Review of Canaries Among Us
Posted: 04 Jul 2023, 22:58
[Following is a volunteer review of "Canaries Among Us" by Kayla Taylor.]
So, I have to say that I am not a fan of this memoir as a whole, and I rate it a 2 out of 5.
The author writes about a time in her life when she and her family struggled with bullying at the private school that her oldest daughter was attending. The author and her family struggle to support their daughter while the school seems to be actively working against them.
Through this process, she learns that her daughter seems to be a little different than the other kids. A bit more sensitive; a lot more sensitive. She enlists the help of various psychotherapists and counselors and psychiatrists, who end up telling her that her daughter is neurodivergent.
We, the readers, then come along with the author as she researched various topics surrounding neurodivergence, child development, psychology, and bullying. These parts are very difficult to read through as reading about someone else reading about something for multiple chapters is an absolute slog.
I wanted to be able to empathize with the author, as a mother of neurodivergent children myself, but I found it impossible. The writing style was… whiny. The author comes across as a bit of a privileged snob, as she takes the reader along with her to art galleries and spa retreats and wine clubs all while spoon feeding various psychological terms that she appears to have just learned. It’s not that wealthier, more privileged individuals can’t face problems and don’t deserve sympathy, it’s just that I personally found it hard to see how she was lamenting over her circumstances when she clearly has the means to change them.
I don’t know, I feel for the author and I feel for the daughter and I hope all is well for them, but reading this book was an absolute drag and I would be just as happy to never pick up another book written by this author.
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Canaries Among Us
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
So, I have to say that I am not a fan of this memoir as a whole, and I rate it a 2 out of 5.
The author writes about a time in her life when she and her family struggled with bullying at the private school that her oldest daughter was attending. The author and her family struggle to support their daughter while the school seems to be actively working against them.
Through this process, she learns that her daughter seems to be a little different than the other kids. A bit more sensitive; a lot more sensitive. She enlists the help of various psychotherapists and counselors and psychiatrists, who end up telling her that her daughter is neurodivergent.
We, the readers, then come along with the author as she researched various topics surrounding neurodivergence, child development, psychology, and bullying. These parts are very difficult to read through as reading about someone else reading about something for multiple chapters is an absolute slog.
I wanted to be able to empathize with the author, as a mother of neurodivergent children myself, but I found it impossible. The writing style was… whiny. The author comes across as a bit of a privileged snob, as she takes the reader along with her to art galleries and spa retreats and wine clubs all while spoon feeding various psychological terms that she appears to have just learned. It’s not that wealthier, more privileged individuals can’t face problems and don’t deserve sympathy, it’s just that I personally found it hard to see how she was lamenting over her circumstances when she clearly has the means to change them.
I don’t know, I feel for the author and I feel for the daughter and I hope all is well for them, but reading this book was an absolute drag and I would be just as happy to never pick up another book written by this author.
******
Canaries Among Us
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon