Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories From the Twenty-first Century by Alice Wong

73 reviews

changelingreader_adrian's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Racism, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abortion, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Grief, Confinement, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder

sweetsimplenothing's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Death

Minor: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Medical trauma

tigger89's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was an incredibly informative read. As Alice Wong notes in her introduction, these essays aren't presented with the intention of swaying abled readers. There's little sugarcoating or gentle easing in these chapters, and often the rage behind the words is palpable. With many of these essays, the reader is expected to meet the author where they are, and to do the work themselves to understand any concepts that don't make sense. This is okay. After all, we've got google in our pockets and are capable of searching up a reference.

It's not all frustration and anger, though. Several of the essays focus on community, companionship, and finding joy. I smiled the whole way through "Guide Dogs Don't Lead Blind People. We Wander as One." even at the inevitable moment of sadness. The collection also makes a point to end with positivity, with the entire last section focusing on community and the final essay detailing a moment of joy at a performance conducted by and for the disabled community.

I think most readers would walk away from this volume with at least a few thoughts to chew on, even if you've already spent some time pondering or working in disability advocacy. The sheer diversity of the voices presented virtually guarantees it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Excrement

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Rape

laupm's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Ableism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Genocide, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Classism

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. Alice Wong as the editor has gathered a wide range of essays and interviews from people with disabilities, and the collection covers a huge range of topics. I liked the approach of reading about the different aspects of disabilities that people wanted to discuss; topics range from medical care, discrimination, wheelchairs and artificial limbs, transportation, and accessible clothing. I appreciated the wide selection of topics. The only flaw I would say with this book is that some of the essays are so short (three pages), that the reader is left wanting more. A few felt like they introduced a topic and then abruptly ended. Overall, a very strong collection of narratives and a fast read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Fatphobia, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Ableism, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Mental illness

booksandboba's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Chronic illness

Minor: Sexual assault, Excrement, and Medical content

honeyvoiced's review

informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racism and Sexual harassment

Minor: Police brutality

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Sexism, Confinement, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion

anniefwrites's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

This plethora of stories and voices shows that disability is not a monolith. As a non-disabled person, I really value the breadth of experience that Wong included, and I think it’ll be a great foray for me to become more involved with disability justice. Wong also has an ongoing GoFundMe for medical expenses if you read and got something out of this book and want to contribute: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alice-wong-stay-in-community

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Fatphobia