The Unwritten
Picture the scene. You’re on a bus. You’ve got your headphones on and you’re in your own little world, enjoying the trip. The bus slows and pulls up to a bus stop where a wheelchair user is waiting to board. How do you feel?
If you’re me, your heart drops.
Because I’m already sitting, in my wheelchair, occupying the only spot that a wheelchair user can use, and I know that they are going to get denied access to the bus because I’m already there. The guilt is horrific.
Disclaimer: The Autism-Friendly Cookbook was kindly sent to Marie to review, this has not influenced her views.
When I told someone I was reviewing this book, their first question was “how is a cookbook for autistic people different to a cookbook for neurotypical people?”.
I had to admit that I honestly wasn’t sure. I know how my physical disability and ADHD affect me in the kitchen but being someone who didn’t realise they are autistic until recently, I hadn’t really thought about how my autism impacted my ability to follow a recipe and cook a meal.
So I approached Lydia’s book hoping not only to discover some tasty food, but also hoping to learn more about my autistic self.
I soon discovered Lydia’s book is more than a cookbook.
Cookfulness was kindly sent to The Unwritten to review, this has not influenced the views of the reviewer.
I feel I should start this review by saying I love cookbooks. My cookbook shelf is overflowing with books of all kinds. That said, as much as my crammed bookshelf declares my love of food and cooking, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
I love to cook, but being disabled and neurodivergent, cooking a satisfying, nutritious, and tasty meal for me and my husband isn’t always the easiest thing to accomplish. So when I was asked to review Cookfulness, a book aimed at people with chronic pain, mobility issues, and mental health issues, it seemed like a match made in heaven.
The first thing I do with any new cookbook is sit down and eagerly flick through the recipes in anticipation of what I want to make first. I noticed was there are no pictures of the completed dishes, as someone who can find visualising things difficult, this is a bit of a shame. Likewise, there isn’t an index, which is a supremely useful feature to have when you’ve got a random ingredient and no idea what to make with it.
