Review of I Know My Way Memoir
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grace ruhara
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Review of I Know My Way Memoir
[Following is a volunteer review of "I Know My Way Memoir" by Theresa Marafito with Linda Odubayo Thompson.]
I Know My Way Memoir by Theresa Marafito with Linda Odubayo Thompson gives an account of Theresa Marafito’s life challenges as a visually impaired from the first-person perspective that enables us to get a first-hand impression of every bit of her journey. She is the daughter of Mary and Michael, a younger sister to Helen and Margaret. At an early age, she is first trained at Sight Conservation Teaching Service of New York on how to read and type, then proceeds to grade one before joining Evander Childs High School. She graduates and proceeds to Adelphi University, where she meets Jerry who would later be her husband after graduating with a Bachelor of Special Education and History.
The novel expounds on the challenges that the visually and mentally handicapped as well as their families have to contend with and the price they have to pay for being in such situations. Margaret, who is mentally handicapped, has to be sent to an institution of the intellectually disabled for the rest of her life. Theresa, on the other hand, has to pretend before her friends, all in a bid to disguise the fact that she is visually challenged. Additionally, if they are walking and ask for directions, they are humiliated and left there to figure the directions on their own. They are denied jobs with several excuses. Fortunately, the government does not abandon them but organizes recreational camps for the visually impaired, sets aside schools for the blind and mentally handicapped, and has professional opticians to deal with their optic issues.
What I loved most in this book is the authors' use of simple and figurative language. I commend them for the excellent use of vivid descriptions that aided me in creating mental images that got me laughing, empathizing, and astonished on what I would do supposing I was in the protagonist's shoes.
The other thing that I liked about the book was the fact that I started looking at optometry and those that lack it with another perspective, where it initially seemed like any normal organ to possess.
What I liked least about the book is its poor character development. The authors employed the use of too many characters, who dragged the pace of the story. Furthermore, I was unable to keep track of who is who and made me constantly flip to the front pages and check who they were to establish their role in the plot development. Most of the helping characters did not have much to do other than being mentioned and the relationship they shared with the protagonist, Theresa Marafito, and later disappeared. I am forced to omit a star and award three out of four stars, despite it being professionally edited and with only minor grammatical errors.
I would recommend this novel to families with a member who is handicapped in any way and to the “normal “ who have no disabilities. The novel would greatly help one to know how to handle, love, and care for them, appreciate them, and most importantly respect them keeping in mind disability is not an inability.
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I Know My Way Memoir
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I Know My Way Memoir by Theresa Marafito with Linda Odubayo Thompson gives an account of Theresa Marafito’s life challenges as a visually impaired from the first-person perspective that enables us to get a first-hand impression of every bit of her journey. She is the daughter of Mary and Michael, a younger sister to Helen and Margaret. At an early age, she is first trained at Sight Conservation Teaching Service of New York on how to read and type, then proceeds to grade one before joining Evander Childs High School. She graduates and proceeds to Adelphi University, where she meets Jerry who would later be her husband after graduating with a Bachelor of Special Education and History.
The novel expounds on the challenges that the visually and mentally handicapped as well as their families have to contend with and the price they have to pay for being in such situations. Margaret, who is mentally handicapped, has to be sent to an institution of the intellectually disabled for the rest of her life. Theresa, on the other hand, has to pretend before her friends, all in a bid to disguise the fact that she is visually challenged. Additionally, if they are walking and ask for directions, they are humiliated and left there to figure the directions on their own. They are denied jobs with several excuses. Fortunately, the government does not abandon them but organizes recreational camps for the visually impaired, sets aside schools for the blind and mentally handicapped, and has professional opticians to deal with their optic issues.
What I loved most in this book is the authors' use of simple and figurative language. I commend them for the excellent use of vivid descriptions that aided me in creating mental images that got me laughing, empathizing, and astonished on what I would do supposing I was in the protagonist's shoes.
The other thing that I liked about the book was the fact that I started looking at optometry and those that lack it with another perspective, where it initially seemed like any normal organ to possess.
What I liked least about the book is its poor character development. The authors employed the use of too many characters, who dragged the pace of the story. Furthermore, I was unable to keep track of who is who and made me constantly flip to the front pages and check who they were to establish their role in the plot development. Most of the helping characters did not have much to do other than being mentioned and the relationship they shared with the protagonist, Theresa Marafito, and later disappeared. I am forced to omit a star and award three out of four stars, despite it being professionally edited and with only minor grammatical errors.
I would recommend this novel to families with a member who is handicapped in any way and to the “normal “ who have no disabilities. The novel would greatly help one to know how to handle, love, and care for them, appreciate them, and most importantly respect them keeping in mind disability is not an inability.
******
I Know My Way Memoir
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Corky, the Three-Legged Dog by Ronald Arne Saetermoe
