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Keith Newton
Sarah Hendrickx
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Genre
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Media
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Book
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Publisher | Jessica Kingsley Publishers | ||
ISBN | 9781843105404 | ||
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Reviewer
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Jayne
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Synopsis
Open, honest and upbeat, this book gives personal insight into both the ups and downs of an Asperger relationship. Seeking to challenge the bad press that people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) get as partners, Sarah and Keith tell their story of how they are making it work - and also how they got it wrong - with disarming frankness and humour. When Sarah and Keith met in 2003 neither knew much about Asperger Syndrome. Sarah thought Keith was 'weird' and couldn't work out why; and Keith thought Sarah was obsessed with diagnosing him with something-or-other. Difficulties ensued that brought the relationship to an end. Slowly, however, they each built up their knowledge of AS and in the meantime developed a mutual understanding, mutual acceptance and a desire to be together again. This personal account is supplemented with professional knowledge and anecdotes gained from Sarah's work with adults with AS - a career which started as a result of her experiences with Keith. She swears that she didn't take her work home with her! It is inspiring reading for couples in Asperger relationships as well as for counselling professionals
Review
This book is a fascinating insight into how Keith sees his friend and partner Sarah. Keith is the person who has Aspergers Syndrome and Sarah is the first person who has shown that she accepts his problems and can give him the space he needs.
Sarah accepts that a person with Asperger's syndrome has to be allowed to work through their problems in there own way, which means accepting the fact that someone with AS needs to express themselves in their own way, which may not always mean that they say the right thing at the right time. But tell them at the time is not the correct thing to say. Do not leave it until later because the person with AS does not understand that they have said the wrong thing unless they are told at the time of the incident.
This is a beautiful book telling how they get from seeing each other just for an hour, until they start to spend weekends together in one or the other's house. From the start it is wonderful to see Keith open up to Sarah and then accept that he can be part of her world with more people in her circle. But he also is accepted if he walks away and just takes time out.
This is a beautiful book and the story shows just what it is like to be in your own little world where you feel safe. I can relate to this book so well and I can understand how Keith feels, and also it shows that even though you have Asperger's Syndrome you don't always have to be on your own. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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