Fern Brady is an unstoppable force on the British comedy scene, appearing on Taskmaster, numerous podcasts, and sold-out line ups around the UK. It is always a joy when a comic publishes a book, their writing being naturally full of wit and skill, and Strong Female Character delivers both, alongside Brady’s characteristic directness and honesty.
This memoir details her life with the hindsight provided by the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis she received as an adult. Brady unpicks her stories, those of rebellion, mental ill health, romance, academic success, and different career paths. She explains how aspects of her life were affected by the lack of awareness regarding how ASD exists in women. She does not shy away from the grit.
After being told by professionals that she did not have ASD, this book details what it is to be told by the system, your family, and your peers that you are an outsider. When other incorrect diagnoses were given or the wrong care was provided, Fern Brady proved herself a force of a woman regardless.
The beauty of this book is not only Brady’s voice and the moving accounts of her life, from Bathgate to Edinburgh University to professional comedy (although all of this makes the book excellent). What spoke to me the most was her explanations of Autism that just made perfect sense. As we know, the research into ASD in women is seriously underdone, so Brady’s candid explanations are such a useful tool, making this a must read for everyone. This book is sure to (and already has done) encourage people to be more understanding of each other, and more patient regarding different needs. Brady shows how we can make the world more accessible, and how the resistance to doing so is a major injustice.
There is a heavy amount of quite traumatic moments, regarding homelessness, violence, and poor relationships, which detail how dangerous the world can be for those it does not cater for. The writing in this book perfectly blends the seriousness of such issues with the comedian’s trademark brand of humour. She remains candid and funny. Strong Female Character was such a joy to read because it felt like the author and I were having a conversation. I already admired her work, now it has been taken to a new level. It is a very deserving winner of the Nero Book Award. You will feel angry and you will laugh, you will know that you are not alone and after she told Twitter/X she was not going to talk about it anymore, you will thank Fern Brady for writing a book about Autism.
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