Invisible Differences Review
Summary: Sometimes learning our limitations can be liberating.
4.3
Delightfully different
Marguerite struggles every day to live in a world that often feels overwhelming. She finds it hard to stay productive at work with all the noise of her co-workers, to maintain social connections with her friends and to conform to her boyfriends expectations. All of this comes to a head that leads her to get to the bottom of her troubles and she learns that she actually has Aspergers. The diagnosis changes her life… for the better.
Writing
When this title popped up I was instantly intrigued and upon reading I was charmed by the story. Arguably one of the greatest strengths of this book is the way it takes the reader along on the journey of discovery that goes from a world perceived as chaos to a world that makes sense. A world that doesn’t want to know about difficulties to one that understands and supports the limitations some people face. It’s very careful and considered writing that doesn’t pass judgement at anyone, not even at those who know people with Aspergers but perhaps don’t treat them in an ideal way. It is written in a way that accepts that for some people “invisible differences” are essentially non existent to them and they sometimes need help recognising and accepting people whose lives have more challenges than their own.
Artwork
The panels throughout here are simple, not particularly cluttered and easy to follow. The visual style, I think, mirrors that notion of what it is like to be in a world that seems full of chaos… the panels range from nice and neat, easy to absorb, to cluttered and busy. These visual representations of the world do a lovely subtle (and not so subtle) job of giving a feel of what the world can be like for someone with Aspergers or similar conditions.
Final Thoughts
Earlier this year I actually considered seeking a test to see if I might be on the Autism spectrum. I’m about 99% sure I have Misophonia and I have some other quirks that do make me wonder if I perhaps sit somewhere on the spectrum. That alone was enough for me to want to read this book, that and I have a curiousity for these sorts of things anyway. I would heartily recommend this book for anyone who has Aspergers, who feels they might, who knows someone who has Aspergers or who has any trouble dealing with the world around them… I guess really I’m saying I think everyone can get something out of this book… there’s a chance it might also sound familiar to some readers who previously hadn’t connected the dots and if it can help them learn more about their situation and how to adjust their world accordingly then I hope that happens. A lovely book, well worth a read!
Publisher: Oni Press
Writer: Julie Dachez
Artist: Mademoiselle Caroline
Genre: Biographical
Format: 201pgs, FC, OGN
Release Date: 19th August, 2020
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
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