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inkfire's review
5.0
I never knew there was so much I didn't know about life with visual handicaps! Or handicaps in general, actually. I wish I'd started learn about this years ago!
teacupsandfirereads's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I found Molly on Instragram last year and have really enjoyed her content and advocacy. I am not blind and do not know what it is like, but I am disabled, and I think Molly did a great job of depicting our challenges in society and how disabled people are viewed. I found it informative about her personal struggles and what drives her. Would definitely dive into anything else she puts out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Mental illness
audioandereadergrrly's review
5.0
This was a very uplifting and informative audiobook about the YouTuber’s life and her experiences navigating school, career prospects, and her retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis. Her passion for disability advocacy shines through and I love her narration.
I do want to point out that the name of her first guide dog is G*psy, an ethnic slur for the Romani people. However, it’s clear that it was the dog’s training school that named her, not Molly.
I absolutely love how Molly is passionate about people following their dreams. It definitely made me think about my own dreams and what I want out of life. Thank you Molly for sharing your story!
I do want to point out that the name of her first guide dog is G*psy, an ethnic slur for the Romani people. However, it’s clear that it was the dog’s training school that named her, not Molly.
I absolutely love how Molly is passionate about people following their dreams. It definitely made me think about my own dreams and what I want out of life. Thank you Molly for sharing your story!
barefootmegz's review
2.0
My dad has RP, and had a very challenging life, including being orphaned as a baby and being adopted by people who did not believe the extent of his blindness. I was interested in hearing a millennial with RP’s experience (because I’m a millennial). I found the content to be mostly vapid and self-congratulatory. No doubt Burke has surmounted significant obstacles and been a great advocate for the disabled, but I didn’t find her inspirational.
I also found it intriguing that she argues “disabled people are not your inspiration”, and yet has a career as a motivational speaker. Of course, these can co-exist, but it is something worth being addressed.
I think if I were in a bad spot in my life, I would have rather felt overwhelmed by her stories of success; I would’ve felt that I didn’t have the bubbly, strong personality to achieve all that.
There is nothing wrong with sharing one’s successes, but there is a way of doing it, part of which involves delving deeper than surface level into emotional experiences.
Also, Burke talks about recovering from mental illness as though it is enough to just “make up your mind” to get better, and maybe take meds if things get very bad. Either this was her experience, or she’s again not sharing deeply enough. And if one is going to essentially write a memoir, you have to be willing to delve deep.
All that said, I think this might be a good book for high schoolers, or advanced primary school listeners. Her story might appeal to them more. Oh, and parents of kids with challenges like disabilities or being bullied.
As for me, I found the presentation a little TOO much - kind of like a toastmasters reading, or a YouTube video. Audiobooks are NOT simply YouTube without the visuals. Unfortunately, it did not work for me.
I also found it intriguing that she argues “disabled people are not your inspiration”, and yet has a career as a motivational speaker. Of course, these can co-exist, but it is something worth being addressed.
I think if I were in a bad spot in my life, I would have rather felt overwhelmed by her stories of success; I would’ve felt that I didn’t have the bubbly, strong personality to achieve all that.
There is nothing wrong with sharing one’s successes, but there is a way of doing it, part of which involves delving deeper than surface level into emotional experiences.
Also, Burke talks about recovering from mental illness as though it is enough to just “make up your mind” to get better, and maybe take meds if things get very bad. Either this was her experience, or she’s again not sharing deeply enough. And if one is going to essentially write a memoir, you have to be willing to delve deep.
All that said, I think this might be a good book for high schoolers, or advanced primary school listeners. Her story might appeal to them more. Oh, and parents of kids with challenges like disabilities or being bullied.
As for me, I found the presentation a little TOO much - kind of like a toastmasters reading, or a YouTube video. Audiobooks are NOT simply YouTube without the visuals. Unfortunately, it did not work for me.