Dammit (Look me in the eye)

Look me in the Eye is a memoir by the brother of the Author who published his (first) Memior a number of years ago now (Running with Scissors – 2003).

I have read Running with Scissors a while ago and I saw the author (Augusten Burroughs) when he was visiting Melbourne (Australia) for the Book Festival in 2007. Running with scissors is a disturbing, but very entertaining read. Barroughs was one of the best talkers at the festival, so when someone at the book club recommended Look me in the Eye, I was looking forward to it. I guess there are not too many brothers who have both published a memoir. I was looking forward to getting a different perspective of a very dysfunctional family. I was not disappointed.

It was a very different perspective. The brothers are totally different. For one John Elder Robinson (the older brother) has Aspergers. He does not know he has Aspergers until he is much older, but sadly, that does not stop it from affecting his life. The first thing you might notice when comparing the two works is the writing style. Robinson writes factually and without many stylistic devices. Maybe if I did not know that he had Aspergers I would not have understood why the book was reading like an instruction manual and I would not have got through it, but I think not. It was really interesting and funny. I think he might lose a few people in the middle of the book when he starts going into some technical stuff, but I was really impressed by that so it was ok for me.

Apparently this book has been great for people living with Asperges. It was only recently discovered and so many went undiagnosed for some time (an I would guess still do). The author (and his brother) claims to get lots of communication from people who are very grateful for what has been published.

Great read, even if you usually don’t like Memoirs (I don’t) – 3.5 stars

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p.s.

I had previously read a Novel from the point of view of a young boy with Asperges, titled The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I was interested how authentic this work of fiction was. I can be confident in recommending the Curious Incident now, as the Robinson recommends it himself.

p.p.s.

Next book is ‘The Time traveler’s Wife’. I only got this book two days ago, but I am already half way through (I am a slow reader ok). This is my type of book.

p.p.p.s.

Do you realize if it weren’t for Edison we’d be watching TV by candlelight?
- Al Boliska