Terry Lynn Galloway

This is a funny, electrical, no-bullshit tale by a wry and talented author. Terry Galloway navigates the waters that have drowned many a wannabe memoirist -- disability, sexual identity, and mental health among them -- with ease, evoking compassion but never pity. Whether she's describing the politics and hierarchies of Deaf culture (not to be confused with the world of the "little-d" deaf) or the challenges of appearing imperfect in the theater world, Galloway's observations are always show more spot-on and perfectly timed. If you like memoirs at all, read this one. show less

The life and mostly-lesbian loves of a woman who became (small-d) deaf at the age of nine are explored in this wry, David-Sedaris-like memoir.

Author Terry Galloway was born in post-WWII Germany; her father was a Cold-War era American spy. Galloway inherited his ability to act as if she were someone else. Despite her difficulties with hearing (even with hearing aids) and enunciation, Galloway devotes her life to theater, where she makes a fulfilling, if sometimes impoverished, life for show more herself. She also finds true love and some measure of mental stability, despite some severe episodes of dissociation and depression. As other readers have commented, the first half of the book is more engaging than the second. Still, I recommend this book. show less

Galloway's book is, as you may have guessed by the title, no sentimental tear-jerker about being deaf in a hearing world. Rather, it is an all-out, no-holds-barred testimony to living live to the fullest in your own way and taking advantage of whatever life may happen to throw at you. Galloway's spunky attitude is refreshing and often hilarious, and her personality shines through in her memoir. She wastes no space on meandering by-the-ways, and she's always hitting the mark directly. Her show more family and friends provide constant support to the memoir, as she tenderly and sharply characterizes them; the cast is unbeatable. Highly recommended. show less

Mean Little deaf Queer is one of the best books I've read this year.

The title sets a very distinct tone--one that Terry Galloway manipulates almost perfectly. Unlike the majority of memoirs, I didn't feel as if she went out of her way to embellish her experiences. The direction of her narrative was less about defeating obstacles and more about becoming a highly creative and resourceful person because of them.

Although Galloway's story is exceptionally unique, I could relate to her. Of course, show more being deaf and queer exacerbates the normal human horrors and humiliations we all go through at some point--but still, the array of emotions is familiar. I appreciated her frankness and sense of humor.

I think some of the unfavorable reviews (on LT and other sites) stem partly from Galloway being compared to David Sedaris. Being a fan of both, I can see a few similarities between them, but they are two very different writers. She should be judged on her own merits.

Galloway is an excellent storyteller. If I hadn't received Mean Little deaf Queer for free from Early Reviewers, I still would've bought a copy. I recommend it. show less