A Book by a Person Living with a Non-Apparent Disability: Picks for the TPL Reading Challenge 2023
Unless and until things hit us at a personal level, we often overlook them as if they are of little or no concern to us. I was brought to this realization back when a young relative of mine was diagnosed with a chronic illness with no outward manifestation. Hence, the 2023 Reading Challenge category "a book by a person living with a non-apparent disability” strikes a special chord with me.
A non-apparent disability, sometimes called a hidden or invisible disability, is not immediately obvious. It can refer to chronic illness, pain conditions, mental illnesses, learning and attention issues, physical illnesses, neurodiversity and many other disabilities that are not apparent.
My book recommendations for the category "a book by a person living with a non-apparent disability” include:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
How often have we wondered as to what our lives would have been if we had made a different choice or taken a different career path or done things another way. Nora Seed, the main character goes through a similar thought process and is constantly filled with regrets until she realizes that people's worst enemy is not the lives not lived but regrets, which shrivel and wither us, not allowing us to reach our potential. Haig's mental breakdown, when he was 24 years old, and his frequent attacks of anxiety, are the inspiration for many of his books including this. The author once said of his low point, "I wanted to end it all, but surviving and thriving is the lesson I pass on."
The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
It's not just uniquely written verse but this book provides us with an insight into the world of living with deafness. Raymond Antrobus, in this debut collection of poems, goes through a plethora of emotions ranging from anger, grief and vulnerability following his father's death. The author was told he had learning disabilities until his deafness was discovered when he was six: when his father read him a picture book. “Deafness is an experience, not a trauma. A diagnosis is not a tragic story, but managing it is a very real concern," Antrobus had once famously commented. A great collection of poems.
Other categories:
- A book about survival
- A book you would recommend to your younger self
Staff Recommendations
Here are recommendations from TPL staff for this category:
The Girls are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh
This is an interesting YA paranormal horror book, written by an author who has Type 1 diabetes and is active in raising awareness about this autoimmune disease. The main character, 17-year-old Dare Chase, is a ghost hunter and runs a spooky podcast while dealing with her type 1 diabetes.
—Emily P, Librarian
Parenthesis by Élodie Durand
This is an autobiographical graphic novel and it relates to the author's experience with tumor-related epilepsy. Judith is barely out of her teens when a tumor begins pressing on her brain, leading to seizures, memory gaps, and loss of self. The sentence of her normal life has been interrupted by the opening of a parenthesis that may never close. Great book!
—Emily P, Librarian
Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life with Dyspraxia by Rosemary Richings
The author was diagnosed with dyspraxia as a child and the book is part memoir, part guidebook for other dyspraxics. She vividly describes the lived experience of dyspraxia and how she learned to "own" her disability and become an advocate and activist.
—Susan, Senior Services Specialist, Youth Services
One Friday in April: A Story of Suicide and Survival by Donald Antrim
A harrowing, gripping memoir by the novelist Donald Antrim about his depression, his time spent in the hospital, and his thoughts about how we think and talk about suicide and mental illness.
Other categories:
- A book about survival
- A book with a month in the title
- A book about friendship
—Joel, Librarian
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
This memoir shares the author's experience with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and her journey to understanding and healing. Since the research around complex PTSD is still emerging, the author shares her process to learn more about herself through interviews with scientists, psychologists and different forms of therapies. She also researched her family history to learn more about intergenerational trauma. This was a powerful memoir, and one that I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the effect trauma can have on a person's behaviour and body.
—Nalini, Senior Services Specialist, Learning & Community Engagement
What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness - Lessons from a Body in Revolt by Tessa Miller
Tessa was a young 20-something who was an ambitious writer until one day her stomach seizes up in unimaginable pain. At first, she toughs it out, takes sick days, and cannot leave the bathroom or her bed. It takes years of procedures, misdiagnoses and life-threatening infections until she gets a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. She realizes she will never get better.
This book is very personal to me as I also have Crohn's disease, as does my dad and recently my daughter. Whether the illness is arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, endometriosis, diabetes and many other "unseen" diseases, it can be hard to navigate and seek help. Be an advocate for your health and the health of loved ones.
—Jennifer, PSA
Dumb: Living Without a Voice by Georgia Webber
This book is an autobiographical graphic novel. Georgia is a twentysomething in Montreal when a sudden unanticipated throat injury forces her into months of silence and her life is thrown into disarray. Navigating a world that appears to be closing in on her seems more and more impossible. Part memoir, part medical cautionary tale, Dumb tells the story of how the book's author copes with the everyday challenges that come with voicelessness.
Other categories:
- A book about survival
- A non-fiction graphic novel
—Jo-Ann, Library Assistant
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Super popular, romantic comedy writer Abby Jimenez included an author's note in her latest book (Yours Truly) about her non-apparent disability/recent health issues. The book I actually want to recommend for this category is her previous book, Part of Your World since she does a stunning job of exploring non-apparent disabilities in the characters. These genuine portrayals of flawed characters along with laugh-out-loud dialogue between friends make this book a home run for me. The immediate chemistry and spicy romance scenes help too. Worth the long wait list and absolutely great in audiobook format (Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber are top of their field as audiobook performers).
Other categories:
- A book about friendship
- A book that makes you happy
- A book about an optimistic future
—Reagan, Librarian
All's Well by Mona Awad
A book about a former actress and current beleaguered theatre director whose life is torn apart by an invisible chronic pain. To make matters worse, she is surrounded by people who dismiss her experience. On the surface, the plot sounds harrowing, and it is, but throw in three slightly off Macbeth inspired witches, a college theatre department and a potential deal with the devil, and the dark humour really takes center stage. This book also has a sharp acerbic wit and some all too real commentary on how we treat aging women and invisible disabilities. The author, a Canadian, lives with chronic debilitating pain, which is both invisible and invasive but she refuses to be restricted by it.
—Emily B, Librarian
Recommendations from the Facebook Group
These are just some of the suggested titles from our Facebook TPL Reading Challenge 2023 discussion group. You can read all of the responses in the original post. You do not need a Facebook account to read the suggestions.
- Wow, No Thank You: Essays by Samantha Irby
- Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
- Dear Scarlet by Teresa Wong
- How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
- Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us about Love and Relationships by Camilla Pang (UK title)
- An Outsider's Guide to Humans: What Science Taught Me About What We Do and Who We Are by Camilla Pang (North American title)
- Easy Crafts for the Insane: A Mostly Funny Memoir about Mental Illness and Making Things by Kelly Williams Brown
- True Biz by Sara Nović
French Recommendations
If you like to read in French, check out the list of recommended books for "auteures et auteurs vivant avec un handicap invisible." There's a mix of books, ebooks and digital audiobooks to try!
What would you recommend for "a book by a person living with a non-apparent disability”? Add your suggestions in the comments section below.
Comments