Thursday 1 March 2012

Stigma by Erving Goffman

Masterly account of people who are different in society, written in the 50's this book is still supremely relevant.
American Sociologist Erving Goffman deals with the social position of the disabled as being discredited, being outsiders, their defence mechanisms and the reactions of others to them.
At times depressing but one of the few great works of disability thinking, highly recommened
rating 10/10

Sash and Shrink by Julius Johnston

Available as ebook download only
British author Julius Johnston's character Sash is formidable. She works for a wheelchair bound psychoanalyst who helps people suffering from Disability Hate Crime.
A real thriller as Sash eliminates the abusers. Highly recommended, the writing quality is excellent
rating 10/10

How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman

One of the greatest works of modern Scottish literature.
Sammy loses his sight in an altercation with off duty police officers and James Kelman sensitively gives a fantastic narrative as Sammy, building labourer, gambler and roughie-toughie.
Brilliant Scots dialect mingle with black humour as the blind man fights every barrier in his way to  a great read.
Aristocratic good for nowts put the book down but this one will provide great humour and insights into the life of a blind chap.
rating 10/10

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Great read, centres on a Deaf man John Singer in a small Southern American town.
John Singer has a magnetism that attracts other lonely people to him,. Superb storytelling by the young American author and arguably the greatest work of Disabled literature
Rating 10/10