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In Other Words
A shift in the nature of light reveals an eighth colour in the visible spectrum. A boy befriends the last tree in the natural world. A single mother finds help at the darkest point of her life. A young man finds himself trapped in a university overrun by crows.
These stories and more form In Other Words, an anthology as diverse as the writers themselves. Some cover trauma, societal issues and stigma; others offer fragments of hope and light. Some reach back in time while others transport us to another dimension altogether. There is heartbreak, wit, humour, poignancy and above all a mastery of the imagination.
What these transcendent stories share is that they were created by autistic writers, people often dismissed as unimaginative or incapable of creativity a myth that has persisted for generations. This collection hopes to shatter those stereotypes, those misconceptions and misunderstandings, and the perception that one must be neurotypical to be afforded a voice in the arts.
These stories and more form In Other Words, an anthology as diverse as the writers themselves. Some cover trauma, societal issues and stigma; others offer fragments of hope and light. Some reach back in time while others transport us to another dimension altogether. There is heartbreak, wit, humour, poignancy and above all a mastery of the imagination.
What these transcendent stories share is that they were created by autistic writers, people often dismissed as unimaginative or incapable of creativity a myth that has persisted for generations. This collection hopes to shatter those stereotypes, those misconceptions and misunderstandings, and the perception that one must be neurotypical to be afforded a voice in the arts.
272 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2021
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 24, 2021
In Other Words is a collection of eight neurodivergent short stories, and I must admit I am both annoyed and amazed. For too long our publishing industries have held back those from minority groups, but after reading this magical and truly unique anthology I find myself wondering why more autistic writers do not become published. In Other Words is a stunning new collection of short stories by autistic authors. Between November 2016 and April 2017, eight writers took part in Mainspring Arts’ creative writing opportunity Square Peg Stories.
Each produced an original short story with mentoring from a wonderful team of published authors. The collection has an introduction by autistic author and poet Joanne Limburg, and a foreword by the novelist David Mitchell. It is beautiful, hilarious, heart-breaking, mind-bending and above all it showcases the enormous talent and creativity of a group of people who are often stereotyped as being unimaginative. A diverse selection of shorts with something here for everyone to enjoy; this is a truly original, captivating and thoroughly entertaining anthology. Highly recommended.
Each produced an original short story with mentoring from a wonderful team of published authors. The collection has an introduction by autistic author and poet Joanne Limburg, and a foreword by the novelist David Mitchell. It is beautiful, hilarious, heart-breaking, mind-bending and above all it showcases the enormous talent and creativity of a group of people who are often stereotyped as being unimaginative. A diverse selection of shorts with something here for everyone to enjoy; this is a truly original, captivating and thoroughly entertaining anthology. Highly recommended.
June 25, 2021
Today is my spot on the blog tour for 𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦 edited by Mainspring Arts. Thank you to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours and to Unbound for having me along, and for sending me a copy of the book.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻; 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
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In Other Words is a collection of eight short stories, all written by autistic writers. I always love reading short fiction, and this was no exception. The stories within this collection are quite varied, both by genre and overall style, so no doubt each reader will have different favourites from the collection.
-
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹.
-
The Introduction by Joanne Limburg hits the nail on the head in respect of the common portrayal of autistic and neurodivergent people, versus the true representation of autistic and neurodivergent people across all media and the arts.
I think a lot of people may have initial expectations or judgements before reading In Other Words purely because of the current lack of true representation, but I'm glad that Mainspring Arts has collated this collection where the authors are able to be representive of themselves.
This great collection will hopefully go some way to challenging perceptions that other people have about autism and neurodivergence.
-
𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 - '𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺' 𝗮𝗻𝗱 '𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱.
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I enjoyed all of the stories throughout the book, but my personal favourite has to be A Conversation of Sparrows.
I don't want to give too much away, because I want to encourage everyone to read the book, but A Conversation of Sparrows was so beautiful, poetic, and complex - it really blew me away.
It focuses on mental health, PTSD, and how the sensitivity of PTSD leads to people experiencing the world and their senses in different ways.
The structure moves back and forth over time, and marries past and current day themes of war well. It is a very modern and important tale.
It also carries an important message about self-care, mindfulness, and finding joy in the small things. These elements are often crucial in maintaining good mental health, and in tackling mental health issues.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 ... 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻.
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I loved the setting in The Clockmaker, with it's old fashioned, Victorian-era smog; The Crows was a great take on a science fiction story, and is very creepy, and; The Last Tree was beautiful, poignant, and serves as a stark reminder that we need to take care of the world we inhabit.
Some of the stories are certainly darker than others, and for those who need it, I'd include trigger warnings for suicide and murder in The Beach House.
Amongst all of these fiction stories it is clear that neurodivergence does not in any way detract from someone's creativity. In some of these stories, it is the writer's ability to see or imagine the world differently that radiates from the page, and makes the stories stand out.
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𝗔𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.
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Given the variety of stories in this collection there really is something for everyone, and I'd highly recommend In Other Words to all readers.
Please also check out the Mainspring Arts website for more information on the work they do, and to see how you can support them.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻; 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
-
In Other Words is a collection of eight short stories, all written by autistic writers. I always love reading short fiction, and this was no exception. The stories within this collection are quite varied, both by genre and overall style, so no doubt each reader will have different favourites from the collection.
-
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹.
-
The Introduction by Joanne Limburg hits the nail on the head in respect of the common portrayal of autistic and neurodivergent people, versus the true representation of autistic and neurodivergent people across all media and the arts.
I think a lot of people may have initial expectations or judgements before reading In Other Words purely because of the current lack of true representation, but I'm glad that Mainspring Arts has collated this collection where the authors are able to be representive of themselves.
This great collection will hopefully go some way to challenging perceptions that other people have about autism and neurodivergence.
-
𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 - '𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺' 𝗮𝗻𝗱 '𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱.
-
I enjoyed all of the stories throughout the book, but my personal favourite has to be A Conversation of Sparrows.
I don't want to give too much away, because I want to encourage everyone to read the book, but A Conversation of Sparrows was so beautiful, poetic, and complex - it really blew me away.
It focuses on mental health, PTSD, and how the sensitivity of PTSD leads to people experiencing the world and their senses in different ways.
The structure moves back and forth over time, and marries past and current day themes of war well. It is a very modern and important tale.
It also carries an important message about self-care, mindfulness, and finding joy in the small things. These elements are often crucial in maintaining good mental health, and in tackling mental health issues.
-
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 ... 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻.
-
I loved the setting in The Clockmaker, with it's old fashioned, Victorian-era smog; The Crows was a great take on a science fiction story, and is very creepy, and; The Last Tree was beautiful, poignant, and serves as a stark reminder that we need to take care of the world we inhabit.
Some of the stories are certainly darker than others, and for those who need it, I'd include trigger warnings for suicide and murder in The Beach House.
Amongst all of these fiction stories it is clear that neurodivergence does not in any way detract from someone's creativity. In some of these stories, it is the writer's ability to see or imagine the world differently that radiates from the page, and makes the stories stand out.
-
𝗔𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.
-
Given the variety of stories in this collection there really is something for everyone, and I'd highly recommend In Other Words to all readers.
Please also check out the Mainspring Arts website for more information on the work they do, and to see how you can support them.
June 12, 2021
Genre: Anthology | Short Stories
Released: Expected 24th June 2021
Publisher: Unbound
There is a distinct difference between books about autistic people and books by people with austism. Typically, neurodivergent people are portrayed in the arts and the media in a very certain way, a way not curated by neurodivergents themselves - Mainspring brought together this group of authors to try and increase the representation of neurodivergent people in the arts. Typically people with Autism are represented as being unimaginative, as not being literary, but if you still think that you should definitely give this a read.
While I love seeing more representation in the literary world - this is a book review after all, and this collection of short stories made to highlight the underrepresented and underappreciated is a selection of absolutely brilliant fiction in a wide variety of styles and genres.
A Conversation of Sparrows - Jon Adams
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A fifty-five year old gardener has been struggling with isolation and fear after being diagnosed with PTSD since a traumatic event changed his life. As he's learning to try and befriend and understand this new part of his life, the world around him seems different. But the birds in the garden are still singing if he can just listen to them.
Deeply descriptive, this tale was full of quiet unease and mystery that made it so compelling.
Standard Candles - Damien Sawyer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lianne and her baby Shannon are living in a small hostel room and recently she has been feeling as burned out as the candles she burns in the evenings. But at night, she dreams of a different world where people don't make passing comments about her being a young single parent without even knowing her. One day, she finally snaps and loses her temper at a complete stranger before deciding to try and make it right - her first attempt at connecting with someone in the longest time.
Real, raw and emotional - this story may be short but it was a full-on journey about self discovery, recovery and human connection.
Light Revolution - JB Wiskey
⭐⭐⭐
Tony and Sally had been married quite some time before she found out he wasn't always Tony - sometimes he was Floyd, who felt more comfortable in equine skin. But she isn't really sure how to make sense in her mind of the man she married not being him all the time and decides to get away from them both. But then a single peice of graffiti in the toilet throws earth-shattering changes to her entire life and the whole world.
Unique, fast-paced fiction that rather than rounding off as you'd expect just kept going and left my head spinning. Brilliantly written, this peice could definitely be marmite but it's the kind of story that keeps you reading just to know what happens next.
The Crows - Kate Roy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mark was just a normal university student, sharing the campus with 400 other students. Now he shares it with 400 shadows and his former life is getting harder to remember. He doesn't know how he got to this twisted version of reality but he's desperate to get back to his life and the girl he loves before he disappears into the shadows for good.
Ominous, hauntingly beautiful imagery that left me with chills. For just a short story, The Crows had an entire universe of magic and wonder.
The Last Tree - Sarah
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Outside of the museum, outside of the dome, nature has become extinct. The humans have tried to rescue nature, but they're the reasons it needed rescuing in the first place. And for Gregor, the last tree on earth, the only thing left to do is stay stuck in his prison and try to scream at the visitors about how things once were. But nobody hears him, nobody cares - until the boy comes to visit.
Beautifully and strangely terrifying at the same time, this is one of those stories where nothing technically happens but it makes you feel everything. Full of heart, this was a truly stunning peice of writing.
The Clockmaker - Esther Lowery
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Annie Prescott has been fixing watches and clocks since she was old enough to work, trying to support her family. But when finds a broken watch discarded by a rich stranger, she feels something compelling her to keep it and not let it just be thrown aside because it's broken. Her life has been difficult since she lost her mother but when she tracks down the owner of some lost letters, she learns something that might just make the hands of her watch start to tick forward once more.
Packed full of emotion, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, this period-style short story was full of character and charm.
The Beach House - Luke Matthews
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nick is turning thirty tomorrow and it's like his life is already over. Haunted by the memories of his former life, his former family and the worst thing he's ever done. But at least here, at his precious beach house, the sound of the waves might be able to drown out the noise in his head for at just a moment.
A quiet journey into Nicks mind, this story was all about a character filled with tragedy and despair and no idea how to let go of any of it. It was like being on the beach alone at night - dark and unsettling, but familiar and beckoning at the same time.
Winona the Angelic Wizard - Richard Baskett
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Winona and her Border Collie Cody walked into hearing her grandmothers will just a normal woman and dog. But when they left, she had the secrets of her grandmothers magic and Cody could talk. Moving into the wizards bungalow that held her family legacy, Winona has to learn what it really means to be a wizard.
Quirky, colourful and magical, this story featured plenty of talking animals which is always a sure way to win me over. It felt like the shortest story of the collection but it was practically bursting with charm.
Thank you to all the authors at Mainspring Arts, Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
I had no idea what to expect on approaching this book - and ended up being totally blown away by it.
A collection of eight stories created by the unique voices of a set of authors on the spectrum for autism, this book represents an exciting foray into a lesser-known slice of diversity, an area know as “neuro-diversity”.
First, let me say that, diversity aside, this is a wonderful book, a beautifully curated and truly delightful and unexpected set of stories.
Ranging from the dark and desolate to the magical and hilarious, each little gem stands alone, sparkling with its author’s creativity and vision; each skillfully capturing a time and place and a slice of life that is remarkably easy for the reader to get lost in.
With a bit of a deeper look, however, it is possible to see some themes across stories emerge - themes that may be rooted in the unique lived experiences of those on the spectrum, mingling transparently with a reflection of the shared human experience itself.
Loss, grief, alienation, kindness, control, escape - these stories, often told with a somewhat detached and keenly observant narrative character, (many featuring animals, gardens or nature) touch on the rawest edges of what it is to be alive, and the voices in all of us that beg to be released. In each case, the narrator identifies an element, external to the unavailable human connection to “community”, which is strongly redemptive.
I adored this book, and found myself thinking about it long after I closed the last page.
Each and every story captivated me - you will see why, perhaps, from this brief look below:
- A conversation of sparrows (Jon Adams) - a haunting and mysterious look at PTSD, this story tells the tale of the unnamed characters represented by Gardener, Boy, and Soldier and the bonds between them.
- Standard candles (Damian Sawyer - a lovely and uplifting story about ethereal connections, and the magic of friendship and love.
- The Crows (Kate Roy) - A darkly gothic tale of the occult, star crossed lovers, black magic, and of course, crows and more crows.
- Light Revolution (JB Wiskey) (a Favorite) - A Sci-fi fable that tells the epic (and hilarious ) tale of a very strange pair of Academics, who are husband and wife, and the discovery of a new intellectual treatise that may change the world forever.
- The last tree (Sarah) (a Favorite) - A compassionate and incredibly poignant look at man’s alienation, - from ourselves, from others and mostly, from our native environment.
- The clockmaker (Esther Lowery) - Grief, loss, poverty and the redemptive power of love and family in Victorian England.
- The Beach House (Luke Matthews) - A sad and desolate story about anger, loneliness, escape and the collapse of dreams.
- Winona the Angelic Wizard (Richard Baskett) - Hi- jinx ensue when Winona graduates to wizardry and inherits a number of street wise ( and well-dressed!) talking animal friends.
A great big thank you to the authors and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
A collection of eight stories created by the unique voices of a set of authors on the spectrum for autism, this book represents an exciting foray into a lesser-known slice of diversity, an area know as “neuro-diversity”.
First, let me say that, diversity aside, this is a wonderful book, a beautifully curated and truly delightful and unexpected set of stories.
Ranging from the dark and desolate to the magical and hilarious, each little gem stands alone, sparkling with its author’s creativity and vision; each skillfully capturing a time and place and a slice of life that is remarkably easy for the reader to get lost in.
With a bit of a deeper look, however, it is possible to see some themes across stories emerge - themes that may be rooted in the unique lived experiences of those on the spectrum, mingling transparently with a reflection of the shared human experience itself.
Loss, grief, alienation, kindness, control, escape - these stories, often told with a somewhat detached and keenly observant narrative character, (many featuring animals, gardens or nature) touch on the rawest edges of what it is to be alive, and the voices in all of us that beg to be released. In each case, the narrator identifies an element, external to the unavailable human connection to “community”, which is strongly redemptive.
I adored this book, and found myself thinking about it long after I closed the last page.
Each and every story captivated me - you will see why, perhaps, from this brief look below:
- A conversation of sparrows (Jon Adams) - a haunting and mysterious look at PTSD, this story tells the tale of the unnamed characters represented by Gardener, Boy, and Soldier and the bonds between them.
- Standard candles (Damian Sawyer - a lovely and uplifting story about ethereal connections, and the magic of friendship and love.
- The Crows (Kate Roy) - A darkly gothic tale of the occult, star crossed lovers, black magic, and of course, crows and more crows.
- Light Revolution (JB Wiskey) (a Favorite) - A Sci-fi fable that tells the epic (and hilarious ) tale of a very strange pair of Academics, who are husband and wife, and the discovery of a new intellectual treatise that may change the world forever.
- The last tree (Sarah) (a Favorite) - A compassionate and incredibly poignant look at man’s alienation, - from ourselves, from others and mostly, from our native environment.
- The clockmaker (Esther Lowery) - Grief, loss, poverty and the redemptive power of love and family in Victorian England.
- The Beach House (Luke Matthews) - A sad and desolate story about anger, loneliness, escape and the collapse of dreams.
- Winona the Angelic Wizard (Richard Baskett) - Hi- jinx ensue when Winona graduates to wizardry and inherits a number of street wise ( and well-dressed!) talking animal friends.
A great big thank you to the authors and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
August 7, 2021
“The imagination is not a neurotypical place, whether it’s host brain is neurotypical or not... We share a human urge to tell stories, neurotypical or not. We all share an appetite to read and hear stories, neurotypical or not...the reader will find much to enjoy in the following stories. Neurotypical or not.”
Blurb:
In Other Words, an anthology as diverse as the writers themselves. Some cover trauma, societal issues and stigma; others offer fragments of hope and light. Some reach back in time while others transport us to another dimension altogether. There is heartbreak, wit, humour, poignancy and above all a mastery of the imagination.
What these transcendent stories share is that they were created by autistic writers, people often dismissed as unimaginative or incapable of creativity a myth that has persisted for generations. This collection hopes to shatter those stereotypes, those misconceptions and misunderstandings, and the perception that one must be neurotypical to be afforded a voice in the arts.
I buddy read this with the fabulous @flamingo.and.owl.books and we had such fun discussing each short story (well until I had a birthday and fell behind and we had to do a mass catch up last night sorry 😂). We also had such wonderful and open discussions about autism in general that I am incredibly thankful this book was able to facilitate ❤️.
Each story is vastly different and provides a showcase of incredible imagination, some challenged the boundaries of my own imagination (Light Revolution I am looking at you... I have so many questions!) but given the stereotype that autistic writers lack creativity this anthology felt very much like a middle finger up to such beliefs.
My favourite piece was The Last Tree, a beautiful, emotive and poignant story about belonging and understanding your place in the world.
This was a fantastic collection of short stories, if you are a fan of reading eccentric, speculative and imaginative fiction this is one I would recommend.
Thank you to @randomthingstours @mainspring_arts @unbounders for inviting me onto this blog tour.
Blurb:
In Other Words, an anthology as diverse as the writers themselves. Some cover trauma, societal issues and stigma; others offer fragments of hope and light. Some reach back in time while others transport us to another dimension altogether. There is heartbreak, wit, humour, poignancy and above all a mastery of the imagination.
What these transcendent stories share is that they were created by autistic writers, people often dismissed as unimaginative or incapable of creativity a myth that has persisted for generations. This collection hopes to shatter those stereotypes, those misconceptions and misunderstandings, and the perception that one must be neurotypical to be afforded a voice in the arts.
I buddy read this with the fabulous @flamingo.and.owl.books and we had such fun discussing each short story (well until I had a birthday and fell behind and we had to do a mass catch up last night sorry 😂). We also had such wonderful and open discussions about autism in general that I am incredibly thankful this book was able to facilitate ❤️.
Each story is vastly different and provides a showcase of incredible imagination, some challenged the boundaries of my own imagination (Light Revolution I am looking at you... I have so many questions!) but given the stereotype that autistic writers lack creativity this anthology felt very much like a middle finger up to such beliefs.
My favourite piece was The Last Tree, a beautiful, emotive and poignant story about belonging and understanding your place in the world.
This was a fantastic collection of short stories, if you are a fan of reading eccentric, speculative and imaginative fiction this is one I would recommend.
Thank you to @randomthingstours @mainspring_arts @unbounders for inviting me onto this blog tour.
July 15, 2021
This anthology is so important, not only in dispelling myths and stigmas about autism, but also because any book that loudly demonstrates that you don't need to be neurotypical to have a voice in the arts is already a winner for me.
Each story is wildly different, and while I enjoyed this book, there were some stories that have stayed with me on a far more personal level. I want to shout from the rooftops about 'The Last Tree' by Sarah. The last tree in the world is given a narrative voice and this beautifully crafted short story is a love song to nature. An unlikely kinship is explored between the tree and a young boy and I was incredibly moved.
This anthology contains historical fiction, sci-fi, dystopia, thriller, comedy, fables and more. Its diversity is just as much about the writing than the authors. I don't think I've ever read a book which has challenged my imagination so much. Just goes to show that anyone who thinks autism stifles creativity is wildly incorrect.
Each story is wildly different, and while I enjoyed this book, there were some stories that have stayed with me on a far more personal level. I want to shout from the rooftops about 'The Last Tree' by Sarah. The last tree in the world is given a narrative voice and this beautifully crafted short story is a love song to nature. An unlikely kinship is explored between the tree and a young boy and I was incredibly moved.
This anthology contains historical fiction, sci-fi, dystopia, thriller, comedy, fables and more. Its diversity is just as much about the writing than the authors. I don't think I've ever read a book which has challenged my imagination so much. Just goes to show that anyone who thinks autism stifles creativity is wildly incorrect.
June 24, 2021
I'll admit it: I spent a few minutes looking through the small print in this book to find the line that said "Gotcha! All these stories were written by established authors". I couldn't find it because each of these beautifully crafted stories is written by a new voice that I probably wouldn't have heard if not for Mainspring Arts. Why? Because the authors are all autistic, and generally ignored. This collection of 8 stories shows exactly why they shouldn't be ignored, and I truly hope that each author will continue to write (please!) because I will very happily read their work.
If anyone reading this knows any of the authors personally, I would be very grateful if they could pass on my thanks for the little bits of magic they added to my life!
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to RandomTTours
If anyone reading this knows any of the authors personally, I would be very grateful if they could pass on my thanks for the little bits of magic they added to my life!
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to RandomTTours
June 15, 2021
In Other Words features eight short stories which champion the writing of neurodiverse authors, This collection of stories was different than any other collection I had read before, featuring unique styles of writing, and themes as diverse as PTSD and magical talking animals. There were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but all were intriguing and very creative, and some I found I was still thinking about days after reading them. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short story collections or who wants to read something new and original. Well done to Mainspring Arts for creating this opportunity for autistic writers and for readers such as myself who get to enjoy their work.
July 6, 2021
I liked the fact that all the stories are written by autistic writers, I feel as though a lot of the time they don't get to share their stories and I feel as though this is a good thing that needs to be read. So there is eight different stories in this book, they all seem to cover different things like trauma, different issues and stigma's, there seems to be every emotion in each read too. I read each story slowly and really took the words in, and I enjoyed it. I hope this book helps other autistic writers to never give up on their dreams and also gives people an understanding what it is like for an autistic person living in the real world today. I now have more of an understanding from reading this wonderful book that I think everyone should shout about.
July 27, 2021
This is an absolutely gorgeous anthology.
Mainspring arts should be congratulated for pushing this into the world, as all the authors of these great stories are autistic. There are eight different stories in this collection and will contain something for everyone to enjoy.
The standard of writing is excellent and I shall definitely be delving into the collection again.
There is an informative foreword by David Mitchell and introduction by Joanne Limburg. These frame the work perfectly and give an insight into autism. Once you have read this lovely collection please have a look at MainSpring Arts to see the work that they do.
Mainspring arts should be congratulated for pushing this into the world, as all the authors of these great stories are autistic. There are eight different stories in this collection and will contain something for everyone to enjoy.
The standard of writing is excellent and I shall definitely be delving into the collection again.
There is an informative foreword by David Mitchell and introduction by Joanne Limburg. These frame the work perfectly and give an insight into autism. Once you have read this lovely collection please have a look at MainSpring Arts to see the work that they do.
June 27, 2021
Highly engaging collection of diverse short stories from a variety of genres which share one important aspect – they were all written by autistic authors. As an autistic person myself there was much that I found familiar and resonant in the protagonists' points of views and attitudes which I hadn't realised was missing from other stories until I came across it here.
This makes all eight narratives refreshing and authentic – whether taking place in the present, past or in worlds where magic exists or an eighth colour is added to the rainbow.
Thought provoking and fantastic.
This makes all eight narratives refreshing and authentic – whether taking place in the present, past or in worlds where magic exists or an eighth colour is added to the rainbow.
Thought provoking and fantastic.
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