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But recently I've been finding that so many of the most interesting ideas are in the kids' section - thinks Mortal Engines, Dark Materials etc etc etc...

pcwells wrote:But recently I've been finding that so many of the most interesting ideas are in the kids' section - thinks Mortal Engines, Dark Materials etc etc etc...

Absolutely. The kids section tends to be the place where I find novels that I want to read, rather than novels I feel I ought to read.

Short stories that you can dip and out of would be good for here H.P. Lovecraft, the Grimm fairy tales, Dickens ghost stories, Andrew Lang fairy books.

Roald Dahl's short stories, Tales of the Unexpected, are also quite superb. Definitely worth a read.

MagicBell wrote:As someone on the autistic spectrum (are you really?), do you not find that reason to be interested in the Curious Incident? It's about a severely autistic boy.
Its also surprising because most people diagnosed as being autistic are supposedly boys/men, and to add further, it's apparently become more and more common, so as someone of a more mature nature, you seem to be in an even smaller minority.

But considering you said "on the autistic spectrum", I'd imagine it's probably pretty mild.

Yes, I have mild Asperger's syndrome. I've learned to arrange my affairs so that I can "pretend to be normal" and not have any problems in everyday life. (Pretending to Be Normal is a great book on the subject.)

I don't think autism is becoming more common, it's just being diagnosed more often. Asperger's wasn't even described in English scientific papers until 1984, so there would have been no chance of me being diagnosed as a child. I was just "an eccentric loner" and under a lot of pressure to behave more normally.

There is a very interesting theory that autism is essentially an exaggerated amount of "maleness" in the brain wiring. This would explain why it's more common in males, since they're already likely to be nearer that end of the neurological spectrum. This explains many of the features of autism, such as fascination with computers, machinery, numbers, and facts, lack of interest in relationships, and propensity to become obsessive over one thing at a time.

Recently there's been a small amount of research into whether there's a corresponding disorder of "anti-autism" in which there is an exaggerated amount of "femaleness" in the brain. Preliminary studies suggest that there is, but it's not generally recognised as an abnormality. Such a person would be highly attuned to people, emotions, and relationships, and not at all interested in procedures, facts, data, and so on.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

Robbie wrote:Recently there's been a small amount of research into whether there's a corresponding disorder of "anti-autism" in which there is an exaggerated amount of "femaleness" in the brain. Preliminary studies suggest that there is, but it's not generally recognised as an abnormality. Such a person would be highly attuned to people, emotions, and relationships, and not at all interested in procedures, facts, data, and so on.

Maybe it can be classed as a male acting "overly-camp"?

I too have heard of autism described as 'being male'. I must admit I find it a very interesting condition. I've often considered some of my own personal traits as seeming rather autistic-like, but then on the other hand I'm generally very emotionally involved, so it's okay.
I think because of this, many people may be quick to put a label on what essentially may be a very mild condition - and if it is indeed just an exaggerated case of normal behaviour, then surely mild cases are basically pretty normal.

Back to books, The Alchemist was pretty cool and was one of the books that I read before becoming a more regular reader, so it could very well be a good selection - although the theme could well be likely to alienate certain readers (although this could be levelled at any book, I think this one maybe more so).
That's not a complaint though. I think this book is a good suggestion and it's one that I'll consider. Thanks.

Mortal Engines is an interesting suggestion because I've come across it recently, but not read it. Being 'children's books', does that mean they're really quite childish/simple or is it just that the content is suitable for children but still quite mature and in-depth?

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel (sp?) by Susannah Clarke is an excellent novel. It's set in an alternate Victorian England about two magicians who revive practical English magic.

I've read it several times, and it just gets better with each read.

Gary Dickson wrote:Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel (sp?) by Susannah Clarke is an excellent novel. It's set in an alternate Victorian England about two magicians who revive practical English magic.

I've read it several times, and it just gets better with each read.

I didn't like that book very much. I don't think I gave it a good go the first time... Or the second time... Or when I got it on CD at the library. Maybe it's just a cursed book for me.

Really? Wow. I loved it. The language, the level of detail, the footnotes (oh! the glorious footnotes!).

But, it's probably not everyone's cup of tea.

Gary Dickson wrote:Really? Wow. I loved it. The language, the level of detail, the footnotes (oh! the glorious footnotes!).

But, it's probably not everyone's cup of tea.

I think the footnotes put me off. (oh! so many footnotes!)

I think the footnotes put me off. (oh! so many footnotes!)

Just goes to show: one man's gold is another man's sh*t!

Agreed.

MagicBell wrote:I too have heard of autism described as 'being male'. I must admit I find it a very interesting condition. I've often considered some of my own personal traits as seeming rather autistic-like, but then on the other hand I'm generally very emotionally involved, so it's okay.
I think because of this, many people may be quick to put a label on what essentially may be a very mild condition - and if it is indeed just an exaggerated case of normal behaviour, then surely mild cases are basically pretty normal.

"Basically pretty normal" is an adequate objective assessment of my life -- that is, from the outside. From the inside it's very different. Anyway, back to books.

MagicBell wrote:Being 'children's books', does that mean they're really quite childish/simple or is it just that the content is suitable for children but still quite mature and in-depth?

A well-written children's book is a well-written book, full stop. Writing for children is just as difficult and skilful as writing for adults, and the end result should be equally meaningful and enjoyable.

The dividing line is very blurred between books written for adults and books written for older children and teenagers. Sometimes it just comes down to what the author claims. Pre-teens and teenagers often read some adult books alongside books written for their own age groups. My friends and I were devouring Agatha Christie novels at the age of 11, for instance. Similarly, there are plenty of adults who enjoy reading Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Black Beauty, Little Women, and so on.

A children's book almost always features children as the main characters; an adult book can have protagonists of any age, including children. Modern books written for older children and teenagers often deal with hard, gritty topics like sex, violence, alcohol, and drugs -- but they're expected to avoid graphic sex and violence, and excessive or gratuitious cruelty. Children's books are generally expected to have a moral viewpoint and to end on an upbeat, hopeful, or happy note. Children's books are also written in simpler language, but there's not really much difference in reading level between a "young adult" novel and many adult genre novels.