Lou Ann Walker

Lou Ann Walker's A LOSS FOR WORDS: THE STORY OF DEAFNESS IN A FAMILY (1987) is a moving memoir about growing up as the eldest of three daughters of deaf parents. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, she tells of becoming her parents' interpreter almost from the time she could talk, a responsibility that came to weigh heavily on her as she grew older, always trying her best to "be a good girl" and help her mom and dad. She also provides glimpses of her parents' childhoods, and their education at show more the Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis. Her father worked as a printer and linotype operator for first a small newspaper and then the Indianapolis Star. (I was reminded of John Updike's novel, RABBIT, RUN, in which Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom's father was a linotype operator, a profession now obsolete.) Walker tells of embarrassments, humiliations and insults endured by her parents, while also managing to describe the beauty and grace of ASL (American Sign Language) as used by her parents and their friends in the deaf community. Walker herself absorbed ASL growing up and used it as a paid interpreter in various settings in New York City where she worked as an editor at New York magazine, Esquire and other publications following her graduation from Harvard, where she majored in Comparative Literature. Her work with deaf defendants in court settings and patients in mental hospitals caused a near nervous breakdown and she returned home to Indiana for a time for her grandfather's funeral and her sister's wedding.

There is a great deal of introspection by Walker about the difficulties and unfairness of her parents' life and how they handled it all - graciously and humbly - that I can't convey in a short review. But her portrayal of the closed society of the deaf community is excellent. I would also recommend two other similar, more recent books: Kambri
Crews' BURN DOWN THE GROUND and Josh Swiller's THE UNHEARD. All three of these memoirs provide a window into the world of the deaf. Lou Ann Walker's book has been around for nearly forty years now and it's still a fascinating read. Very highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER show less

Deafness is a disability that affects the way people live and communicate, and being the child of a deaf adult has things that others don't consider. Overall a good autobiography about a hearing insider's perspective on the deaf world and deaf culture.

The first few pages are promising. I love how the girl describes how her parents, who are both deaf, sign and drive at the same time. It's a completely different way of interacting with the world.

Amy was born deaf, but that doesn't slow her down at all. She's a playful and silly young girl who takes life one day at a time. She talks about her family and friends, describing what goes on in each picture. Amy shows how she has a special alarm clock and phone, as well as teaches her friends sign language. As she states, she's just like every other eleven year old girl.

I hate to say, but I got a bit bored reading this one. The images and activities are very dated, though the story itself show more is inspirational for other deaf children. Amy is a lovely little girl, but I found the story read like a diary and the sentences were a big stagnant: "I'm doing this, I'm doing that." It got a bit annoying. I did like the use if actual pictures from her life because they showed her being a normal little girl. show less