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Late Bloomer

Clem Bastow
How an Autism Diagnosis Changed My Life
Clem Bastow grew up feeling like she’d missed a key memo on human behaviour. Then at age 36 she received a life-changing diagnosis: she was autistic.
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Introducing a bold new voice in Australian nonfiction, Late Bloomer is a heartfelt coming-of-age memoir that will change the way you think about autism.  

Clem Bastow grew up feeling like she’d missed a key memo on human behaviour. She found the unspoken rules of social engagement confusing, arbitrary and often stressful. Friendships were hard, relationships harder, and the office was a fluorescent-lit nightmare of anxiety. It wasn’t until Clem was diagnosed as autistic, at age 36, that things clicked into focus. 

The obsession with sparkly things and dinosaurs. The encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music. The meltdowns that would come on like a hurricane. The ability to write eloquently while conquering basic maths was like trying to understand ancient Greek. These weren’t just ‘personality quirks’ but autistic traits that shaped Clem’s life in powerful ways. 

With wit and warmth, Clem reflects as an autistic adult on her formative experiences as an undiagnosed young person, from the asphalt playground of St Joseph's Primary School in Melbourne to working as an entertainment journalist in Hollywood. Along the way she challenges the broader cultural implications and ideas around autism, especially for women and gender-diverse people. Deconstructing the misconceptions and celebrating the realities of autistic experience, Late Bloomer is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious, and will stay with you long after the reading.

Late Bloomer is my new special interest. For anyone who has been overlooked by diagnosis bias, Clem Bastow is your brilliant new neurokin. Reverberating with intense detail, Late Bloomer is a deep dive into gender, pop culture, obsession and the roles we try on for size.  
 
Details:
ISBN:
9781743796009
Format:
Paperback
Page Count:
272
Dimensions:
23.40cm x 15.30cm
Weight:
340g
Publisher:
Hardie Grant Books
Genre:
Biography & Memoir
Publish date:
Jul 7th, 2021