Michael Berube
draws comparisons between the way stories are narrated – something mankind has
always done – and the way we perceive the world and think. The capacity of
understanding narrative is sometimes argued to be the decisive difference
between human beings and other species, but Berube shows that we have to extend
or understanding of intellect at this point.
What I
really appreciated in this highly demanding book was Berube’s very personal
approach to the topic. He manages to convey his ideas to readers who are not
totally immersed in the topic by providing his personal experiences and drawing
parallels that everyone can easily follow. By using many popular novels with
which many readers should be familiar, he provides access to his theory and
thus expands our understanding of disabilities and the way they are portrayed
in fiction and film. I am sure that after reading this book, I am now much more
sensitive to how people with disabilities are depicted and take a closer look
at the stereotypes used.
