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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
4.5 stars - This was bought on a whim, I just happened to notice the cover on DSP while I was browsing for something completely different, and then I got pulled in by the blurb. I loved it - it was simple, sweet and wonderfully moving. Travis and Drew were just the perfect couple and it was a pleasure to read their story. Drew really won my heart - he was such a beautiful person, inside and out. The only problem I had with Speechless was its length. It was just too damn short! It felt like it was finished far too quickly, but I think that's only because I was enjoying it so much and wanted more. Very enjoyable read if you're looking for minimal angst and a sweet romance.
Speechless is a short story about two lonely men who are both…physically defective. Drew is a former novelist who had lost his ability to express himself linguistically. He’s unable to speak, unable to write, unable to type. A car accident left him aphasic – a head injury that disables a person’s ability to use of any form of communication. He can understand you, hear you, but he can’t talk back or write or type. He goes through life with written laminated instructions. Sign language is also impossible. He communicates through his music and gestures.
Travis on the other hand, lost his eye in a freak accident involving a lawn mower. Everyday on his walk from work, he sees Drew on his steps playing his guitar. When he could no longer resist the man’s pull, he stops and talks to Drew. What began as friendship quickly escalated to love.
This short novel made my insides melt. It was sweet with just a hint of sour to make it genuine.
I’ve never heard of this disability before so I was interested to see how this romance could work. I mean, if you think about it, how many relationships fail due to lack of communication? These two however, made it look easy – actually, too easy. With Drew’s inability to converse in any way a form of language is required, it didn’t really seem like Travis had any difficulty getting over that particular hurdle. There was a mild struggle but it didn’t take long for him to get used to Drew’s way of communicating.
Because it was a novella, there wasn’t too much of the usual relationship dramas. It was refreshing, sure. But I think this book would’ve been better if it was a full story. Regardless, this book was still an enjoyable read.
Travis on the other hand, lost his eye in a freak accident involving a lawn mower. Everyday on his walk from work, he sees Drew on his steps playing his guitar. When he could no longer resist the man’s pull, he stops and talks to Drew. What began as friendship quickly escalated to love.
This short novel made my insides melt. It was sweet with just a hint of sour to make it genuine.
I’ve never heard of this disability before so I was interested to see how this romance could work. I mean, if you think about it, how many relationships fail due to lack of communication? These two however, made it look easy – actually, too easy. With Drew’s inability to converse in any way a form of language is required, it didn’t really seem like Travis had any difficulty getting over that particular hurdle. There was a mild struggle but it didn’t take long for him to get used to Drew’s way of communicating.
Because it was a novella, there wasn’t too much of the usual relationship dramas. It was refreshing, sure. But I think this book would’ve been better if it was a full story. Regardless, this book was still an enjoyable read.
2023 reads: 369/350
travis doesn’t have much going on: just a machining job, a cat, and a pathetic love life. when he finally stops to talk to the handsome guitarist he passes by on his way home, he learns that the man has nonfluent aphasia, and can understand what travis says, but cannot express himself. despite the communication barrier, the two grow closer.
i picked this novella up because aphasia is so underrepresented in the media. i couldn’t find information on whether the author has experience with aphasia (such as working with people with aphasia [PWA] or a loved one having it), and with the fact this novella was published in 2012, i didn’t have super-high hopes for the way aphasia was represented, but i still wanted to give this a shot. honestly, as a speech-language pathology graduate student, i was disappointed with this depiction. first of all, nowhere in the entire novella were speech-language pathologists mentioned, despite us being the ones who give this diagnosis in the first place. there was even a line that went something like “the doctors had some hope that he might recover his speech,” which made me internally scream, because that prognosis isn’t even up to them, and they should have referred drew to an SLP 🥲 this is one of the aspects that made me question how deeply the author researched aphasia, because this should have been addressed even from the most basic google search.
the author did address how asl wouldn’t work for drew since that’s still language, but…the way that drew did express himself (which was through non-asl hand gestures) still seemed super similar to language to me🫠 i think this aspect could have been made more accurate had he still displayed some difficulty with finding the right gestures. i also liked when the communication cards were introduced!
now that i’ve gotten that out of the way, i feel like i should comment on the other aspects of this novella. honestly, if the aphasia had been better depicted, i still don’t think i would’ve thoroughly enjoyed this as i think the small page count didn’t allow for the proper exploration and depth the characters and their story deserved. they both had tough pasts and were still going through some things in the present, so i think their story should’ve been fleshed out more.
travis doesn’t have much going on: just a machining job, a cat, and a pathetic love life. when he finally stops to talk to the handsome guitarist he passes by on his way home, he learns that the man has nonfluent aphasia, and can understand what travis says, but cannot express himself. despite the communication barrier, the two grow closer.
i picked this novella up because aphasia is so underrepresented in the media. i couldn’t find information on whether the author has experience with aphasia (such as working with people with aphasia [PWA] or a loved one having it), and with the fact this novella was published in 2012, i didn’t have super-high hopes for the way aphasia was represented, but i still wanted to give this a shot. honestly, as a speech-language pathology graduate student, i was disappointed with this depiction. first of all, nowhere in the entire novella were speech-language pathologists mentioned, despite us being the ones who give this diagnosis in the first place. there was even a line that went something like “the doctors had some hope that he might recover his speech,” which made me internally scream, because that prognosis isn’t even up to them, and they should have referred drew to an SLP 🥲 this is one of the aspects that made me question how deeply the author researched aphasia, because this should have been addressed even from the most basic google search.
the author did address how asl wouldn’t work for drew since that’s still language, but…the way that drew did express himself (which was through non-asl hand gestures) still seemed super similar to language to me🫠 i think this aspect could have been made more accurate had he still displayed some difficulty with finding the right gestures. i also liked when the communication cards were introduced!
now that i’ve gotten that out of the way, i feel like i should comment on the other aspects of this novella. honestly, if the aphasia had been better depicted, i still don’t think i would’ve thoroughly enjoyed this as i think the small page count didn’t allow for the proper exploration and depth the characters and their story deserved. they both had tough pasts and were still going through some things in the present, so i think their story should’ve been fleshed out more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Violence
This was amazing. This novella is only 62 pages, but it packs such an emotional punch.
Travis is pretty shy and lives a lonely life. He works as a machinist and on his was home he sees a man playing guitar on the steps of what must be his house. He eventually works up the courage to talk to him, and the two strike up a friendship.
Drew has aphasia, which means he can't speak or write. However, Travis understands him just fine and the two's friendship quickly turns romantic.
I wish this was a full length novel as Travis and Drew are so awesome.
Travis is pretty shy and lives a lonely life. He works as a machinist and on his was home he sees a man playing guitar on the steps of what must be his house. He eventually works up the courage to talk to him, and the two strike up a friendship.
Drew has aphasia, which means he can't speak or write. However, Travis understands him just fine and the two's friendship quickly turns romantic.
I wish this was a full length novel as Travis and Drew are so awesome.
The first kim fielding book that just doesn't work for me.
One of the mc doesn't know how to communicate its not the one who has a disability.
Travis needs to be reminded by someone that he and Drew loves each other for him to realize that HOW STUPID IS THAT
One of the mc doesn't know how to communicate its not the one who has a disability.
Travis needs to be reminded by someone that he and Drew loves each other for him to realize that HOW STUPID IS THAT
Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and when Travis finally talks to the cute guy he sees on his way home everyday, it isn’t a barrier to a possible friendship and blooming relationship between them. This was short and cute.
I had expected so much more of this. I don't know but it didn't touched me at all.
Interesting. Alongside Travis, we have to interpret Drew's talking just as Travis does.
Both men have had to deal with disabilities as a result of accidents and have adjusted and also been marginalised by others. So they were able to accept the other more easily.
The story time line sped along but it did give the feeling of a developing relationship. Then Travis gets bad news at work. Here I felt there was more room for discussion - maybe we didnt see them but it was all wham, bam I'm off.
Glad they found their way back.
9.7.18 reread : I do like how these guys communicate well together, showing that any barrier to communication becomes easier as you spend time together.
Travis’ move to Omaha always seems done with no thought to other options and I would like to know more about the restrictions asphasia has on Drew’s life.
But enjoyed reading again, always reads like a much longer story, much story in low pages!
Both men have had to deal with disabilities as a result of accidents and have adjusted and also been marginalised by others. So they were able to accept the other more easily.
The story time line sped along but it did give the feeling of a developing relationship. Then Travis gets bad news at work. Here I felt there was more room for discussion - maybe we didnt see them but it was all wham, bam I'm off.
Glad they found their way back.
9.7.18 reread : I do like how these guys communicate well together, showing that any barrier to communication becomes easier as you spend time together.
Travis’ move to Omaha always seems done with no thought to other options and I would like to know more about the restrictions asphasia has on Drew’s life.
But enjoyed reading again, always reads like a much longer story, much story in low pages!