A review by bardicbramley
Show Us Who You Are, by Elle McNicoll
5.0
Wow.
Once again, Elle McNicoll has absolutely ruined my heart in the best possible way.
I have so many thoughts and emotions right now.
This is why I love reading. Everything about Show Me, and Spark before it, reminds me why I love to read.
I started this book today, and I just didn't want to put it down. I've been struggling to focus on reading (or really anything) since Christmas, so that says an awful lot about this story.
By a third of the way I could feel my eyes watering, and for the remaining two thirds, it persisted with a strength I had forgotten I could feel. The emotional roller coaster that I went on reading this was intense; but also, beautifully raw. It maintained such a careful and perfect balance that never tipped into numb or confusing, but constantly prised just a little bit more empathy as you worked your way through the mystery.
Knowing that this book was written during the covid-19 pandemic, as well as still living in lockdown during reading, likely made this story that much stronger for me. The pain that the world collectively had been though, as well as the grief of those individuals greatly affected, can be felt with every word.
I have been following Elle McNicoll on twitter since I read Spark, and I am aware that she suffered a painful loss that led to writing this. I can feel that honest love in every word. The creation of this book feels to me to be so much more than a beautiful story; it is an act of love. Both to those the author has lost, and of self love.
I can't honestly tell you if McNicoll is simply a genius with her skill for writing, or if reading a fellow autistic author's work somehow connects to me in a different way, but I am utterly in awe of her art.
I will likely read this again from the viewpoint of a teacher once I have recovered, but for now, I would highly recommend for anyone, of any age, as a novel or power, grief and self-acceptance alone.
Once again, Elle McNicoll has absolutely ruined my heart in the best possible way.
I have so many thoughts and emotions right now.
This is why I love reading. Everything about Show Me, and Spark before it, reminds me why I love to read.
I started this book today, and I just didn't want to put it down. I've been struggling to focus on reading (or really anything) since Christmas, so that says an awful lot about this story.
By a third of the way I could feel my eyes watering, and for the remaining two thirds, it persisted with a strength I had forgotten I could feel. The emotional roller coaster that I went on reading this was intense; but also, beautifully raw. It maintained such a careful and perfect balance that never tipped into numb or confusing, but constantly prised just a little bit more empathy as you worked your way through the mystery.
Knowing that this book was written during the covid-19 pandemic, as well as still living in lockdown during reading, likely made this story that much stronger for me. The pain that the world collectively had been though, as well as the grief of those individuals greatly affected, can be felt with every word.
I have been following Elle McNicoll on twitter since I read Spark, and I am aware that she suffered a painful loss that led to writing this. I can feel that honest love in every word. The creation of this book feels to me to be so much more than a beautiful story; it is an act of love. Both to those the author has lost, and of self love.
I can't honestly tell you if McNicoll is simply a genius with her skill for writing, or if reading a fellow autistic author's work somehow connects to me in a different way, but I am utterly in awe of her art.
I will likely read this again from the viewpoint of a teacher once I have recovered, but for now, I would highly recommend for anyone, of any age, as a novel or power, grief and self-acceptance alone.