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megnut's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
To make you think about how the stories we see and hear impact how we see the world. (Particularly in regards to fairy tales.)
But thought it was really interesting thinking about the possible connections between disabilities, mental illness or neurodivergence may have had with the myths of fairies and changelings.
But thought it was really interesting thinking about the possible connections between disabilities, mental illness or neurodivergence may have had with the myths of fairies and changelings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Ableism
Minor: Sexual violence
laura_corsi's review against another edition
4.0
Part memoir, part literary criticism, and all activism for disability normalization. I found this to be a brilliant meditation on the way our values come through in our stories, and therefore, what our stories tell us about how we think about disability. This book makes the subconscious conscious and demands that we do better.
agnesnutter's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
This one was a bit of a disappointing read, perhaps because the marketing of the book isn't quite in tune with what the text actually delivers. Although I wouldn't be able to pinpoint where exactly the text is supposed to belong either.
Is this a piece of scholarship? Not really. Is this a memoir? Sometimes, and often those moments are the most interesting ones, but they don't happen as often as they could have.
This genre confusion isn't helped by Leduc's often too-broad analyses, which tend to oversimplify where a more informed, less generalised look would have been more interesting (this is particularly present when she tackles folk tales and their history.)
In a similar vein, Leduc often dodges going beyond the surface when tackling issues of class and race and how they interact with disability, especially beyond North America. There are nods given to this, and capitalism is appropriately pointed as the engine of many types of oppression, but nowhere does the author dig deeper into the system and how fairytales (which often existed way before capitalism or even written words) play a part in that. That same surface level treatment is given to disabilities that are more "invisible", like autism or other neurodevelopmental realities.
A very promising idea that doesn't quite deliver.
Is this a piece of scholarship? Not really. Is this a memoir? Sometimes, and often those moments are the most interesting ones, but they don't happen as often as they could have.
This genre confusion isn't helped by Leduc's often too-broad analyses, which tend to oversimplify where a more informed, less generalised look would have been more interesting (this is particularly present when she tackles folk tales and their history.)
In a similar vein, Leduc often dodges going beyond the surface when tackling issues of class and race and how they interact with disability, especially beyond North America. There are nods given to this, and capitalism is appropriately pointed as the engine of many types of oppression, but nowhere does the author dig deeper into the system and how fairytales (which often existed way before capitalism or even written words) play a part in that. That same surface level treatment is given to disabilities that are more "invisible", like autism or other neurodevelopmental realities.
A very promising idea that doesn't quite deliver.
calebmatthews's review against another edition
4.0
Great book that gives a needed perspective on disability and society through the lens of fairy tales. I recommend this book.
Disfigured
It is never society that changes in the fairytale, it is always one of the characters.
The desire of society for beauty and utility.
I am not your villian campaign
Disfigured
It is never society that changes in the fairytale, it is always one of the characters.
The desire of society for beauty and utility.
I am not your villian campaign
literyture's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 rounded up — Agree with some other reviews that the writing could have been tightened up a bit and some of the repeated comparisons could be trimmed, but overall an interesting and necessary perspective with solid pieces of research and important points made about the way we tell stories and the disability representation within them, or lack thereof. It was also very accessible and offers easily understood explanations of things such as the social vs. medical models of disability, tied in with the author’s own story and voice :)
booksanddachshunds's review against another edition
Too long chapters, not what I thought it would be. I was expecting remade fairytales with added disability rep; less explaining.