A Room Called Earth

One afternoon, I gingerly arose from my slumber to hear Madeleine talk about her book on NPR. Her description of the central character as having a rich interior world really spoke to me. I wasn’t disappointed once I read the book. It’s beautiful – the way that the narrator is so authentically herself, so fully engaged in the world despite the pressure to attend to the social facade. Although I do not have autism myself, I do have ADHD and from what I’ve read, it seems that these two neuroatypical conditions have some aspects in common. I’ve never read anyone describe the simple joy of engaging in her rich interior world. As someone who often oscillates between wanting to belong more in the outer social world and loving to simply exist in my own inner world, I felt a lot of comfort and joy in reading the narrator’s experience. I highly recommend this book. It is such joy! *does chef kiss with hands muah!*

Spoilers: The back of this book sounded so promising, but for me it was boring. And the back of the book says she is autistic but she does not at all appear to have autism. she is awkward and very much into nature but she still communicates and likes to be touched.

The book dragged too. It would go on in way too much detail of all the trees around her and the structures of the houses. Or of all the past boyfriend she has and their relationship. Which She has a lot of past boyfriends and very sexual.
Really these just dont add up to autsim. Aspergers maybe and thats pushing it but Def not autism.

To get into, stay with, and benefit from this book, which has a lot to offer if you can get past the narrator’s voice –i found the voice intrusive, rambling, overfull of somewhat trite philosophical observations. The story, such as it is, gets more interesting and leaves you wanting a little more. I finished the book because it had been chosen by my book group; otherwise I’m sure i would have gone on to something else. Don’t really know if the book can be called demanding, implying that there’s something truly wonderful hiding in it, or just difficult.

I found the narrator to be one of the most upbeat people I have read about. She dealt with the sadness in her life in remarkable ways. Her perspective was amazing. Her mind never shuts down. My only complaint is that my journey with her was way too short.

Interesting take on young single life from the perspective of a woman on the autism spectrum. Set in present day Australia, amid fires and their devastation.

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