Chomp Press Pull: Stories of a Sensory Self

By Elaina Battista-Parsons

"Parsons' writing hits right to the core, conjuring smells of grandma's kitchen and summoning the feeling of scratchy shag carpet on a hot summer's day." Jocelyn Mackenzie, Recording Artist, Righteous Babe Records

Growing up in a time when sensory dysregulation wasn't in our vocabulary felt like a daily obstacle course-the victory being not throwing up in the backseat of a hot Buick station wagon, or the pure freedom to dance one's heart out in the wood paneled family room of 1985 while The Cars told you to "Shake it Up."

A romp through popular culture of the 1980s, Chomp Press Pull untangles the irritation, bliss, and reality of feeling many things-on your skin and in your nostrils. Think of it like a sticker album: scratch-and-sniff memories, glittering moments of euphoria, and real-life baubles you can almost hold.

Do you crave cool air, a tension-free neck, hairless arms, and the quiet hum of home? If so, this collection of peppermint and dirt-flavored essays might just feel like a release.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3988321435
• ISBN13: 9783988321435
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A memoir we can all relate to...

What Elaina recounts in her memoir is not something that was labeled or discussed in the 80s and 90s. She does not need the label to know (especially looking back at her childhood as an adult), that she had sensory challenges. It is better in this case she doesn’t have one because she can be representative of most of us. It is an obvious must-read for those who grew up with sensory challenges or those with children facing similar experiences. The book made me wonder, though. There are billions of people currently on this planet - most, though admittedly not all, had five senses to contend with growing up (maybe six if you believe in that sort of thing). They had to physically interact with their surroundings through these senses in order to learn from the world around them. It seems probable to me that no matter who you are, you have experienced a version of what Elaina describes in this book. Sure, there are those who were overwhelmed by sensory inputs, but I think just about ANYONE can pick up this book and understand where Elaina is coming from. Anyone can tap into their own memory about how things felt, tasted, and smelled in order to be amused by or horrified by what she recounts. It is everyone’s story and no one’s story but hers all at once. That is what makes the book compelling.