“Where does a story start? It’s a lie, the first page of a book, because it masquerades as a beginning. A real beginning – the opening of something – when what you’re being offered is an arbitrary line in the sand.”
The Cassandra Complex is a novel by Holly Smale about Cassie, a 29-year-old woman who has autism, dyspraxia, and synaesthesia. She remembers everything but understands nothing.
“I’ve always been able to remember everything. It’s not a skill or a talent: it’s just how my brain works. It’s called hyperthymia, and it means I have an autobiographical memory. I can recall every single day of my life in perfect detail.”
She likes order, routine, and predictability, and hates mess, change, and surprises. She works as at a public relations company and has a boyfriend named Will, who she met four months ago. Her life seems to be going well until one day, everything goes wrong. She gets fired from her job, dumped by Will, and has got roommate problems. She also learns that her local café has run out of banana muffins, her favourite treat.
“I don’t like change. I don’t like surprises. I don’t like anything that isn’t exactly what I’m expecting, and I’m not expecting this.”
Feeling hopeless and desperate, Cassie wishes she could go back in time and fix everything. To her shock, she discovers that she can. She has the power to travel back to any point in the past four months and change things. She thinks this is the perfect opportunity to make her life better and avoid all the mistakes she made. But she soon realizes that changing the past is not as easy as it seems. Every time she goes back, she creates new problems and complications. She also starts to question who she really is and what she really wants.
“I study the menu as if it’s The Iliad. I’ve read it before, but I’m hoping for a different ending.”
As Cassie tries to find happiness and meaning in her life, she faces many challenges and dilemmas. She meets new people, explores new places, and experiences new emotions. She also learns more about herself, her family, her friends, and her boyfriend. She discovers that sometimes fitting in is overrated, and that being different can be a strength. She also realizes that happiness is not something that can be achieved by changing the past, but by embracing the present.
The Cassandra Complex is a witty, charming, and heartfelt novel that explores the themes of identity, self-acceptance, and happiness. The author, Holly Smale, draws from her own experiences of being diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia at a late age, and creates a relatable and realistic protagonist in Cassie. Cassie is a complex and flawed character who struggles to fit in and understand the world around her. She is also funny, smart, and courageous, and has a passion for mythology and history. Her time-travel adventures are entertaining and intriguing, as she tries to fix her life and find her true self.
The novel is well-written, engaging, and humorous, with a fast-paced plot and a clever twist at the end. The author uses mythology as a metaphor for Cassie’s journey, and incorporates elements of romance, science fiction, and contemporary fiction.
“I’ve always loved mythology. It’s like history, but with magic and monsters and gods. It’s full of stories and symbols and meanings, and it helps me make sense of the world.”
The novel also tackles serious issues, such as bullying, mental health, and family dynamics, with sensitivity and insight. The novel is full of colourful characters, such as Cassie’s eccentric parents, her quirky boss, and her mysterious boyfriend.
I enjoyed the humour, the creativity, and the emotion of this book. I liked how the author used mythology to explore Cassie’s character and her challenges. I also liked how the book showed the importance of self-acceptance and happiness. It celebrates diversity, individuality, and creativity.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction, romance, time travel, contemporary, and science fiction genres. I think this book would appeal to fans of Bridget Jones, Groundhog Day, and The Time Traveller’s Wife. I also think this book would be interesting for people who want to learn more about autism, dyspraxia, and synaesthesia.
Also see: What I Read: In a Thousand Different Ways by Cecelia Ahern
With thanks to Penguin Random House South Africa for the opportunity to read this book.
Read extract here
About the author:
Holly Miranda Smale was born on 7 December 1981 in Hertfordshire, England. She is best known for writing the Geek Girl series, which won several awards and became an international bestseller. Holly has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Shakespeare from the University of Bristol. She has also worked as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, and travelled to 27 countries. Diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia at the age of 39, and has also mentioned having other conditions such as synaesthesia, dyscalculia, coeliac disease and endometriosis. Her first adult novel, The Cassandra Complex (UK)/ Cassandra in Reverse (US) was the June 2023 pick for Reese’s Book Club and a pick for the BBC Radio 2 Book club.
1 Response
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