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A review by mlboyd20
Stim by Kevin Berry
3.0
I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
Written in journal and present style, this book touches on the gamat of a person living with Asperger’s Syndrome and how they deal with the world around them. Robert, who was diagnosed later than most people are, is a college student who has made friends with another student, Chloe, who also has Asperger’s (among other things) and who both move in with a NS (non spectrum) person. As the story unfolds, you are given a lesson on how a person with Asperger’s perceives things that are said and done in a way that is literal than figurative. You also learn that Stim is not a name, but a reactive motion.
In Chapter One alone, I learned that Asperger’s Syndrome is a common form of Autism. I’m not very familiar with AS, so I had always thought that they were two complete different things. So I give kudos to the author for that information. As I read, I started learning how that things people without AS say things are construed in the minds of those with it. I learned a lot about AS throughout this book and I find that refreshing.
What I found distracting with this book was the journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. Honestly, I read them, than I skimmed them, than I skipped them altogether. I found them muddled and not that informative. The parts of the book in story/present form were enough for me. Parts of the story itself were too repetitious too. As a reader, I didn’t need to know every time Chloe wore her black sleeveless top it was because it was a Tuesday. Along with the story, there is another layer near the end that just doesn’t really pan to anything but if done differently could have been quite explosive.
Overall, I found this book an informative read with touches of every emotion possible. I got a kick out of the predicament with the cat and the police. I giggled along with that and interrupted my husband’s tv viewing to tell him about it. I loved the innocence of Robert who was quite oblivious of what was in front of him until the end of this book. And the humor of when he finally does what he’s been striving to do and just how not movie like it is but in actuality is quite awkward.
Written in journal and present style, this book touches on the gamat of a person living with Asperger’s Syndrome and how they deal with the world around them. Robert, who was diagnosed later than most people are, is a college student who has made friends with another student, Chloe, who also has Asperger’s (among other things) and who both move in with a NS (non spectrum) person. As the story unfolds, you are given a lesson on how a person with Asperger’s perceives things that are said and done in a way that is literal than figurative. You also learn that Stim is not a name, but a reactive motion.
In Chapter One alone, I learned that Asperger’s Syndrome is a common form of Autism. I’m not very familiar with AS, so I had always thought that they were two complete different things. So I give kudos to the author for that information. As I read, I started learning how that things people without AS say things are construed in the minds of those with it. I learned a lot about AS throughout this book and I find that refreshing.
What I found distracting with this book was the journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. Honestly, I read them, than I skimmed them, than I skipped them altogether. I found them muddled and not that informative. The parts of the book in story/present form were enough for me. Parts of the story itself were too repetitious too. As a reader, I didn’t need to know every time Chloe wore her black sleeveless top it was because it was a Tuesday. Along with the story, there is another layer near the end that just doesn’t really pan to anything but if done differently could have been quite explosive.
Overall, I found this book an informative read with touches of every emotion possible. I got a kick out of the predicament with the cat and the police. I giggled along with that and interrupted my husband’s tv viewing to tell him about it. I loved the innocence of Robert who was quite oblivious of what was in front of him until the end of this book. And the humor of when he finally does what he’s been striving to do and just how not movie like it is but in actuality is quite awkward.