Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

3 reviews

carakupferman's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Sign for Home is totally unique and utterly brilliant. The main character, Arlo, is a 23-year old DeafBlind man who has been raised with a strict Jehovah’s Witness upbringing by his controlling and religious uncle. Before embarking on a mission to Ecuador, he is permitted to take a summer writing course at the local community college to improve his English writing skills, and he is introduced to a new interpreter, Cyril. Cyril is gay, a bit chaotic, and terrified at the prospect of working with a DeafBlind consumer using tactile ASL but agrees to the job with the hope that the money will finally enable him to escape Poughkeepsie. The two men develop a strong friendship and partnership as Cyril’s support helps Arlo break through the trauma and repressed memories of his past and begin to question his sheltered life. When he learns that his childhood sweetheart is still out there, he embarks on a journey to find her against all odds of inaccessibility and neglect.

The story in this book is tremendously moving, but its most unique and interesting feature is the use of voice. Cyril’s perspective is written in a classic first person narration, but Arlo’s perspective is written in second person, creating a sense of both distance and intimacy, putting you in Arlo’s head while also taking you out of the moment. I also loved the way Blair Fell translated and transliterated ASL, preserving the distinctness of ASL from English and giving his Deaf and DeafBlind characters an authentic voice. This book is so interesting and compelling. Possibly my favorite so far this year!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, and Alcohol

kimveach's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book!  I wish I could find these characters and become their friend.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Cancer, Homophobia, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, and Medical trauma

dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Rape, Medical content, Sexual assault, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, and Sexual content