Rachelle’s answer to “Is Nita Prose on the spectrum? I'm trying to avoid books about neuro-divergent main characters wher…” > Likes and Comments

I disagree--while the main character lacks some expected behaviors, the autism spectrum is definitely varied in its aspects. I have a high function autistic grandson and found some of his symptoms present, and some not--as might be expected in a very complex "disability," hence described as a "spectrum." Those kids, if accurately depicted, may seem "stereotypical," as their behaviors can be very predictable and rarely change. The author was absolutely consistent throughout the book.

Well said, Janet. I work with neurodiverse individuals. Neurodiversity is more than ASD and includes ADHD, SPD and also neuro-developmental issues due to in-utero drug exposure. (The author explicitly states Molly’s mother was a drug addict, so this is likely the cause of her “differences”). I would really encourage readers to not seek a label for the character. Every person is an individual and autism is based on the individual too. And lastly, it’s not good for neurotypical people to determine what is and what is not “neurodivergent” enough to fit their perspective. Everyone’s experience is unique, respect that.

All true, but wherever Molly fits "on the spectrum," she commits some pretty serious offenses toward the end of this story, & seemingly gets away with it. If the author is saying that's ok, then I don't feel like it was well done either.

"...it’s not good for neurotypical people to determine what is and what is not 'neurodivergent' enough to fit their perspective."

Except we as readers are trying to get a picture of this character. To do that, we have to make some assumptions to gain understanding as to her behaviors. Otherwise, the character is just weird, inconsistent, unpredictable, and frankly unbelievable. It affects the whole story. If the author chose to model Molly on an uncommon variety of autism that most people wouldn't be aware of, that was just stupid.

Whatever "model" the author used for Molly, I can respect her uniqueness but not excuse her deliberate deception/perjury.

I agree.

@Rachelle Joy- I agree with you that the protagonist was a caricature, bit like that Korean show on Netflix about an autistic lawyer which depicted her as full of all the stereotypical tics associated with people on the spectrum.

The Q asks if the author is on the spectrum... doesn't that imply Molly should be viewed differently if the story is "built on own experiences?"

Found this in a Q&A with Nita Prose. It doesn't answer the question definitively but it does imply that Prose is not neurodivergent:
"My debut novel, The Maid, was inspired by a chance encounter with a maid at a hotel while I was on a business trip a few years ago. I was staying at a London hotel. One day, after a meeting outside the hotel, I returned to my room and startled the maid who was folding the jogging pants I’d left in a tangled mess on the bed (embarrassing!). The second I entered the room, the maid jumped backward into a shadowy corner. It occurred to me in that moment what an intimate and invisible job it is to be a room maid. Simply by cleaning my room every day, this maid knew so much about me. But what did I know about her? On the plane home a few days later, my protagonist Molly’s voice came to me. I grabbed a pen and a napkin, and wrote the prologue in a single burst. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’d just begun my debut novel."

Regardless of the author's inspiration, this is a mean-spirited book that is nothing more than a revenge story in the end.

Judith - I agree. i didn't really like it and her character didn't ring true to me.