Publisher Description

During the early years of his daughter Emily's life, James noticed that she was strangely taken by strong colours and patterns around the house, and that at times the only way to calm down her piercing screams would be a slow, repetitive song.

As the other children in their NCT group began to outstrip Emily, James began to suspect that she wasn't simply a 'late bloomer' (as he and his wife would tell friends and family). At the age of two, Emily was finally diagnosed with non-verbal autism, a severe form of autism that hinders her mental and physical development, and may have affected their relationship forever.

This is an extraordinary and heartbreaking story of a father trying to connect with his daughter in the face of a life-changing disability, and how music helped bridge that divide.

Author Biography

Originally a musician and songwriter, James Cook released two critically acclaimed albums with his band Flamingoes, toured the UK and Europe and sold 20,000 records worldwide. In 2009, one of James's short stories was featured in a collection alongside pieces by Nick Cave and Man Booker Prize-winner D. B. C. Pierre. In 2018, his first book, Memory Songs, was published with Unbound. James has written about music for the Guardian, Boundless and Review 31. He lives in London.

Promotional

A fascinating exploration of the link between autism and music, and a touching story of a father reconnecting with his daughter.

Long Description

During the early years of his daughter Emily's life, James noticed that she was strangely taken by strong colours and patterns around the house, and that at times the only way to calm down her piercing screams would be a slow, repetitive song. As the other children in their NCT group began to outstrip Emily, James began to suspect that she wasn't simply a 'late bloomer' (as he and his wife would tell friends and family). At the age of two, Emily was finally diagnosed with non-verbal autism, a severe form of autism that hinders her mental and physical development, and may have affected their relationship forever. This is an extraordinary and heartbreaking story of a father trying to connect with his daughter in the face of a life-changing disability, and how music helped bridge that divide.

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