It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Strong Female Character by Fern Brady.
About the Author
Fern Brady is a woman. She is also autistic. She was born in Scotland (no, not Glasgow). She has no pre-sets for being a 'good woman' - she never hated her body or indulged in messy millennial shame. She now lives out of wedlock in London. She has zero children.
Fern's caustic wit, exceptional writing and electric stage craft has made her one of the UK's hottest comedy stars. As seen on Live from the BBC, Live from the Comedy Store, The Russell Howard Hour, and Live at the Apollo. She's had viral success with her BBC Life Lessons and supported Frankie Boyle and Katherine Ryan on tour. She can currently be seen on Taskmaster on Channel 4. Follow @FernBrady on X
About the book
Fern: A summary of my book:
1. I'm diagnosed with autism 20 years after telling a doctor I had it.
2. My terrible Catholic childhood: I hate my parents etc.
3. My friendship with an elderly man who runs the corner shop and is definitely not trying to groom me. I get groomed.
4. Homelessness.
5. Stripping.
6. More stripping but with more nervous breakdowns.
7. I hate everyone at uni and live with a psycho etc.
8. REDACTED as too spicy.
9. After everyone tells me I don't look autistic, I try to cure my autism and get addicted to Xanax.
10. REDACTED as too embarrassing.
I'm going to stray from the well trodden path of observations and experiences of finding this memoir 'a riot or funny' - I did however find it a deeply introspective experience. A memoir that is an open living document of memories, visceral reactions and constant questioning.
As a parent of a diagnosed and undiagnosed neurodivergent persons, I found the interactions with her parents quite interesting. Thirty-three to forty years ago the Western world was still on the cusp of discovering and trying to understand neurodiversity. A time when blame was sought in food sources, environmental reasons, and of course the great vaccine and mercury poisoning theories. Also a time when many countries didn't recognise neurodiversity and bad parenting was a word often thrown about.
Also, I might add, a time when the possibility of a genetic trait or link had yet to be introduced or proven. Now many parents of neurodiverse children, both young and of adult age, are realising that one or both of said parents are also neurodivergent.
Schools refusing to engage with medical, therapeutic care or suggestions. The reality of trying to help your child succeed, progress, stay safe and healthy in a world created for neurotypical children and adults, and doing so whilst climbing insurmountable mountains for them. There is basic lack of understanding of this at first, but towards the end of the book there are some moments of clarity.
I concur with the sentiment of young neurodiverse individuals being brave enough to withstand the judgemental world of social media in our era, and doing so to give insight into their world, minds and neurodiversity. They have become a teaching tool, and I would include newly diagnosed adults in the same group.
It's a fast-paced memoir fuelled by frustration, anger and this element of not being able to reach something that is just ever so slightly out of reach. When Fern does receive confirmation it also comes with the realisation that nothing changes, despite an overriding label. The daily battle, the need for masking to suit societal expectations, the meltdowns, the shutting down - all that changes is knowing the why. Everything else is one step at a time, day by day.
Buy Strong Female Character at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Octopus, pub date 11 January 2024. Buy at Amazon com. At Bookshop.org.
