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nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Book #2 in the Stim series gives us another fresh perspective on the Aspie world. In Kaleidoscope, we see Chloe's tumultuous response to the earthquakes that continue to plague her home. While I didn't love this book as much as I did the first in the series, I did enjoy it, and I think I might have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't read the two books back-to-back (read on for more details about why I think that ...)
What I loved:
Chloe.
I fell in love with Chloe in the first book, so I was very happy that this book would be told from her perspective. Chloe is fun, interesting and quirky - and she knows it. She's used to having a pretty good grasp on how to handle the world, despite her Aspergers, but she finds herself completely adrift when the earthquakes take away all of her routine and stability. In the first book, Chloe always seemed pretty self-aware, but she definitely loses some of that confidence in herself in this book - I enjoyed her journey to get that back!
Depiction of Asperger's and Bi-Polar Disorder.
Just like Stim, this book gives great inside into the heart and mind of someone with Asperger's. I love Chloe's perspective - the fact that she doesn't see herself as having anything wrong with her, she's just different. At the same time, she does have parts of her personality (mostly her bi-polar disorder) that need to be tempered with medication. Otherwise, she puts her own life and the lives of those around her into turmoil. Chloe struggles with this - and her internal struggle makes for very interesting reading!
The negatives:
Similarities to book #1.
I think my biggest issue with this book was actually that I read it right after reading Stim, and it just felt a bit too similar to the first book without all the fun, lighthearted moments (which were a big part of what made me love the first book!). Chloe's voice is very similar to Robert's, except that she replaces strange economics references with her own made up hybrid words. When disaster strikes and she finds herself without medication for an extended period of time, she responds much the same way that Robert did in book #1 when he upped his dosage of medication. I felt like it was just a little too similar, and therefore didn't enjoy it as much. But if more time had passed between reading the first and second books, I really think I would have appreciated the unique Aspie voice more and Robert's story wouldn't have been right at the forefront of my mind. It was hard not to compare the two books - and I found this one to feel a bit repetitive - similar, but a bit more depressing and not as much fun. Still a good read, though!
While I didn't love this book quite as much as the first one, I still think that it's a great read and that anyone touched by Asperger's (which is pretty much everyone, in some way or another) should definitely check it out! I give this one 3/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
Book #2 in the Stim series gives us another fresh perspective on the Aspie world. In Kaleidoscope, we see Chloe's tumultuous response to the earthquakes that continue to plague her home. While I didn't love this book as much as I did the first in the series, I did enjoy it, and I think I might have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't read the two books back-to-back (read on for more details about why I think that ...)
What I loved:
Chloe.
I fell in love with Chloe in the first book, so I was very happy that this book would be told from her perspective. Chloe is fun, interesting and quirky - and she knows it. She's used to having a pretty good grasp on how to handle the world, despite her Aspergers, but she finds herself completely adrift when the earthquakes take away all of her routine and stability. In the first book, Chloe always seemed pretty self-aware, but she definitely loses some of that confidence in herself in this book - I enjoyed her journey to get that back!
Depiction of Asperger's and Bi-Polar Disorder.
Just like Stim, this book gives great inside into the heart and mind of someone with Asperger's. I love Chloe's perspective - the fact that she doesn't see herself as having anything wrong with her, she's just different. At the same time, she does have parts of her personality (mostly her bi-polar disorder) that need to be tempered with medication. Otherwise, she puts her own life and the lives of those around her into turmoil. Chloe struggles with this - and her internal struggle makes for very interesting reading!
The negatives:
Similarities to book #1.
I think my biggest issue with this book was actually that I read it right after reading Stim, and it just felt a bit too similar to the first book without all the fun, lighthearted moments (which were a big part of what made me love the first book!). Chloe's voice is very similar to Robert's, except that she replaces strange economics references with her own made up hybrid words. When disaster strikes and she finds herself without medication for an extended period of time, she responds much the same way that Robert did in book #1 when he upped his dosage of medication. I felt like it was just a little too similar, and therefore didn't enjoy it as much. But if more time had passed between reading the first and second books, I really think I would have appreciated the unique Aspie voice more and Robert's story wouldn't have been right at the forefront of my mind. It was hard not to compare the two books - and I found this one to feel a bit repetitive - similar, but a bit more depressing and not as much fun. Still a good read, though!
While I didn't love this book quite as much as the first one, I still think that it's a great read and that anyone touched by Asperger's (which is pretty much everyone, in some way or another) should definitely check it out! I give this one 3/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
lyndajdickson's review against another edition
4.0
Chloe is an Aspie like Robert, however, she suffers from a number of other conditions as well, most notably bipolar disorder. Chloe experiences the world "through a filter like a kaleidoscope; everything's there, but all jumbled up." She has difficulty making decisions, so she wears a set color for each day of the week and always orders the same take-out in order to avoid making decisions.
Chloe has been on medication for her bipolar disorder for seven and a half months, but she wants to quit and become herself again. But things are never easy for her. She comes home from visiting her father in Australia, only to find that her cousin Stef has moved them all to a new house. Not one to deal with change, Chloe doesn't react too well. On top of that, another massive earthquake strikes Christchurch. As a result, their new house is destroyed, there's no power or water, her cousin Marinda is missing, her cat Sex is also missing, and she becomes obsessed with earthquake statistics. And now she's also off her meds. How will Chloe get back on track?
Kaleidoscope is the sequel to Stim, this time told from the point-of-view of Robert's flatmate Chloe. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but together they paint a fuller picture of the relationship between these two characters. It's interesting to read from Chloe's point of view this time, as we get an insight into her insecurities and quirks. She seems very "together" in Stim, but Kevin is probably an unreliable narrator because of his Asperger's Syndrome. I loved Chloe's neologisms (newly coined words, e.g., passenjerk, tripidation, idiosyncrazies, cuteability), and her passion for books and her violin. Through it all, the New Zealand earthquake is ever-present and is a whole character in itself. Chloe's attempt at writing a best-seller is a great touch.
A delightful and insightful read.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Chloe has been on medication for her bipolar disorder for seven and a half months, but she wants to quit and become herself again. But things are never easy for her. She comes home from visiting her father in Australia, only to find that her cousin Stef has moved them all to a new house. Not one to deal with change, Chloe doesn't react too well. On top of that, another massive earthquake strikes Christchurch. As a result, their new house is destroyed, there's no power or water, her cousin Marinda is missing, her cat Sex is also missing, and she becomes obsessed with earthquake statistics. And now she's also off her meds. How will Chloe get back on track?
Kaleidoscope is the sequel to Stim, this time told from the point-of-view of Robert's flatmate Chloe. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but together they paint a fuller picture of the relationship between these two characters. It's interesting to read from Chloe's point of view this time, as we get an insight into her insecurities and quirks. She seems very "together" in Stim, but Kevin is probably an unreliable narrator because of his Asperger's Syndrome. I loved Chloe's neologisms (newly coined words, e.g., passenjerk, tripidation, idiosyncrazies, cuteability), and her passion for books and her violin. Through it all, the New Zealand earthquake is ever-present and is a whole character in itself. Chloe's attempt at writing a best-seller is a great touch.
A delightful and insightful read.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
beckymmoe's review
4.0
Kaleidoscope begins just before Chloe and Robert's new semester at school, as Chloe is returning from an unsatisfactory summer visit with her father. She's looking forward to getting back to her usual setting and routines...little does she realize as the novel starts out that life will soon be anything but routine--troubling for anyone, but particularly problematic for Chloe.
Chloe has Asperger’s Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder (which she doubts, because she "can concentrate on most things for as much as several minutes at a time"), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and dyscalculia, as well as other disorders she doesn't list for us. In short, she's on a lot of meds, and maintaining a specific order for just about everything in her life is very important to her.
Unfortunately, her world is thrown almost right away when she finds out that her roommates Stef (also her cousin) and Robert (also an Aspie, and Chloe's boyfriend) have moved to a new house in her absence--events at the end of book one ([b:Stim|18685092|Stim|Kevin Berry|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1382037277s/18685092.jpg|26526007], Robert's book) have led to making the move necessary--but no one told Chloe until she got off the plane. Now Chloe can't walk to university anymore, and she has to figure out where to put all of her things (she has certain clothes for each day of the week, and each day must have its own drawer--but her new dresser has only six drawers--a problem), and Robert's already started reshelving her books for her, which means she'll probably have to rearrange them as soon as he's done...
And that's all before the earthquake hits.
It happens in the middle of a school and work day, just as Chloe was sitting down to get started on her course reading for the new school year.
Next thing she knows, her dresser being one drawer short is no longer such a big issue--she's lost all of her clothes. And her cat. And her cousin--Stef's older sister is MIA. It takes her a few more days to realize she doesn't have her meds, either.
But by then she's discovered coffee, and an energy she never had before. Why fix what's not broken? Clearly the drugs were only holding her back...
Some of my favorite bits were when she talked about becoming a bestselling novelist, one of her new post-meds life goals:
Dealing with a devastating act of nature would be hard enough for anyone, but for someone like Chloe who's also suddenly taken off meds? Recipe for disaster. Watching her nearly lose everything and then try to wrest her life back is quite a journey--with many funny and moving moments along the way. Kaleidoscope is definitely a worthy sequel to Stim.
(Kaleidoscope could probably work as a standalone if needed, but getting the full picture of these two characters' lives from both sides--Stim is from Robert's point of view--will definitely enhance the reading experience.)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe has Asperger’s Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder (which she doubts, because she "can concentrate on most things for as much as several minutes at a time"), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and dyscalculia, as well as other disorders she doesn't list for us. In short, she's on a lot of meds, and maintaining a specific order for just about everything in her life is very important to her.
Unfortunately, her world is thrown almost right away when she finds out that her roommates Stef (also her cousin) and Robert (also an Aspie, and Chloe's boyfriend) have moved to a new house in her absence--events at the end of book one ([b:Stim|18685092|Stim|Kevin Berry|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1382037277s/18685092.jpg|26526007], Robert's book) have led to making the move necessary--but no one told Chloe until she got off the plane. Now Chloe can't walk to university anymore, and she has to figure out where to put all of her things (she has certain clothes for each day of the week, and each day must have its own drawer--but her new dresser has only six drawers--a problem), and Robert's already started reshelving her books for her, which means she'll probably have to rearrange them as soon as he's done...
I felt hesitant about letting anyone, even Robert, sort through my books one by one. They're too personal. Seeing and touching all of someone's books is a bit like fondling their underwear.(A disturbingly apt simile...it was too good not to use it!)
And that's all before the earthquake hits.
It happens in the middle of a school and work day, just as Chloe was sitting down to get started on her course reading for the new school year.
I sat and pulled out a photocopy of "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognising One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments" (Kruger & Dunning, 1999) an article I was supposed to read for Psychology. This actually sounded intriguing. I'd always wondered why losers and idiots think they're talented at everything.(Chloe doesn't see the point in prevarication, as you discover about thirty seconds into the novel.)
Next thing she knows, her dresser being one drawer short is no longer such a big issue--she's lost all of her clothes. And her cat. And her cousin--Stef's older sister is MIA. It takes her a few more days to realize she doesn't have her meds, either.
But by then she's discovered coffee, and an energy she never had before. Why fix what's not broken? Clearly the drugs were only holding her back...
Some of my favorite bits were when she talked about becoming a bestselling novelist, one of her new post-meds life goals:
"What makes you think you can write a bestseller?" demanded Stef. "Apart from your university essays, you've never written anything longer than a shopping list."Because that's totally how it works, right? ;)
"I'm going to buy heaps of books about writing bestsellers. I'll read them, and then I'll just do it. Obviously."
Dealing with a devastating act of nature would be hard enough for anyone, but for someone like Chloe who's also suddenly taken off meds? Recipe for disaster. Watching her nearly lose everything and then try to wrest her life back is quite a journey--with many funny and moving moments along the way. Kaleidoscope is definitely a worthy sequel to Stim.
(Kaleidoscope could probably work as a standalone if needed, but getting the full picture of these two characters' lives from both sides--Stim is from Robert's point of view--will definitely enhance the reading experience.)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
ltg584's review
4.0
4.5 stars
Kaleidoscope continues the story that began in Stim. While it is able to stand alone, I would highly recommend beginning with Stim, just so you can get to know Robert better. He doesn’t have much of a role in this story, and I found that I really missed his inner monologue.
Chloe was a favorite character from Stim, but it wasn’t until I started reading Kaleidoscope that I really had an awakening. She had always seemed so put together. She was able to help Robert adjust to his surroundings, and she had a firm grip of NS (non-spectrum) behavior and expectations. It wasn’t until I got a peek into her mind that I realized how in turmoil she was. It’s all about perspective. From this end of things, Robert seems much more relaxed and calm. He’s the one who has it all put together.
Kevin Berry’s writing style is phenomenal. In the first book, he wrote very much in Robert’s voice. It was sharp and clean, and often lacked contractions. Now, he is writing as Chloe and it reads in a completely different way. While it is similar to Stim, in that the main character has Asperger’s and is struggling with medication imbalances, it is a completely different story. Chloe is hit unexpectedly hard by the earthquake, and isn’t prepared for all of the dramatic changes that occur in her life. And once one thing goes wrong, it’s like a domino effect. I almost feel like someone said the dreaded words “It can’t get any worse” and then Murphy decided to prove them wrong. Some of the most bizarre things happen to poor Chloe! Life is stranger than fiction… or rather… Fictional life is stranger than fiction.
The earthquake hit Christchurch in February of 2011. It devastated the whole city, destroying lives for years to come. I had thoroughly prepared myself for the emotional impact of reading this story, when in fact, I wasn’t ready at all. At the first mention of the Christchurch Cathedral, I misted up. I’ve already explained my connection with Christchurch, but the cathedral itself is a new story. We watched in horror from Canada as the earthquake struck at our friends homes. A friend of my mother’s was working in the cathedral that day, when the spire toppled. It was torturous waiting to hear from her. She was tremendously lucky/fated/blessed to have been standing by a window at the exact moment of the quake and she made international headlines as “the woman in the window”.
Kevin has done an outstanding job shining a spotlight on this tragedy. The destruction of the buildings is an obvious side effect of the earthquake, but it is the flooding, the lack of water and electricity, the rampant crime, that people rarely think of. I really hope the story will continue in a third book. It would be a great way to not only check back on the characters, but to also see how Christchurch is adjusting.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"The way I see things is like through a kaleidoscope – disjointed and broken, ever-changing, yet somehow beautiful in a structured way."
Kaleidoscope continues the story that began in Stim. While it is able to stand alone, I would highly recommend beginning with Stim, just so you can get to know Robert better. He doesn’t have much of a role in this story, and I found that I really missed his inner monologue.
Chloe was a favorite character from Stim, but it wasn’t until I started reading Kaleidoscope that I really had an awakening. She had always seemed so put together. She was able to help Robert adjust to his surroundings, and she had a firm grip of NS (non-spectrum) behavior and expectations. It wasn’t until I got a peek into her mind that I realized how in turmoil she was. It’s all about perspective. From this end of things, Robert seems much more relaxed and calm. He’s the one who has it all put together.
Kevin Berry’s writing style is phenomenal. In the first book, he wrote very much in Robert’s voice. It was sharp and clean, and often lacked contractions. Now, he is writing as Chloe and it reads in a completely different way. While it is similar to Stim, in that the main character has Asperger’s and is struggling with medication imbalances, it is a completely different story. Chloe is hit unexpectedly hard by the earthquake, and isn’t prepared for all of the dramatic changes that occur in her life. And once one thing goes wrong, it’s like a domino effect. I almost feel like someone said the dreaded words “It can’t get any worse” and then Murphy decided to prove them wrong. Some of the most bizarre things happen to poor Chloe! Life is stranger than fiction… or rather… Fictional life is stranger than fiction.
The earthquake hit Christchurch in February of 2011. It devastated the whole city, destroying lives for years to come. I had thoroughly prepared myself for the emotional impact of reading this story, when in fact, I wasn’t ready at all. At the first mention of the Christchurch Cathedral, I misted up. I’ve already explained my connection with Christchurch, but the cathedral itself is a new story. We watched in horror from Canada as the earthquake struck at our friends homes. A friend of my mother’s was working in the cathedral that day, when the spire toppled. It was torturous waiting to hear from her. She was tremendously lucky/fated/blessed to have been standing by a window at the exact moment of the quake and she made international headlines as “the woman in the window”.
Kevin has done an outstanding job shining a spotlight on this tragedy. The destruction of the buildings is an obvious side effect of the earthquake, but it is the flooding, the lack of water and electricity, the rampant crime, that people rarely think of. I really hope the story will continue in a third book. It would be a great way to not only check back on the characters, but to also see how Christchurch is adjusting.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
kristiemjm's review
4.0
4.5
The story picks up a few months after the events in Stim ended. Both Robert and Chloe are still adjusting from the events of the earthquake that changed their daily life on a flip of a dime.
The events that Chloe endures within this story are barely manageable for even a person who isn't autistic. She pulls through like a champion. But like all champions, she has some low points. Although we do have to remember what is a low for someone whose autistic, can be kind of extreme.
The flow of this book is very similar to Stim. This, is a good thing. Not often I'd say that, but I feel it makes you understand Chloe more. I wanted to be with her and try to understand her, because as we read about her current dealings, we also learn more about her family dynamic, or should I say, lack thereof. She's one who needs more friends who understand her.
Normally, when the main character of a book is down and such, the secondary character comes and tries to help. Well, in this case, that doesn't happen. And in a normal situation one would get mad at a character while reading this book. But with Robert, you can't expect the "norms", all because of how his brain works. Simple things as sarcasm and saying "penny for your thoughts" are over is head. It's just the quirk of the autistic mind. He tries hard, truly. It's just he doesn't pick up on such things.
Overall, I love this book. It was hard to see Chloe hit that low, but at the same time, we got to see how she thinks things through and in the end, she finds her place in this world.
The story picks up a few months after the events in Stim ended. Both Robert and Chloe are still adjusting from the events of the earthquake that changed their daily life on a flip of a dime.
The events that Chloe endures within this story are barely manageable for even a person who isn't autistic. She pulls through like a champion. But like all champions, she has some low points. Although we do have to remember what is a low for someone whose autistic, can be kind of extreme.
The flow of this book is very similar to Stim. This, is a good thing. Not often I'd say that, but I feel it makes you understand Chloe more. I wanted to be with her and try to understand her, because as we read about her current dealings, we also learn more about her family dynamic, or should I say, lack thereof. She's one who needs more friends who understand her.
Normally, when the main character of a book is down and such, the secondary character comes and tries to help. Well, in this case, that doesn't happen. And in a normal situation one would get mad at a character while reading this book. But with Robert, you can't expect the "norms", all because of how his brain works. Simple things as sarcasm and saying "penny for your thoughts" are over is head. It's just the quirk of the autistic mind. He tries hard, truly. It's just he doesn't pick up on such things.
Overall, I love this book. It was hard to see Chloe hit that low, but at the same time, we got to see how she thinks things through and in the end, she finds her place in this world.
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