Able

by Kurt Shead

Letting people into your life is like opening your door to someone. There's stuff you're willing to show them, but there's stuff you wish they didn't see, stuff you wish you didn't have to share. My door's open. Come look.
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Daniel Bennett is in a wheelchair. He's got cerebral palsy and lives with his dad. There life was comfortable, familiar.

But the space of five minutes can change everything. Life's different now. Daniel has to learn to stand on his own two feet.
---
ABLE is an emotional story of a young disabled man who thinks his life is his disability. It takes the friendship of a troubled girl, the warm support of a caring nurse and the ever-present love of a rough-cut father to show him he that life is what you make it. Together, they show him that--sometimes--learning to share your life with others can be the best thing you ever do.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2013

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very able

I really loved this book. His candid humour was brilliant. I was laughing a lot. He was brutally honest and inspiring.
Would love a part 2!!

[Howard Katzoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!

What an incredible experience. If you haven't thanked God lately, you'll sure do it after reading this book. There is no way to explain the main character- except to hear his life story. Certainly not a fun read, but so worthwhile.

[Grace Harwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a kind of gritty, realistic, (and better for it) "Me Before You" and covers a brief period in the life of a young man with cerebral palsy who has always been looked after by his Father. When his Dad is involved in an accident and can no longer care for him, he has to recruit a carer. The carer is a troubled young woman who requires as much care as the man himself (not all disabilities can be seen, and this is a novel which conveys very strongly the message that you cannot trust appearances) and how their mutual caring makes them stronger people.

I really enjoyed reading the book. Unlike Jojo Moyes rendering of a disabled hero, the reader gets a true sense of this novel being a window into another world (and one which you couldn't possibly get unless you really knew what you were talking about - research is not enough). There was a real immediacy to the text as well, which I just loved. When Dan buys Jess a surprise birthday present, he refuses to reveal to the reader what it is until Jess has seen it herself (this is a striking literary device which places the reader in the same situation as the character, in having to wait to find out. I thought this was terribly clever). The relationships were also rendered beautifully with a clarity which is lacking in a lot of novels. It wasn't just the romance part of it, but also the true strength of feeling between father and son which is depicted in this text. It was heartwarming.

There are some uncomfortable scenes (some which make for uncomfortable reading - such as how does a disabled man take a wee...) but it's all part of that "window into another world" and so is probably very necessary to the book. I really recommend this book - it's fantastic.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am giving this book a rest at 56% because it a annoying me. The characters are so immature seeing people purely on a superficial level. The son meets a girl and potential cater and the father only asks if they are fat or thin. There are other mentions of this in the book and it irritates me and I read for escapism and relaxation. So when characters seems to rank females just by their looks it irritates me so I don’t want to disappear into that world and it doesn’t relax me. It was ok until the middle, if I over looked the fat remarks but then it plateaued and I put it down when the narrator said “he was breathing heavily like fat person” - get over yourself.

I hate leaving a book unfinished but it will take a while to remember why it annoyed me.

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you manage to read this book more like a diary than a novel I think you will like it. It is raw and emotional. I had problems with the writing style which is not my favourite but the book has a lot of content that it wants to relate. And what better person you could find as an author than one that really knows what he is talking about.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a 20 year old young man with Cerebral Palsy documenting 6 months of his life. We see him grow from a bitter man focused solely on himself and his condition, to someone who begins to care about others, and finally one who puts his bitterness aside as he learns to love. His growth is heartwarming to watch, and his realization that he is so much more than his disease, and has so much to offer despite it, and in some cases, BECAUSE of it is beautiful.

This book is not for those offended by swearing, but otherwise, I recommend it to everyone!

[Matu Nila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was interesting. A bit too strong language for my taste, but it wasn't over the edge. And I really liked the main character.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful!

[Bonnie Lucke]

Awesome

Great really makes a person aware of the reality of life. Thank you Kurt for the insight to what you and others have overcome. Blessings to you.