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ohcorrica's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, funny, informative, and relatable. Elsa Sjunneson does an incredible job at sharing her story while writing on the broader topic of ableism and accessibility. As a disabled person, I appreciate the necessary and difficult work Sjunneson has put into this book. Too many people experience ableism on a daily basis and there is little attention to the harm it causes.
"It is a truth universally unacknowledged that you could become disabled at any point in your life" - Elsa Sjunneson
I reviewed this book in exchange for an advance copy. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me this opportunity.
"It is a truth universally unacknowledged that you could become disabled at any point in your life" - Elsa Sjunneson
I reviewed this book in exchange for an advance copy. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me this opportunity.
kerstincullen's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as this book is a finalist for the Hugo's best related work. I am glad I did, it was interesting and thought provoking, beyond just thinking about bad disability tropes in fiction. Also, I want to read the cyberpunk book that Elsa Sjunneson proposed.
angiew23's review against another edition
5.0
Being Seen is a memoir written by deafblind professor Elsa Sjunneson about her life as a person with disabilities as well as commentary and critical analysis of societal views of deafness, blindness, and other disabilities. I really loved this book, it was often hard to put down. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of life with a disability, for example dating, using assistive technology/devices, working and applying for jobs. I think that whether you know someone with a disability (including yourself) or not, this book is a must read for all humans. Sjunneson gives readers a window into the life of people with disabilities and the challenges they face DAILY which are usually caused by or exacerbated by abled people.
Ableism is definitely a theme in this story and for some people it may be a first introduction to an area of discrimination that people with disabilities face constantly as they navigate the world we share. Assumptions and prejudice are awful in most cases but when someone is disabled they face these assumptions constantly from doctors to customer service agents to friends and family. They are often seen first for their disability and then maybe for who they are as a person.
I commend Sjunneson for her honest and brave storytelling and her desire to give readers an opportunity to learn from her (often traumatic) experiences. This book is very well written and well researched and is the perfect combination of personal experiences and information to support observations or opinions. The story also involves a pretty in-depth critique of disability in popular culture and the media. At times I did find this a bit less interesting as I hadn't previously watched or read several of the books and movies described. That being said, it is not necessary to have consumed the media described and it is also an opportunity for readers to add literature and film to their to-read/watch or to-avoid lists! I also felt the ending was a bit awkward, and I think the author did too lol! Sjunneson is only in her 30s so how do you end a memoir when you aren't even half way through your life (based on average life spans in North America)? Aside from those two things I thought this book was amazing and would highly recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.
Ableism is definitely a theme in this story and for some people it may be a first introduction to an area of discrimination that people with disabilities face constantly as they navigate the world we share. Assumptions and prejudice are awful in most cases but when someone is disabled they face these assumptions constantly from doctors to customer service agents to friends and family. They are often seen first for their disability and then maybe for who they are as a person.
I commend Sjunneson for her honest and brave storytelling and her desire to give readers an opportunity to learn from her (often traumatic) experiences. This book is very well written and well researched and is the perfect combination of personal experiences and information to support observations or opinions. The story also involves a pretty in-depth critique of disability in popular culture and the media. At times I did find this a bit less interesting as I hadn't previously watched or read several of the books and movies described. That being said, it is not necessary to have consumed the media described and it is also an opportunity for readers to add literature and film to their to-read/watch or to-avoid lists! I also felt the ending was a bit awkward, and I think the author did too lol! Sjunneson is only in her 30s so how do you end a memoir when you aren't even half way through your life (based on average life spans in North America)? Aside from those two things I thought this book was amazing and would highly recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.
bi_n_large's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Death of parent, Ableism, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Bullying, Rape, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Child death
Minor: Religious bigotry
onecrab's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like this book (with the exception of a few chapters) could be better named "Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism in the media" The book felt alienating at times by the frequent references to TV shows and movies that I haven't seen. Of the many Elsa mentioned, I have seen one - Game of Thrones. And I kept thinking, is anyone happy with their representation in media? (As someone that has worked in Chemistry for 20+ years I can assure you Breaking Bad isn't relatable for me) But, I appreciate the message Elsa is delivering here even while I wish she wasn't so broad brush strokes to the able bodied (pg 125) "Disabled Means Helpless. This one is not so funny. Unfortunately, everyone does think we're helpless victims."
The audiobook is narrated by Elsa herself.
The audiobook is narrated by Elsa herself.
zozierose's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
hanna_numinen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0