SUMMER READS

Adolf Hitler:

My Part in His Downfall

by Spike Milligan

Perhaps one of the funniest books ever written - and it’s no wonder, coming from the notoriously brilliant minds in absurdist comedy, the late, great Spike Milligan. A loosely flowing collection of annecdotes about his part in the Second World War, sketches, letters, and excerpts from his dairy, Spike takes us on a journey as he tries to avoid enlisting for the army, fails, and is sent to Algiers in 1943. Notably, these experiences would result in Spike having a series of nervous breakdowns before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which he spoke candidly about throughout his life.

El Deafo

by Cece Bell

A book for adults and teens alike, this graphic novel navigates us loosely through Cece’s life after she suffered a bout of meningitis as a child which resulted in her becoming profoundly deaf and beginning to use hearing aids. El Deafo is a touching, hopeful work from Cece, who interpreted her use of hearing aids (that allowed her to hear much more than she was supposed to) as a superpower.

Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body

by Dr Rebekah Taussig

A collection of essays that form a wider memoir from the creator of the popular Instagram account and noted activist, Rebekah explores how, growing up, she longed to see disabled people who were depicted as ordinary, rather than inspirational or villainous. Often humorous and always honest, Sitting Pretty emphasises the importance of including the disabled community in discussions on inclusion, where they are often forgotten.

So Lucky

by Nicola Griffith

The latest novel by Nicola Griffiths follows the careerfocused Mara Tagarelli, head of a multi-million dollar non-profit and lover of martial arts as she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after a fall. It marries themes of social justice and true crime, all while exploring the experience of being chronically ill and living as a disabled person in America. The novel seems to take inspiration from the author’s own life: Nicola Griffith was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993.