Novels about/by adults with autism (not Rosie Project)

[plainviola]

Can anyone recommend any novels either by or about adults with autism? I found The Rosie Project very stereotyped, and I've read that the author doesn't have autism, so perhaps that's why it didn't feel like he really got into that character's head. Any other suggestions? I already have a list of science fiction from the SN board, but don't often read SF, so other fiction would be good. I am autistic, so I am really just looking for any fiction about people like me, as it's not something I've come across very much.

Susannah Kearsley’s A Desperate Fortune features a women with Asperger’s. I have it, but haven’t read it, but Susannah Kearsley is a reliably talented writer.

Underdogs 1 and 2 by Chris Bonnello.

What about Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata? It doesn't explicitly say the main character has autism but it's certainly suggestive of it (not autistic myself so can't say how accurate it is).

I've just looked all of these up on Goodreads. They all look really interesting, so I will probably read them all. Thank you.

You could try the three Edward books by Craig Lancaster, starting with 600 Hours of Edward. Though if you found the Rosie Project cliched you might feel the same about these. I loved them, however (not autistic but have autistic child).

I've just thought of another - Clem, the hero of An Unseen Attraction by KJ Charles. It's a Victorian set mystery / romance novel - kind of pastiche Wilkie Collins, I really like it. (I do read something other than SF! But still genre fiction )

In Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine she struggles with fitting in / awkwardness and social cues but not specifically autism.

Eleanor Oliphant has been criticised quite a lot on here for not being realistic. In addition to that the reasons for her social problems that are nothing to do with autism and I'd not recommend it to an autistic adult who wants to read about other autistic adults because it has nothing to do with autism.

Grandin

I remember ages ago seeing a programme about this lady. It was fascinating. Maybe some books about her.

Sorry, not fiction as requested.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I will check all of them out. Happy with non-fiction suggestions too, though I've read quite a lot on autism.

I've read Eleanor Oliphant, though have seen the criticism re autism. Perhaps because of my autism I've enjoyed novels where characters have mental health conditions or are outsiders or loners for some other reason. So I liked EO and others on similar themes like The Shock of the Fall and Rachel Joyce's Perfect.

It’s not an adult, it’s a teen character, but ‘the colour of bee larkhams murder’ is a good read.

plainviola have you read / do you like Mansfield Park? I really like Fanny Price, she makes a great change from Jane Austen's extrovert, socially competent heroines.

Non fiction - Neurotribes by Steve Silberman. It’s quite heavy going but readable and really interesting. His Ted Talks are also good.

With the Light is a graphic novel about raising a child with autism that parents I’ve worked with have raved about.

Bee Larkham sounds interesting - thanks.

I have read Mansfield Park but many years ago. Maybe I'll give it another go - I can't really remember what my thoughts were about it, so it might be interesting to read it now.

I've read Neurotribes, but haven't come across With the Light - it looks interesting, thanks.

If you like chick lit/romance I've heard The Kiss Quotient has an autistic main character.

Not fiction, but have you read the wonderful’Women from another planet’?

@Standrewsschool

Grandin

I remember ages ago seeing a programme about this lady. It was fascinating. Maybe some books about her.

She is also a writer, though not of fiction.

@plainviola try Explaining Humans by Camilla Pang, very good read and I believe it won the Royal Society of Science book prize.

I haven't read it myself but I bought Ds (16 and asd) 'the reason I jump' after I had it recommended

Not keen on chicklit, but will definitely have a look at the others. I thought I'd already read lots of factual books on autism, but most of these are new to me. Thanks.

There is a book out soon called A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan, who has autism. There is a romance element but from what I can see it is a more realistic (and celebratory) view of how a person wih autism might experience relationships. I'm hoping it's that, anyway.

For non-fiction, I read Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer recently, which is the author's account of taking part in the Trans-Mongolian horse race. I was struck by her unique world view and wondered if she might be on the spectrum, though she doesn't mention it. For example, her descriptions of the landscape are intense and unusual, and her interactions with people also struck a chord with me.

Interestingly her aunt, Lucinda Prior-Palmer, sounds similar.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicol is wonderful. Author is neurodiverse and about 11 year old autistic girl. Probably aimed at teens but thoroughly enjoyable as adult.

Temple Grandin's book Animals in Translation is brilliant

Thanks for these extra suggestions - I am writing them all down. I had never head of most of the suggestions and they all sound interesting - I'm excited to have a neurodiverse to-read list.