The Existence of Amy - Lan Grace Riva

Description

Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of 'no obvious indicators of peculiarity', and you didn't know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy's real life. The only one her brain will let her lead.

A fictional story that depicts the reality of mental illness behind a perception of normality.

Review

When I began the book I wasn't sure it was going to be for me as Chapter 1 was a first hand experience of Amy's bus journey. I had empathy with her issues on the journey, but I worried it was going to be a little depressive to read. Chapter 2 came and I was hooked!

Over the years I have met and worked with many people who others have considered not "normal". I've been laughed at for giving them the time of day or even being friends with them. When Chapter 2 begins Amy is at the office and I could see an all too familiar scenario of how she was being perceived by others. I could also relate to the actions of her boss in dealing with her behaviour of not committing, seemingly blanking social occasions with her colleagues and generally acting weird.

Whilst this is a novel I felt that the book gave a real insight into what it is like for someone in Amy's position. Narrated in the first person you begin to see the world through her eyes. She can't sit and relax on the bus in case she touches anything she doesn't know is clean, she can't touch the bell to stop the bus. She wants to but she just can't.

When Amy's firm decides that she and her colleagues should go to Australia for a work trip I was so hoping she was going to make it. I was so invested in her that I even told my partner about what I had read so far, it felt so real. Was she going to bow out at the last moment. She makes it to the airport - great. But then she feels ill and goes to the toilets - now will she be able to face her fears and make it onto the flight...

I think fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" would enjoy this book. I would hope that those who have little time for someone who is "different" might read the book. But I worry that if they are not sympathetic they will just see it as a book where someone is moaning.

I'm giving this book five out of five stars. I won a copy of this book and enjoyed it so much I decided to review it.

Comments

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