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raciethereader's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Robert is a first year university student in Australia with Asperger's. His project for the year is to have sex with a neurotypical girl. What follows is his journal of his year with his flat mate, Chloe, who also has Asperger's and her cousin and other flat mate, Step, and their kitten they name sex. It is laugh out loud funny, immediately comfortable and realistic to anyone with autism or who loves someone with autism, and introspective. I enjoyed this so much.
alisonalisonalison's review
4.0
3.5 stars. This is a neat book. I quite liked it. It's about a university student in New Zealand who has Asperger's Syndrome and his adventures. Robert's a great character and his narration is frank and amusing, and it's also very poignant at times. This book is very educational about Asperger's Syndrome, and all that information, while interesting, did take away from my engagement with the story somewhat. So on one hand, this is a story about an interesting guy living his life and looking for love, and on the other hand, it's a very informative book about Asperger's Syndrome and gives a great insight into what life can be like for someone who has Asperger's. I enjoyed the story and I learned things. I'm glad I read it.
petra_reads's review
4.0
"Some might say that I am not normal, but more accurately, I could say that I am not typical."
Robert has Asperger's Syndrome and perceives and experiences life differently. Robert's brain is simply wired in a different way. Robert is a student in Christchurch, New Zealand. In diary format, the book chronicles his first year at university as he shares a flat with Chloe and Stef. Chloe is a psychology student who also has Asperger's and acts as Robert's "therapist" because Chloe has plenty of therapy experience.
Written by Kevin Berry, who was diagnosed with Asperger's in his forties, Stim was very informative as well as fun to read.
It managed to impart useful information about Asperger's as well as bipolar disorder in an entertaining manner and makes a really great read for anyone wishing to find out more about these topics in a light-hearted but also educational manner. A great young adult novel, it's a very sweet coming-of-age story as Robert's goal for the year is to find a girlfriend.
I particularly enjoyed the parts about language and communication, for example, Robert's effort to understand idioms. Robert takes everything literally and is brutally honest when communicating which leads to some very funny but also unfortunate events.
Heartwarming, refreshing, partly sad but also hopeful, this was a poignant look at the world from a different perspective.
As Robert said, "I am not an incomplete jigsaw who needs solving, fixing or curing... I am just put together in a different way. Who is to say what the final picture should look like anyway".
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, [b:Kaleidoscope|20432559|Kaleidoscope|Kevin Berry|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388815206s/20432559.jpg|30420172], which is written from Chloe's perspective.
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of Stim via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Robert has Asperger's Syndrome and perceives and experiences life differently. Robert's brain is simply wired in a different way. Robert is a student in Christchurch, New Zealand. In diary format, the book chronicles his first year at university as he shares a flat with Chloe and Stef. Chloe is a psychology student who also has Asperger's and acts as Robert's "therapist" because Chloe has plenty of therapy experience.
Written by Kevin Berry, who was diagnosed with Asperger's in his forties, Stim was very informative as well as fun to read.
It managed to impart useful information about Asperger's as well as bipolar disorder in an entertaining manner and makes a really great read for anyone wishing to find out more about these topics in a light-hearted but also educational manner. A great young adult novel, it's a very sweet coming-of-age story as Robert's goal for the year is to find a girlfriend.
I particularly enjoyed the parts about language and communication, for example, Robert's effort to understand idioms. Robert takes everything literally and is brutally honest when communicating which leads to some very funny but also unfortunate events.
Heartwarming, refreshing, partly sad but also hopeful, this was a poignant look at the world from a different perspective.
As Robert said, "I am not an incomplete jigsaw who needs solving, fixing or curing... I am just put together in a different way. Who is to say what the final picture should look like anyway".
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, [b:Kaleidoscope|20432559|Kaleidoscope|Kevin Berry|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388815206s/20432559.jpg|30420172], which is written from Chloe's perspective.
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of Stim via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ltg584's review
4.0
Stim – to self-stimulate, especially with regular, rhythmic movements of parts of the body.
Anyone who knows me will recognize that I have a very eclectic reading style. I will read just about anything I can get my hands on. When I first saw this book, though, I was nervous. It was unlike anything I had ever attempted to read before, but I thought “why not?” I could see no good reason why I shouldn’t give it a shot. SOOOOO glad I did!
The synopsis didn’t give me any clue that it took place in New Zealand. I was thrilled when I read this, because I used to live there. It made me feel a little closer to home. But that’s not where it ended. I read a few more pages and found out that the main character, Robert, actually lived only blocks from my old home! Now, I not only felt closer to home, I WAS home! I recognized all of the street names! I used to walk through the University campus twice a day! It gave me an intense emotional connection to the story, that the majority of readers will not not have the chance to experience. I took this opportunity to make the most of this coincidence; I immersed myself entirely. I sat reading, my belly full of lamb, wearing my sheepskin scuffs (slippers), munching down on my Cookie Time cookies. Life doesn’t get any better than this!
Since I was so familiar with the setting, I took it for granted. Readers who aren’t as clear with the area will lose out on some of the finer details. I encourage readers to use Google to its fullest, especially the street view. Explore Riccarton, and the University of Canterbury campus. Most importantly, watch news videos from after the earthquake hit in 2011. It was devastating to the city, and economy. Thousands were without power, water, or even a roof over their heads. Pictures can’t begin to convey the amount of destruction, but it’s a place to start. I can’t express with words the amount of grief I felt, sitting a world away, waiting to hear if my friends were okay. My heart goes out to the citizens of Christchurch who not only struggle with daily earthquakes, but also a recent flood.
Some might say I am not normal, but more accurately, I could say that I am not typical. I perceive and experience life through the filter of ASD. But NS people perceive and experience life through filters, too… It is just that their filters are more prevalent than mine, that they think the way they see things is the ‘correct’ way, though it is simply the most common.
Robert has Asperger’s syndrome. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to relate to him, as I don’t know anyone with Asperger’s, but instead, I found myself incredibly attached and protective of him. Every time someone failed to understand or respect Robert, I wanted to reach through the pages of the book and throttle them! I am desperately hopeful that this book will bring awareness and acceptance to autism. Chloe, Robert’s friend and flat-mate, also has Asperger’s, but she seems to have it all figured out. She is able to navigate in a NS (non-spectrum) society, and helps Robert in adapting. I loved Chloe so much! From her name for the cat, the quirky way she plays Monopoly with Robert, to the way that she is vulnerable despite her bravado. She is just as susceptible at being overwhelmed! I can’t wait to read [b:Kaleidoscope|20432559|Kaleidoscope|Kevin Berry|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388815206s/20432559.jpg|30420172], which is her story, following the story in STIM. I haven’t been this excited for a sequel in years!
Be prepared for the writing style. It is very succinct, and usually lacks contractions. This is the first time I have approved of this style, as in this case it fits perfectly with the character. It combined with the story in a very real way. I can imagine that this might aggravate readers who aren’t prepared for it. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, but I welcomed the challenge and encourage readers to do the same.
I almost put a content warning on this book, but I stopped myself. There is nothing inappropriate in the content, but there are mature themes. Robert and Chloe have a blunt and honest approach to life, including sex and depression. There is also mild language, but I wouldn’t have an issue with my teen reading this, so I left off the warning. Use your own judgement, people!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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