Scan barcode
finnsnowbevi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, and Ableism
Moderate: Pregnancy and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
yusraakbari's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
a unique, heart-wrenching and deeply personal take on sorrow and the difficulties of living a life different than the commonly assumed 'normal' life.
Death would be far easier to bear, for death is final.
Not out of fullness has the human soul always reached its highest, but often out of deprivation.
saraiinbooks's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
3.0
A great book its just that its more of an educational book than a novel
girlschmoopie's review against another edition
4.0
I was inspired to read this memoir after reading The Good Earth, and recognizing a minor character that was not integral to the story, but whispered of personal experience of the author. This book is an excellent companion to The Good Earth, if only to better understand the life and times of the author. It was a very quick, yet enlightening read and will stay with me. Beautifully written, I recommend it for anyone that is a fan of Pearl S. Buck's writing, those interested in history, interested in the the preliminary seeds of activism, or anyone who may want to learn more about one area that has made great strides in the most recent 50 years.
*This is a memoir, it is about the author and how she comes to terms with having a child with a profound intellectual disability. The privacy of her child is protected, but we learn enough of the child's intellectual disability to understand the internal struggles she has as the mother.
*This is historical, this is about the fate of children with intellectual and physical disabilities leading up to the 1950's, when the book was published. This twenty-three years before the first laws ensuring the basic civil rights of, and requiring schools and society to have accommodations in place for individuals with disabilities. Be aware that due to the era in which this was written it uses terminology that is no longer considered acceptable when referring to individuals with disabilities. Buck writes compassionately using the vernacular of her time. Nearly 70 years later, those words are now considered highly offensive.
*This book is raw and personal. The reader cannot help but to feel what it is to step into the author's shoes for a time.
*This is a memoir, it is about the author and how she comes to terms with having a child with a profound intellectual disability. The privacy of her child is protected, but we learn enough of the child's intellectual disability to understand the internal struggles she has as the mother.
*This is historical, this is about the fate of children with intellectual and physical disabilities leading up to the 1950's, when the book was published. This twenty-three years before the first laws ensuring the basic civil rights of, and requiring schools and society to have accommodations in place for individuals with disabilities. Be aware that due to the era in which this was written it uses terminology that is no longer considered acceptable when referring to individuals with disabilities. Buck writes compassionately using the vernacular of her time. Nearly 70 years later, those words are now considered highly offensive.
*This book is raw and personal. The reader cannot help but to feel what it is to step into the author's shoes for a time.
antessmer's review against another edition
3.0
This book was well written for what it was. The only reason I decided to pick it up was because my boss for the summer at my library job insisted I read a couple of books by Pearl S. Buck. So, I did!
This book was mainly a book for people who gave birth to "mentally deficient" children as they stated in the book. It was more so almost a guide for parents to follow for best taking care of their special children during the 1950's. The author had personal experience with such circumstances as she had a daughter that was born afflicted with phenylketonuria that stunted her mental capacity.
Parts of this book were just so sad, and while reading it I kept comparing it to the social decorum of today.
Extremely short and quick read. It was not a bad book, but completely irrelevant for today.
This book was mainly a book for people who gave birth to "mentally deficient" children as they stated in the book. It was more so almost a guide for parents to follow for best taking care of their special children during the 1950's. The author had personal experience with such circumstances as she had a daughter that was born afflicted with phenylketonuria that stunted her mental capacity.
Parts of this book were just so sad, and while reading it I kept comparing it to the social decorum of today.
Extremely short and quick read. It was not a bad book, but completely irrelevant for today.
alittlestar's review
4.0
OWLsreadathon 2020
Magical career: Potioneer
Potions ---> Shrinking solutions: Book under 150 pages
Magical career: Potioneer
Potions ---> Shrinking solutions: Book under 150 pages
More...