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ginabyeg's review
3.0
This was a bit of a hard read. At first, I thought it had to do with reading about the devastating home life Donna had to put up with in her growing-up years. But as I got into the last third of the book, it just felt more like a slogging through. I know it's an autobiography, but even still, such accounts usually have a strong tie-together; common themes that yield some sort of self-discovery or grand life lesson. I felt like that wasn't very apparent here. I just kept reading about Donna's attempts to interact with others, and ultimately failing. Trying again to interact with others, and failing. Trying, and failing. And the book ends as if she says, "Oh, well. I guess that's me." Sort of a sense of resignation. I suppose maybe that's the point. The title "Nobody, Nowhere" definitely fits as the overarching theme of the book, but I don't really like it... Though I can't tell if that's on a technical level in the way the book was written or on an emotional level in the way I responded to the story presented.
toniclark's review
3.0
An amazing accomplishment, for sure. Detailed depiction from inside the head of a badly abused autistic child and adolescent. Her memory is amazing, too, I think. There are so many sad, painful, truly horrific stories here -- pretty depressing, actually -- though sometimes relieved by comic moments. (The buttonholer machine story did make me chuckle.) The photos looked -- to me -- like those of a normal child, though the author interprets them as "evidence" of her condition (which, I understand, is debatable -- she diagnosed herself). In fact, several of them reminded me of pictures of myself as a child (fairly normal child, I think, though shy).
It feels somehow wrong or disrespectful to say so, but I tired of the narrative. By about halfway through, I felt I'd been reading the same stories over and over -- though I guess that just underscores how tragic a young life she really had. And too, I found some of her pronouncements and beliefs just kind of silly. For instance, she believes that she has such supersensitive vision that she can see individual "air particles." Ummm, would those be molecules or what?
It feels somehow wrong or disrespectful to say so, but I tired of the narrative. By about halfway through, I felt I'd been reading the same stories over and over -- though I guess that just underscores how tragic a young life she really had. And too, I found some of her pronouncements and beliefs just kind of silly. For instance, she believes that she has such supersensitive vision that she can see individual "air particles." Ummm, would those be molecules or what?
zinnia91's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This book is often discussed in the autism community, but it really should be discussed more in the DID community.
As I read this book, it was unbelievably clear that the author has Dissociative Identity Disorder as well as being Autistic.
I was confused and then distressed as I finished the book with no mention of DID. I did a quick google and found that the author wasn’t diagnosed with DID until TEN YEARS after this book was published, and she died just a few years after that.
I am grateful for this account, but I believe both communities (of which there is significant overlap - many DID systems are Autistic) are missing out and wish a new edition would be issued, clarifying that this is indeed the memoir of an Autistic DID system.
As I read this book, it was unbelievably clear that the author has Dissociative Identity Disorder as well as being Autistic.
I was confused and then distressed as I finished the book with no mention of DID. I did a quick google and found that the author wasn’t diagnosed with DID until TEN YEARS after this book was published, and she died just a few years after that.
I am grateful for this account, but I believe both communities (of which there is significant overlap - many DID systems are Autistic) are missing out and wish a new edition would be issued, clarifying that this is indeed the memoir of an Autistic DID system.
desarroi's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction
jessicaleza's review against another edition
5.0
“Communication via objects was safe.” (p. 14)
“In the company of others my sense would cut off, and I would become so numb that, in order to experience something, I had to push myself to extreme limits.” (p. 28)
“The problem with my hearing was obviously one of a fluctuation in the awareness of sound. … it was as though awareness were a puppet, the strings of which were set firmly in the hands of emotional stress.” (p. 47)
“I could say what I thought, but the problem was I could not say what I felt.” (p. 52)
“My behavior puzzled them; but theirs puzzled me, too.” (p. 66)
“Everything outside of me told me that my survival was to rest on my refining the act of acting normal. On the inside I knew that by definition this meant that whatever and whoever I was naturally was unworthy of acceptance, belonging, or even life.” (p. 75)
“... it was this acceptance which raised my self-esteem and motivated and inspired me more than anything else.” (p. 109)
“In the company of others my sense would cut off, and I would become so numb that, in order to experience something, I had to push myself to extreme limits.” (p. 28)
“The problem with my hearing was obviously one of a fluctuation in the awareness of sound. … it was as though awareness were a puppet, the strings of which were set firmly in the hands of emotional stress.” (p. 47)
“I could say what I thought, but the problem was I could not say what I felt.” (p. 52)
“My behavior puzzled them; but theirs puzzled me, too.” (p. 66)
“Everything outside of me told me that my survival was to rest on my refining the act of acting normal. On the inside I knew that by definition this meant that whatever and whoever I was naturally was unworthy of acceptance, belonging, or even life.” (p. 75)
“... it was this acceptance which raised my self-esteem and motivated and inspired me more than anything else.” (p. 109)
mckenzierichardson's review
4.0
This is excellent reading for anyone involved in the autism community. At times, it is emotionally difficult to read as Williams recounts various instances of abuse and neglect from family and romantic partners/friends, while showing little emotion towards the events. But the journey through Williams' struggle to find herself and her place in 'the world' is extraordinary.
Williams describes very good examples of stim behavior, generalization problems, and dietary intolerance affecting behavior. While she emphasizes how different each individual living with autism is, she explains her logic when addressing certain situations which may be similar to other cases and would be beneficial in gaining insight into how someone living with autism may see the world.
At one point, a parent of a child living with autism remarks, "We think it is we who have to teach the autistic person... Now I see it is us who have so much to learn from them." This beautifully emphasizes Williams' efforts to understand herself and validates her experiences to find a balance between 'us' and 'them'. This is truly a remarkable opportunity to learn more about one woman's existence of living with autism.
Williams describes very good examples of stim behavior, generalization problems, and dietary intolerance affecting behavior. While she emphasizes how different each individual living with autism is, she explains her logic when addressing certain situations which may be similar to other cases and would be beneficial in gaining insight into how someone living with autism may see the world.
At one point, a parent of a child living with autism remarks, "We think it is we who have to teach the autistic person... Now I see it is us who have so much to learn from them." This beautifully emphasizes Williams' efforts to understand herself and validates her experiences to find a balance between 'us' and 'them'. This is truly a remarkable opportunity to learn more about one woman's existence of living with autism.