Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking: A Life Lived Obsessively

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In moments like this, the collection attempts something of the scrapbook: fragments of a younger self are enchantingly cut and pasted in, energising what often feels like a readable, but rarely electrifying, book. That said, I was surprised by how well she made such niche, personal, specific experiences feel relatable and general. Having followed Marianne Eloise on Twitter for years now, I was delighted to hear she’d written a book, and it did not disappoint. That is the only way I can think to express my thoughts on this book, and I don't care to try writing this review again. Overall, I found this book a massive disappointment and would have made for a far stronger blog post.

For years, the author flinches at public water (it’s unhygienic), recoils from images of Medusa’s scowl (gorgons turn people into stone), and is compelled to perform arbitrary tasks like burning calories and checking plug sockets to prevent catastrophe. Marianne Eloise's debut novel "Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking" is a series of essays about being neurodivergent and living with OCD. I was, sort of, enjoying this at the beginning as I felt like bits of me were scattered here and there. In her candid, witty memoir, Marianne Eloise offers a powerful account of what it is like to feel trapped by mental health problems and obsessions … A brave book that puts vulnerability fully on show.

It felt as though the author had just copy/pasted certain passages about the same thing in multiple chapters and although this repetition is quite fitting for the subject material, it just doesn’t make for a great read. Having OCD myself I was hoping this book would offer some useful information on the subject however this is a series of personal articles on the author’s condition and with autism. Ahh I wanted to like this, as someone who has OCD and loves ouroboroses, essays, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's truly a joy to be able to read something like this and know other people also have weird brains and what that looks like for them. But there is so much in being neurodivergent that is who I am, and to cure the bad, the things that make life harder, would be to pull out the person I am at the root.

As a Los Angeles native, it was enlightening to see how Marianne wrote about my home with fresh eyes and made me appreciate it and question it in new ways. Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking is the culmination of a life spend obsessing, offering a glimpse into Marianne’s brain, but also an insight into the lives of others like her. Even if you don't deeply identify with the content of the essays, they're a really good portrayal of neurodiversity in an entertaining and enjoyable way, especially considering how much autism and OCD are misunderstood by neurotypical people.Like many essays in the book, “Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy” highlights the equivocal status of obsession: it can be as joyful and productive as it is demanding and devastating.