What do you think?
Rate this book
Face to Face
Face to Face is an autobiographical book by Ved Mehta. Blind from age three, this moving book recounts his early life in India and his prolonged struggle for an education both there and in America. His account of his experiences during Partition shines with honesty and sensitivity.
295 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
15 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Ved Mehta
79 books49 followersIndian-American journalist Ved Parkash Mehta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ved_Mehta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ved_Mehta
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 14, 2018
Absolutely loved it. Being from Rawalpindi and Lahore, Ved's account seems especially valuable in our times. Subcontinental societies sadly remain as tough for special people as they were about 80 years ago.
September 11, 2021
What hope is there for a blind Indian boy who wishes more than anything tobe educated and independent? Ved's father is a visionary and also wise enough to encourage his son to know how privileged he is, how many sacrifices have been made for him and that if his family was less wealthy he would have good nothing.
The best part of the book was the childhood in India. Ved has his family sitting around discussing race, colonialism, gender, women's rights, marriage, etc and all philosophising together. Whether they were in fact as articulate as he remembers this is a fascinating and worthwhile read. There is complexity in the way they disagree- in the way they are torn between relationships with the British and benefiting relative to their neighbours, but also seeing how colonialism ultimately rips the country assunder by pitting Muslim against Hindu and that the British have caused this to make their own domination possible.
In America there are still points of interest- like his refusal to use a cane and his friendship with K, but there is also a lot of sexism and essentialised crap that puts women in a sub-par position. He also seems to remember his mother only in an objectified way, while his father is more real to him. I found myself frequently bored, though I admired his determination to succeed and was annoyed at how many obstacles people put in his way for racist or ableist reasons (he does not call them that).
Overall this was worth reading, and a bit deeper than the average memoir (but mostly humble).
The best part of the book was the childhood in India. Ved has his family sitting around discussing race, colonialism, gender, women's rights, marriage, etc and all philosophising together. Whether they were in fact as articulate as he remembers this is a fascinating and worthwhile read. There is complexity in the way they disagree- in the way they are torn between relationships with the British and benefiting relative to their neighbours, but also seeing how colonialism ultimately rips the country assunder by pitting Muslim against Hindu and that the British have caused this to make their own domination possible.
In America there are still points of interest- like his refusal to use a cane and his friendship with K, but there is also a lot of sexism and essentialised crap that puts women in a sub-par position. He also seems to remember his mother only in an objectified way, while his father is more real to him. I found myself frequently bored, though I admired his determination to succeed and was annoyed at how many obstacles people put in his way for racist or ableist reasons (he does not call them that).
Overall this was worth reading, and a bit deeper than the average memoir (but mostly humble).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews