How to Continue to be Autistic
Review of the NetGalley eBook ARC downloaded July 2, 2024 of the Jessica Kingsley Publishing paperback / eBook released June 21, 2024.

I wrote my life out in short little chapters and I called it [b:How to Be Autistic|53118079|How to Be Autistic|Charlotte Amelia Poe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568242393l/53118079._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73350166], and I never read it again, because I had peeled my skin and shown you the delicate organs inside, and that was scary. Sometimes, late at night, I like to think about how many copies of that book I have sold, and then I can really freak myself out.

I found the author's first memoir to be both a shocking, revealing and ultimately uplifting reading experience. I'm not quite neurotypical myself, as I do have various compulsive and obsessive traits and am prone to introversion. So I'm sort of spectrum adjacent say. That makes books related to neurodivergence of interest to me, even when they may be scary when I recognize certain patterns in my own life.

Conversations with Monsters is both a further memoir, but is mostly an extended essay which is summarized in its subtitle as "On mortality, creativity and neurodivergent survival." It documents Poe's life particularly after her publication of the first memoir, her gradual experience of getting out more in the world due to the book's success and then the subsequent shutdown and retreat in the COVID lockdown era. The book is primarily written in the leadup to Christmas 2022, so is not quite up to date.

It is difficult reading at times, with Poe's despair of losing her audience during the pandemic and the abandoning of several books in the process. But if you look at the several books of stories and poems that have been published since that time i.e. 2023 onwards, there has certainly been a turnaround. And relax, there is love (particularly of her supportive family and friends) and humour as well with Poe's characteristic asides:

I do not remember where this name came from, except that I stole my surname from ol' Edgar Allan, because I wanted to imagine one of my books sitting beside his one day. I admit I did not understand book categorization, I have yet to write anything even remotely similar to his works, and I doubt I ever will, but it was a nice dream, and a little bit of motivation when I needed it most.

I enjoyed this further non-fiction memoir / essay by Poe and hope that they continue providing readers with stories of their progress in life and as a writer.

My thanks to author Charlotte Amelia Poe, Jessica Kingsley Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.

Soundtrack
Phoebe Bridgers is a current favourite singer/songwriter of author Charlotte Amelia Poe in this book, so here is a set from a 2018 performance at the KEXP radio studio which you can watch on YouTube here.

Trivia and Links
This book provides a short listing of books of related interest which are:
[b:We're All Neurodiverse|125278801|We're All Neurodiverse|Sonny Jane Wise|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1688427233l/125278801._SY75_.jpg|146722497] (November 21, 2023) by [a:Sonny Jane Wise|22245454|Sonny Jane Wise|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
[b:Looking After Your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being|93120250|Looking After Your Autistic Self A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being|Niamh Garvey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679364116l/93120250._SY75_.jpg|117375251] (March 21, 2023) by [a:Niamh Garvey|25798092|Niamh Garvey|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
[b:So, I'm Autistic: An Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens|95587268|So, I'm Autistic An Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens|Sarah O'Brien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682388488l/95587268._SY75_.jpg|119631015] (June 21, 2023) by [a:Sarah O'Brien|654643|Sarah O'Brien|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers has a further extensive list of books categorized as All Autism and Neurodiversity which you can see listed at their website here.