little book , as from the very beginning it inspires you to get out your pen and a notepad and start putting your ideas down . For me  , one of the best things about the book is that it will have a paragraph which gets you thinking and follows it up a with a creative writing exercise so you can get your ideas down . I really liked the chapter on poetry , and after the guidance in the book I managed to put together a half decent sonnet in about an hour - something I never considered doing before reading this book . It certainly brought out the creative side in me.


This is a new edition of the book , but has not changed radically since the earlier editions - the main  difference I noted was the icons used throughout the book , but this is a must read for anybody who is interested in creative writing or has a book hidden in them somewhere that needs to be unleashed.


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Bang In The Middle

A Journey To The Heart of the Midlands

by Robert Shore





I  am a Scotsman myself , but lived for several years in Staffordshire and the West Midlands . My wife is a proud Brummie and my eldest daughter was born in Wolverhampton , I went to university there and spent some of the best years of my life in the Midlands , so this book was always going to be of interest to me .


Robert Shore sets off around on a journey of the Midlands to discover what it means to be a Midlander in the 21st century , and the result is highly amusing and entertaining . Personally I preferred the second half of the book as in that part he travels around all of the places I know so well . Along the way , he looks at the importance of the Midlands in areas as diverse as the world of heavy metal (rock luminaries such as Ozzy Osbourne , Slash and Lemmy are all proud Midlanders) and curry , in which he samples the delicacies of Birmingham's 'curry mile'.


A travel writer along the likes of Bill Bryson , this is a cracker of a little book :)


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The Elephant In the ADHD Room

The Elephant in the ADHD Room

Beating Boredom as the Secret to Managing ADHD

by Letitia Sweitzer





We all got bored sometimes , it is a part of human nature , and when we do we tend to find something else to do or think about , and in doing so the boredom dissipates and is hopefully soon forgotten about . For people with ADHD , boredom is a far more frequent occurrence and can be more unbearable , not to mention less easy to overcome.


Can ADHD be managed by tackling boredom and effectively managing it in people with ADHD ? This is the idea behind this book by Letitia Sweitzer , an ADHD coach for adults and young people ,  trained by the Edge Foundation . The book begins by introducing us to the background of ADHD and assesses the diagnostic criteria , and in Part 2 of the book we see strategies to foster interests to counter boredom in a variety of age groups from infants and toddlers through to adulthood.


This is a very interesting read , and although it does not claim to be a cure or solution for ADHD , you can use the examples in the strategies and case histories in order to help alleviate the symptoms of ADHD by challenging boredom . A recommended read for anyone with an interest in this area.


This book is due for release on June 21st.


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Saving Vegetable Seeds

Harvest , Clean , Store and Plant Seeds From Your Garden.

by Fern Marshall Bradley

I have two allotment plots , and above the annual rental , the biggest cost for me is getting good quality seed . In the past I have tried to save seeds wherever I could , but to be honest , I was never really sure what I was doing and so the results were hit and miss to say the least.


This is a great little book for anyone who is interested in saving vegetable seeds , and sets out all the steps to do so in an easy to follow manner . There is a basic introduction to pollination and such like , and then we are advised at how to harvest seeds and clean them and look after them  prior to sowing again.


To be released on June 25th by Storey Publishing , this is an essential read for all vegetable gardeners.


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Murder on Thames

Murder on Thames

Cherringham : A Cosy Crime Series

by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

The premise of this book is bizarre , to say the least -Jack Brennan an ex NYPD homicide detective decides to move to the sleepy hamlet of  Cherringham in the English Cotswolds to get away from it all after the death of his wife . Not long after arriving , he is caught up in the investigation of the death of local woman Sammi Jackson . He , along with Sammi's friend Sarah , think that this was murder , but the local police have different ideas . Thus begins their private investigation into Sammi's death. And fun it is too.


Think Midsummer Murders meets NYPD Blue , and you're starting to get a feel for the book . This title is the first to be released in a series of 12 self-contained books in the Cosy Crime Series by Bastei Entertainment , all of which will feature the semi amateur detective duo of Jack and Sarah , and if this title is anything to go by , then I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of them being released.


This was a very enjoyable book to read and one which I was able to read in one sitting - it took less than two hours to read , but left me as satisfied at the end of it as many books of greater length do . All in all , it was a book with few red herrings which managed to come to a satisfying denouement.


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A Freshman Survival Guide for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Stuff Nobody Tells You About

by Haley Moss

I really wish I had this book when I went to university . Back in 1990 , when I first went to university as a then undiagnosed aspie , I found myself pretty much out of my depth and left to my own devices , which tended not to work out . I drank too much , as a means of trying to be more social , which had long term negative effects in the end . Living by myself for the first time in my life , I coped as best I could , but in hindsight I have to admit that I really couldn't look after myself , and I was a bit of a mess in more ways than one . My grades suffered as I couldn't bear to go to classes or lectures , but I still got a degree in the long run . That was how not to do it , and this book acts as a guide for autistic college students in how to get by and succeed in university / college life.


Haley Moss is a 19 year old undergraduate in Florida , and shares her experiences and know how . This is a very enjoyable and thought provoking book , and is an essential read for any potential student with an autism spectrum disorder . The time you spend at college or university is one of the most valuable in your life , so this book helps you understand what is going on all around you - what to expect on a daily basis on campus , how to deal with dorm life and meeting new people . As Haley has an autism spectrum disorder , she fully understands what problems we face on campus and addresses these issues in a helpful manner.


I am based in the UK , so some details and terms she describes are more suitable for the American education system , but these differences are not to the extent whereby an international student would not gain valuable assistance.


This book is due for release on June 21st , just in time for any aspiring students with autism to get a copy for themselves and start getting prepared for college life.


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Countryside - The Book of the Wise

Countryside - The Book of the Wise

by J.T Cope IV

To be honest with you , the main reason I chose to read this book was because I liked the cover . I know , that's pretty shallow of me , but I've always found that it works for me .And this book  didn't fail to impress me one bit .


I wont spoil the ins and outs for you , but it is all about  a boy called Luke , living in Houston. He starts to see strange people all around him in everyday suburban Texas , but soon finds himself transported into a mysterious world and a quest for a mysterious book after visiting his grandparents in the strange little town of Countryside .


Luke was in instantly likeable character , and it was interesting to see how he adapted to the strange world into which he was thrown . He is taken to a fantasy world where the boundaries between reality and pseudo reality are blurred.


The style of the book  came across as an Americanised Neil Gaiman or Clive Barker type story , and show us that the author is one to look out for.


A very enjoyable read.


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Dinotopia , First Flight - 20th Anniversary Edition

Dinotopia , First Flight - 20th Anniversary Edition

by James Gurney

Although this volume is the 20th anniversary edition of the title , and is part of a series of books , I have to admit that the world of Dinotopia was a new one to myself , but one in which I immersed myself and found lots of enjoyment.


The book is beautifully illustrated by James Gurney , and for me it was the illustrations that brought the story alive . At times I found the combination of robots , dinosaurs and humans in a fantasy world all a bit too much to comprehend , but the artwork brought life to the tale to such an extent that one cannot imagine the tale without it .


The story revolves around Gideon Altaire , who is studying at flight school on the island of Poseidos. A chance meeting with an injured dinosaur , Razzamult , informs him that an attack is about to go ahead on the Dinotopian mainland. Needless to say , this marks the beginning of a quest for Gideon.


The tale is enjoyable , although not always easy to understand , but I found myself reading it in approximately an hour . Being the 20th anniversary edition , it includes a wealth of bonus material - the best for me were the additional artist sketches.


All in all , this was an amazing insight into the world of  dinotopia for me :)


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Been There. Done That . Try This.

Been There . Done That . Try This.

An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth

edited by Tony Atwood , Craig R Evans and Anita Lesko





As you may know , I am an adult with Asperger's and blog about autism related books . I'm going to keep this blog short as I'm sure that most of you will be aware of Tony Atwood's work and the standard of his output . He is at the forefront of autistic research and his books provide a valuable insight into the autistic mind and are essential reading for anyone on the autistic spectrum or for somebody wanting more information on autism. This tome is no exception.


The book is basically a self-help people for people with Asperger's , which enourages them in how to cope in situations which they would normally feel uncomfortable . Atwood , Evans and Lesko have edited the title , but each provides their own input along the way . Each chapter is composed of a self-help guide to cope in a particular situation and is summed up at the end with Tony Atwood providing further insight , information and links as well as helpful coping strategies and analysis . The quality of the contributors is absolutely top notch , and we get sterling input from inspirational people with Asperger's , such as Temple Grandin.


An interesting insight into the autistic mind is given by the awesome artwork , which has been done by artists with Asperger's , and shows how they themselves visualise stressors.


There are really not that many self help books for people on the autism spectrum , but this one is easily one of the best. A must read.


Tony Atwood's Website


Anita Lesko's Blog


Temple Grandin's Website


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THE AUTISM PLAYBOOK FOR TEENS

by Irene McHenry , Carol Moog







I am an adult with Asperger's syndrome , and as such I am on the autism spectrum . I was diagnosed as an adult , but have lived a life where I am aware of my strengths and limitations and have put together coping strategies of my own . When I was diagnosed with autism , I looked for as many books as I could to help me understand my condition , but have found a shortage of self help books for autistic people.


This book is amazing , and is one which I wish I'd discovered years ago . Don't be misled by the title , as this book is as helpful to adults as it is to teens . The book is written in a very friendly and accessible manner , and has obviously been written by somebody who understands and empathises with autistic people .


The book helps autistic people to cope in everyday situations by using mindfulness techniques . I was confused as to what mindfulness actually was , but essentially it is a means of becoming aware of yourself and your surroundings . The book starts off by introducing simple breathing techniques and then progresses to assist autistic people become more aware of social situations and sensory issues and offers simple mindfulness techniques to help them in such situations.


This is an essential book for any adult who has an autistic teen , or for an autistic adult to help them understand themselves.


All in all , this is probably the finest self-help book for autistic people that I have found . An essential purchase.


NB..this review is based on a copy of the book sent to me for review by NetGalley , and will not be published until August 2014.




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AMAZING MAGIC TRICKS

by Thomas Canavan

This is an amazing little book . OK , so it's meant for kids and I'm an adult , but I'm really looking forward to trying some of these tricks out on my family and friends.


I've read a few instructional books on magic before , but have always found myself getting to a certain point in the trick and then getting myself all confused . Not so with this book- each step of the trick is accompanied by a cool cartoon drawing of a magician performing that step , making it easy for a kid's (or even a confused adult's) mind to follow.


The props are kept to a minimum , and are the kind of items that you will find in any house , so you could pretty much just pick up this book and be performing awesome tricks in a few minutes.


This review is from a copy I received for review from NetGalley. The book will be available for purchase from May 21st.


Very highly recommended :)


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Autism Treated and Cured

There's no such thing as autism

By Ann M Evans

I am reviewing this title , as being an autistic adult myself I was curious to see how autism could be cured , as there is currently no 'cure' available. I have high functioning autism , and get on pretty well in life .... I'm very happily married , have two children and a career that I enjoy , so to sum it up , I am very happy with my life and the person that I am. So why would I need a cure ? 

Perhaps that is where I have taken offence at this book . I know many other autistic people , and whilst I appreciate that we all present differently in our symptoms , I think we all accept who we are and are happy with the people we are . I had a discussion recently with some fellow aspies , where we asked ourselves if there was a cure for autism ,would we take it ? and the result was an outstanding no . Would a gay person want to be cured from being gay , or a redhead want a cure to not have ginger hair ? Probably not.

The author refers to autism as a 'disease' and a 'mental illness' . It is not a disease at all , it is a genetic condition in which the autistic person processes information in an individual sense , not necessarily evident nor logical to a non-autistic person . Also , I took offence at the author's yearning to make their child 'normal'. What exactly is 'normal' ? I consider myself to be perfectly normal , as do most autistic people I know . The main problem for us is everyone else not understanding our condition and the prejudice that ensues from that . I am no less 'normal' than the next person .

The author 'cured' her daughter , Sarah , using a mixture of complimentary medicine techniques , Chinese medicine and a change in diet . This is laudable , but what you have to realise that all autistic people present differently in their symptoms ,so as such if this 'cure' works for one person it does not necessarily work for all - in fact it probably only will work for that one person . The best thing to help an autistic person is to understand them and help them to understand themselves and cope with their limitations.

The book was poorly written , with many typographical errors . Whilst I am aware that the parent has an autistic child , I felt that the book lacked empathy with autistic people and failed to convey an understanding of the successful and happy lives that many autistic people lead.

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THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED

by John Boyne

I love horror and always have done , but the problem I have with the genre is that it can tend to be rather cliched so that once I start reading a horror novel  , I find myself always looking out for the obvious victims and attempting to work out all the twists for myself . Rarely am I wrong in my assumptions. However , with John Boyne's tale of terror , This House is Haunted , I have found myself faced with all the usual cliches , but the author has presented them in a manner which kept me on my toes. 

Ok , so there is the mysterious coachman who conveys the novel's main protagonist , Eliza Caine, to the spooky and menacing Gaudlin Hall in Norfolk . There are two strange but likeable children ( a la Turn of the Screw) , a mysterious nurse whose comings and goings are as unsettling as any ghostly behaviour in the book , and that ultimate cliche : the locals all in despair at Eliza going to Gaudlin Hall and none of them wanting to talk to her about the place except to proffer advice along the lines of "don't go there!".

So far , it sounds pretty cliched , but from the opening line "I blame Charles Dickens for my father's death" , I was hooked and couldn't put the book down . Boyne has created a spectacularly spooky and gothic setting for his book , and the characters are instantly believable. With the two children , Eustace and Isabella , comparisons with the Turn of the Screw are obvious but Boyne has given this part of the tale a new and unexpected dimension. For reasons I will not divulge (so as not to spoil the book) , I would also add comparisons to du Maurier's Rebecca.

John Boyne has succeeded in breathing new life into a genre which was becoming slightly stale and in so doing has created what is probably one of the first classics of horror fiction in the 21st century. Highly recommended.


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