Publication date: 19 April 2018
Publisher: Trapeze
Pages: 288
Genre: Non-Fiction – Memoir
Format read: Audiobook
A life-affirming and perspective-shifting memoir of one woman’s walk in the wilds as she comes to terms with an Asperger’s diagnosis.
In August 2015, Katherine May set out to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path. She wanted to understand why she had stopped coping with everyday life; why motherhood had been so overwhelming and isolating, and why the world felt full of inundation and expectations she can’t meet. Setting her feet down on the rugged and difficult path by the sea, the answer begins to unfold. It’s a chance encounter with a voice on the radio that sparks a realisation that she has Asperger’s Syndrome.
The Electricity of Every Living Thing tells the story of the year in which Katherine comes to terms with her diagnosis. It leads to a re-evaluation of her life so far – a kinder one, which finally allows her to be different rather than simply awkward, arrogant or unfeeling. The physical and psychological journeys become inextricably entwined, and as Katherine finds her way across the untameable coast, she also finds the way to herself.
This book is a life-affirming exploration of wild landscapes, what it means to be different and, above all, how we can all learn to make peace within our own unquiet minds.
Rating: ★★★
My thoughts:
As someone who has been informally diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in my late forties, I am always interested to learn how others in similar positions came to their own later in life diagnosis. I feel compelled to understand how their diagnosis affects their lives and in turn see a little of myself in their story. As such, I was eager to read The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May, touted as a “life-affirming exploration of wild landscapes, what it means to be different and, above all, how we can all learn to make peace within our own unquiet minds”.
Expecting the “physical and psychological journeys” to be “inextricably entwined”, I was disappointed to note that the book felt like two separate stories – one the journey through rain and mud along the coast line of Devon and the other about the author’s ASD diagnosis.
The physical journey – What started as a passion and a strong held ambition to walk the rugged coastline turned into a whiny journey through harsh weather with little to no regard for her family. While I initially enjoyed the scenic descriptions of the beautiful cliff faces, sky and the sea, I ended up being completely annoyed by the author’s inability to forward plan, to consider the weather, her clothing, the distance. I felt like the whole walk was a selfish jaunt, with her long suffering husband dropping her off and picking her up, dragging their little boy from place to place. Then there were the moments where she quit or skipped sections of the walk…really? How important is this goal to you really?
The there was the psychological journey – similar to my journey in that I was listening to a podcast with my daughter to better understand her neurodivergence and began to ask questions, recognising so many attributes of ASD in myself. Seeking answers, I too began to do the research, take the tests, read the books etc.
I related to some of the struggles the author faced with touch, noise, crowds and socialising and particularly the way having autism affected her experience of motherhood in the early years of young babies that need so much connection. However, I felt that the author used her diagnosis as an excuse. While it’s good to understand and accept who you are as a person, why you do and feel the things you do, it’s not good enough to blame the unkindness you have shown to others on a diagnosis without apology. And that is what it felt like. Absolutely advocate for yourself and your needs but know that you and your needs are no more important than anyone else’s. Everyone has a right to understanding and acceptance, regardless of diagnosis or not…. (ooh that got a bit ranty).
Anyway,….I listened to this on audiobook read by the author. It was well written and narrated but I could only give it 3 stars.
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