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‘Painful, raw and with an honesty that rings clear as a bell’ Catherine Simpson, author of When I Had a Little SisterA searing account of a mother’s late-diagnosis of autism – and its reaching effects on a whole family.‘[A] vividly told and profoundly affecting memoir’ The Bookseller‘A brilliant, searing account and I defy anyone not to be gripped by it.’ Sally MagnussonAnna grew up in a house that was loving, even if her mum was ‘a little eccentric’. They knew to keep things clean, to stay quiet, and to look the other way when things started to get ‘a bit much for your mum’.It’s only when her mother reaches her 70s, and Anna has a family of her own, that the cracks really start to appear. More manic. More irrational. More detached from the world. And when her father, the man who has calmed and cajoled her mother through her entire life becomes unwell, the whole world turns upside down.This is a story of a life lived with undiagnosed autism, about the person behind the disorder, those big unspoken family truths, and what it means to care for our parents in their final years.
A mother's lifelong, undiagnosed autism shapes her family's dynamics and her daughter's understanding of their shared past. Anna Wilson recounts her experiences growing up with a mother whose 'eccentricity' masked undiagnosed autism, a condition that became more pronounced as she aged and her father, the family's anchor, fell ill. This memoir explores the profound impact of living with an undiagnosed neurodevelopmental condition, the unspoken truths within a family, and the complexities of caring for aging parents. The narrative unfolds as Anna, now with her own family, grapples with her mother's increasing detachment and erratic behavior, forcing a re-evaluation of their shared history and the nature of care.
This memoir has been recognized for its raw honesty and vivid storytelling, drawing praise from figures like Catherine Simpson and The Bookseller. The narrative is described as a searing and profoundly affecting account of a mother's late-diagnosis of autism and its far-reaching consequences for her family. Readers and critics alike have noted its gripping nature and the deep emotional resonance of Anna Wilson's personal story. The book offers a compelling look at the complexities of family relationships and the impact of neurodiversity.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
2022-05-10
Publisher:
HQ
ISBN-10:
0008342555
ISBN-13:
9780008342555
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