Official Review: Blind Black Sheep
Posted: 23 Apr 2020, 07:53
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Blind Black Sheep" by Dick Robinson and Faith Block.]
Blind Black Sheep: An Extraordinary Story of Defiance, Persistence, and Faith is an inspirational memoir written by Dick Robinson and Faith Block. It takes us through the life of a now 92-year-old Faith Block, who is also a retired special education teacher. Faith Block was born with congenital cataracts, a rare, hereditary eye condition that limited her vision. She could only see partially. At birth, the realization of this really disheartened her parents, and they continued to live in denial, just as common to most parents who want the best for their children. One aspect of their American Dream, of raising healthy kids, was now stumbling before their very own eyes. However, her caring, loving, and supportive mom collected herself up and decided to stand by her side in all these trying moments. On the contrary, Faith started realizing that, among her other two siblings, her father began treating her apathetically and in ways that made her feel like the odd one out. This had effects of their own in her life.
In this book, the author takes us through how she triumphed over all the challenges that came with the disability. She also recounts how she fought her inner demons of shattered childhood and the effects of her “strict, domineering” dad to become the person she became and who she is today. It is a reflection of how one can surmount challenges life throws us such as a disability and bad upbringing, among others, to lead a happy and more fulfilled life. But that is not all. I liked the fact that it also contains many secrets the author learned in her more-than-nine decades of life experiences, all that enabled her to reconcile with her past and live a freer, happier life.
I also liked how well it was written, organized, and executed. The author is a very gifted storyteller. This could be seen by how aptly this memoir was captured, for it is transparent, engrossing, and entertaining to read. This book is also organized thoughtfully and chronologically, detailing each of the timelines of the story. This enhanced the flow, and as a result, kept me glued from its beginning until the end. The transparency with which she wrote this story made it relatable, and in turn, made me develop a personal connection with her. In moments of difficulties, for instance, I found myself empathizing with the author since she exquisitely brought out all her emotions and inner feelings. Most importantly, her triumphs were the most inspiring as they left me energized and motivated me to overcome my own life challenges and live a fuller life. Therefore, for all people looking for an inspiring read, this is a must-read.
My favorite aspect of this book was the many life lessons the author incorporated in it. Being someone who has lived that long, she shares some of the deepest secrets in life and what really matters in the long run. The lessons range from how couples can live tolerably with one another, how to raise your kids regardless of their differences, to how to optimize your potential, among others. As a young person, I learned a lot about how to fill my life with purpose. I, therefore, strongly feel that young people should read this to gain some valuable, age-brought wisdom and direction.
All in all, I didn't find anything to dislike about this book. I believe it was professionally edited since, in the entire book, I found just two minor errors. I'm, therefore, glad to award Blind Black Sheep: An Extraordinary Story of Defiance, Persistence, and Faith by Dick Robinson and Faith Block 4 out of 4 stars.
As a resourceful guide to parenting, I highly recommend it for parents raising any child with or without a disability. Also, I recommend it for any young person yearning to lead a more fulfilled, purposeful life. There are many insights that can help them to set their priorities right early enough and avoid some of the mistakes in life. People who are dealing with challenges in life such as divorce, grief, and disability, among others, can also benefit a lot from reading this. The sexual content in this book is not erotic; there were just some instances of on-page kissing. However, there were a few profanities. This makes it unsuitable for children. Apart from that, I can't find anyone to caution against picking this except for readers who are not into memoirs.
******
Blind Black Sheep
View: on Bookshelves
Blind Black Sheep: An Extraordinary Story of Defiance, Persistence, and Faith is an inspirational memoir written by Dick Robinson and Faith Block. It takes us through the life of a now 92-year-old Faith Block, who is also a retired special education teacher. Faith Block was born with congenital cataracts, a rare, hereditary eye condition that limited her vision. She could only see partially. At birth, the realization of this really disheartened her parents, and they continued to live in denial, just as common to most parents who want the best for their children. One aspect of their American Dream, of raising healthy kids, was now stumbling before their very own eyes. However, her caring, loving, and supportive mom collected herself up and decided to stand by her side in all these trying moments. On the contrary, Faith started realizing that, among her other two siblings, her father began treating her apathetically and in ways that made her feel like the odd one out. This had effects of their own in her life.
In this book, the author takes us through how she triumphed over all the challenges that came with the disability. She also recounts how she fought her inner demons of shattered childhood and the effects of her “strict, domineering” dad to become the person she became and who she is today. It is a reflection of how one can surmount challenges life throws us such as a disability and bad upbringing, among others, to lead a happy and more fulfilled life. But that is not all. I liked the fact that it also contains many secrets the author learned in her more-than-nine decades of life experiences, all that enabled her to reconcile with her past and live a freer, happier life.
I also liked how well it was written, organized, and executed. The author is a very gifted storyteller. This could be seen by how aptly this memoir was captured, for it is transparent, engrossing, and entertaining to read. This book is also organized thoughtfully and chronologically, detailing each of the timelines of the story. This enhanced the flow, and as a result, kept me glued from its beginning until the end. The transparency with which she wrote this story made it relatable, and in turn, made me develop a personal connection with her. In moments of difficulties, for instance, I found myself empathizing with the author since she exquisitely brought out all her emotions and inner feelings. Most importantly, her triumphs were the most inspiring as they left me energized and motivated me to overcome my own life challenges and live a fuller life. Therefore, for all people looking for an inspiring read, this is a must-read.
My favorite aspect of this book was the many life lessons the author incorporated in it. Being someone who has lived that long, she shares some of the deepest secrets in life and what really matters in the long run. The lessons range from how couples can live tolerably with one another, how to raise your kids regardless of their differences, to how to optimize your potential, among others. As a young person, I learned a lot about how to fill my life with purpose. I, therefore, strongly feel that young people should read this to gain some valuable, age-brought wisdom and direction.
All in all, I didn't find anything to dislike about this book. I believe it was professionally edited since, in the entire book, I found just two minor errors. I'm, therefore, glad to award Blind Black Sheep: An Extraordinary Story of Defiance, Persistence, and Faith by Dick Robinson and Faith Block 4 out of 4 stars.
As a resourceful guide to parenting, I highly recommend it for parents raising any child with or without a disability. Also, I recommend it for any young person yearning to lead a more fulfilled, purposeful life. There are many insights that can help them to set their priorities right early enough and avoid some of the mistakes in life. People who are dealing with challenges in life such as divorce, grief, and disability, among others, can also benefit a lot from reading this. The sexual content in this book is not erotic; there were just some instances of on-page kissing. However, there were a few profanities. This makes it unsuitable for children. Apart from that, I can't find anyone to caution against picking this except for readers who are not into memoirs.
******
Blind Black Sheep
View: on Bookshelves