Bruce Farrar's blog

Austism and Asperger's Syndrome in Fiction

In 2003 British children’s author Mark Haddon created a sensation when he published his first book for adults.

     The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

American Whaling: Its History, Dangers, and Literary Legacy

Whales and the hunting of them do not figure prominently in the history of Texas. It’s not that they are unknown in the Gulf of Mexico. They can be seen sporting about off the coast or nosing about the bottom. And occasionally they wander or are washed ashore, as a right whale did near Freeport  in 1972, and a sperm whale did near Port Aransas in 2008.

      Here are three intriguing, disturbing stories. You might consider them horror stories without zombies, vampires, werewolves, serial killers, super heros or super villains. They deal with uncomfortable but very real things. They may provoke discomforting emotions and thoughts. They may creep you out. As King Lear says, "O, that way madness lies; let me shun that!" (Act III. Scene iv). None of these are for the faint of heart. Consider yourself warned.

Thanksgiving is only a few days away now. What makes you feel thankful? Is it time off from school, or seeing somebody in your family that lives far away? Or is it all about the pie? It might make it a happier holiday if you take a few minutes to make a list.

Mary Karr and Maya Angelou are talented authors of both poems and memoirs. With the remembered perceptions of a child and the skills of a mature artist these women recount the early years of their lives. These are honest stories about childhoods, not books written for children. The authors are plain spoken about the political and economic conditions they lived through, their sexuality and adolescence, so while they never lose the beauty and command of the language, the content of these memoirs is frank. This is to say that they are occasionally painful as well as joyful and celebratory. They are all well worth reading not only for their honesty, but also for their command of the language.