Nobody Nowhere..autisticLabeled deaf, retarded, disturbed, and insane, Donna Williams lived in a world of her own. Alternating between rigid hostility and extroversion, she waged what she termed her war against "the world." She lived in a dreamlike state, withdrawn, viewing her incomprehensible surroundings from the security of a "world under glass, " parroting the voices of those around her in the hope that they would leave her alone. Few people understood her, least of all Donna herself. She knew only that something was wrong with her, and she yearned to be "normal." It was not until three years ago, when Donna was twenty-five, that she discovered the word - autism - that would at last give her the opportunity to understand herself and to build a bridge to join the real world. Nobody Nowhere, Donna's extraordinary autobiography, is her attempt to come to terms with autism and is a vivid memoir of the titanic struggles she has endured in her quest to merge "my world" with "the world." The book takes readers on an incredible journey into the mind of an autistic person and in the process gives an unprecedented insider's view of a little-understood condition and destroys the many myths and misconceptions about autism. As useful as the label of autism has been for her, her memoir reveals that the label does not define her. This eloquent, often searing book also illuminates her fierce intelligence, creativity, and sense of humor. Hers is a story of incredible courage and inspiration, too. Reared in an extremely hostile environment, Donna faced the ever-present threat of institutionalization. Instead, she ran away from home at a young age, survived on the streets, and even managed to get herself through college.Today she lives independently. While Nobody Nowhere will be a breakthrough book for autistic people and their families, its poetic sensibility and extraordinary insights will make it inspired reading for anyone interested in the soul of the mind. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - ThePinesLibrary - LibraryThingThis book is a fascinating, courageous and true story by a young woman about her childhood. Donna Williams has autism and yet has managed to develop into a perceptive and thoughtful adult who has the ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - IonaS - LibraryThingThis is quite a challenging book for me to review. It is an autobiographical account by an Australian girl called Donna who has "characters", as she terms them, named Carol and Willie. Donna adopted ... Read full review
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Nobody Nowhere: The Remarkable Autobiography of an Autistic Girl Donna Williams Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
ability asked autistic aware became become began behavior Bryn called Carol child Chris cial close colors dancing darkness daugh decided doll Donna Williams door dream emotional emotional insecurity everything explained eyes face father fear feel felt flat food allergies food intolerance frightened hair hand IIII Illl interac Julian kittens knew laugh learned listening little brother little girl live looked loved Mary mind mirror mother moved never night night terrors normal onymous person piano play problems psychiatrist reach response Robyn Salvation Army schizophrenia scream seemed sense silent simply sleep someone sort sound spoke staring stay stood stranger stray cats street talk teacher tell things thought Tim loved tion tism told took touch tremely tried Trish trying understand vitamins voice walked wanted watching Willie wisps words
Bibliographic information
| Title | Nobody Nowhere..autistic |
| Author | Donna Williams |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Harper Collins, 1994 |
| ISBN | 0380722178, 9780380722174 |
| Length | 219 pages |
| Subjects | › Self-Help / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |