Joe-Nathan is different from everyone else, he likes routines and takes everything at face value. His mother has tried to make sure Joe-Nathan can lead an independent life by writing two guides for him to follow. His friends and colleagues at work look out for him, however, Mean Charlie seems to delight in bullying him.
What a wonderful read Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life is. Author Helen Fisher has created a fully formed character in Joe-Nathan. Joe-Nathan is neurodiverse, although we are never told an exact diagnosis, and OCD plays a large part in his everyday life. He likes routines, order and precision. His mother has raised him to be as independent as possible, he has a job he loves and, with a practical guide his mother has written for him, can cook simple meals and carry out simple tasks.
Problems arise when Joe-Nathan's routines are broken. We are given glimpses of this early in the book and your heart really goes out to Joe-Nathan as he flounders, trying to right the situation. Unfortunately, a major event throws Joe-Nathan's life into turmoil, destroying many of the routines he relies on, forcing him out of his comfort zone.
I had a lump in my throat quite a few times while reading Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life. Joe-Nathan is a young man who doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he simply wants to do his job well and stick to the pattern of his life. As a reader I felt very protective towards Joe-Nathan, feeling a sense of anger at the way he was treated by some individuals, but I was also torn, knowing that he could only learn to lead an independent life by dealing with these issues himself. We see how Joe-Nathan's openness and kindness slowly chip away at some of those people who are hostile towards him.
The big messages I got from this are not to make assumptions and that people can change. We see how easy it is to make assumptions based on how people look, Chloe, one of Joe-Nathan's colleagues is a clear example of this. I love Chloe, although if I met her in the street I'd probably avoid her. As for people changing, not only do we see the impact Joe-Nathan has on Mean Charlie, we also see the process of change in Joe-Nathan. Change isn't easy, it terrifies him, but with the help of his friends, he is willing to try.
Joe Nuthin's Guide To Life is a glimpse into the lives of some fabulous characters, a perfectly formed and complete story, however, there's a little part of me hoping and wishing that Helen Fisher might allow us a glimpse into the next chapter of Joe-Nathan's life.
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