Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by nickjonesreadsbooks
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
4.0
When I was in school, we read a little biography about Helen Keller (I'm talking something on the level of a Little Golden Book). The main thing that I took away was that Helen had locked her mother in a closet for several hours and thought it was funny. So, while I knew in theory that she was a great lady, my impression of her was tainted by the closet episode. However, I decided to give her another try, and I'm glad I did.
Helen wrote this when she was 22 years old, so it does not cover the whole span of her life. She begins with her family tree, birth, and how she came to be blind and deaf. Quickly, though, she moves into her years of learning and discovery under her teacher. She relishes in travels, correspondence, discoveries in the "out of doors", and books. She doesn't wallow in her difficulties. She works hard to be like other people and learn all she can.
Several of the reviews on here have spoke of disappointment that Helen didn't talk about what it was like to be blind and deaf, but I don't think that is accurate. She does discuss some of the frustrations of trying to navigate in a world of sight and sound; however, she often speaks of "seeing" and "hearing" things as if she were not blind or deaf. She discusses this, to a degree, in one of her letters. Helen does this because she really does experience the world around her through vibrations, smells, and the descriptions of others. Then she tries to convey her impressions as a person with sight and sound would. She is positive and optimistic.
Honestly, she led a more exciting life than many people I know who have the use of their eyes and ears. She availed herself of every opportunity to learn, grow, and communicate with others. She traveled the globe, wrote loads of letters, learned English, French, German, Greek, and Latin, and she used her influence to help other children who were blind and deaf. The passion she had for learning oozes from this book and makes me realize how many things I take for granted and how much time I waste.
I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do too.
Helen wrote this when she was 22 years old, so it does not cover the whole span of her life. She begins with her family tree, birth, and how she came to be blind and deaf. Quickly, though, she moves into her years of learning and discovery under her teacher. She relishes in travels, correspondence, discoveries in the "out of doors", and books. She doesn't wallow in her difficulties. She works hard to be like other people and learn all she can.
Several of the reviews on here have spoke of disappointment that Helen didn't talk about what it was like to be blind and deaf, but I don't think that is accurate. She does discuss some of the frustrations of trying to navigate in a world of sight and sound; however, she often speaks of "seeing" and "hearing" things as if she were not blind or deaf. She discusses this, to a degree, in one of her letters. Helen does this because she really does experience the world around her through vibrations, smells, and the descriptions of others. Then she tries to convey her impressions as a person with sight and sound would. She is positive and optimistic.
Honestly, she led a more exciting life than many people I know who have the use of their eyes and ears. She availed herself of every opportunity to learn, grow, and communicate with others. She traveled the globe, wrote loads of letters, learned English, French, German, Greek, and Latin, and she used her influence to help other children who were blind and deaf. The passion she had for learning oozes from this book and makes me realize how many things I take for granted and how much time I waste.
I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do too.