This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech
Sebastian James Murphy is twenty years, six months and two days old. He loves swimming, fried eggs and Billy Ocean. Sebastian
is autistic. And lonely. Veronica wants her son Sebastian to be happy, and she wants the world to accept him for who he is. She is also thinking about paying a professional to give him what he desperately wants.
Violetta is a high-class escort, who steps out into the night thinking only of money. Of her nursing degree. Paying for her dad’s care. Getting through the dark.
When these three lives collide, and intertwine in unexpected ways, everything changes. For everyone.
Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, This Is How We Are Human is a powerful, moving and thoughtful drama about a mother’s love for her son, about getting it wrong when we think we know what’s best, about the lengths we go to care for family and to survive.
“Though This is How We Are Human is fiction, the premise was inspired by my friends, 20-year-old Sean, who is autistic, and his mum Fiona. Fiona had spoken to me about how much Sean longed to meet a girl and have sex. No one talks about this, she said- the difficulties navigating romance often faced by those on the spectrum. It’s an issue that I wanted to explore. Fiona and Sean encouraged me and guided me through the book; Sean regularly consulted on dialogue, rightly insisting that his voice was heard, was strong, and was accurate. I cannot thank my extraordinary friends enough for their help and support.” Louise Beech
About the author.
Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Choice for 2015. The follow-up, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize. Both of her previous books Maria in the Moon and The Lion Tamer Who Lost were widely reviewed, critically acclaimed and number-one bestsellers on Kindle. The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the RNA Most Popular Romantic Novel Award in 2019. Her 2019 novel Call Me Star Girl won Best magazine Book of the Year, and was followed by I Am Dust.
Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise lives with her husband on the outskirts of Hull, and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.
Review.
’This Is How We Are Human’ is a stunningly complex and beautiful piece of prose. It highlights an area that is the last taboo of disability - sex for the disabled. But it’s more than that - it’s about parental and child relationships, it’s how people cope with tragedy, it’s about falling in love with the wrong person, it shines a spotlight on on trying to do the best for people we love. It also shows how scary it must be for disabled people to put themselves out there and the lack of support around this issue. Louise Beech is an exceptional writer and for me, this has been her best book yet. It will stay in my memory for a very long time.
Sebastian is twenty years, six months and two days old and is obsessed with sex. What's more normal than that? However, he is also autistic and his mother is worried that lines will get blurred over consent and that people will bully him and he will be utterly unaware. He also loves Billy Ocean, fish and three eggs placed in a triangle shape and they have to be cooked by his mother. A mother who is devoted to him, loves him so much that she is tearing her hair out over the situation. So much so that she goes to the local sexual health clinic but they are useless as a chocolate teapot! Especially when Veronica mentions that she has considered paying for a prostitute for Sebastian - they threaten her with social services. However, when she goes onto a high class escort site she recognises the young nurse that made a connection with Sebastian and asks her to pretend to be in a relationship with her son but she will of course be paying her. Violetta accepts as she has her problems, both financially and mentally. But they have to keep it a secret from Sebastian.
I adored Sebastian. This is a very sensitive subject and it shows Louise’s talent as a writer that this comes across as authentic, raw, emotional and beautiful. Yes, there is a need for ‘own voices’ when it comes to topics like this, but Louise worked closely with her friend and her son on this issue. It's produced a stunning piece of fiction that highlights a topic that should be talked about more. I can't say I know a lot about the subject of desiring sex and not being able to achieve this due to prejudices and preconceptions. I'm on the other side of the spectrum where my disability means the pain becomes an intrusion. However, I know that this is not an area that people talk about on my side so I'm certain it's the same on their side. People need intimacy, love and tenderness and sometimes they also just need to get laid. Just because someone is on the spectrum, mentally impaired etc doesn't mean they don't deserve the same as someone who isn't. But for that to happen there needs to be more discussion and openness on the topic. Even educated people like John Humphrey’s make the wrong remarks. I just watched Mastermind this evening where he asked a disabled actor whether their disability helped their acting. The poor girls face!
I could wax lyrical about this book all day but that would include spoilers. This is a book that is best to read with no idea of what will happen. I devoured it in one sitting, I basically didn't move for nearly 12 hours. But, I think the next time I will read it more slowly so I can rejoice in the writing and superb dialogue. Annotate in the margins and highlight the lines I want to remember. This is an exceptionally brave book and people should be shouting from the rooftops about it! Thankfully, we all know that Karen at Orenda will indeed do this - maybe even literally!
Once again it's a 5⭐️ review from me.
