What Love Sees

by Susan Vreeland

A wealthy New England blind woman escaped the shelter of her overprotective family to marry a poor blind rancher in a remote California mountain town, and gets the jolt of reality she'd been longing for. There's more to learning to ride western than just horses, and it has to do with seeing eye bulls, a cabin so small she constantly crashes into her grand piano shipped from home, four elusive children she can't see to feed or care for, and a husband who expects perfection, prays on horseback, makes adobe bricks to build her a proper house, drives a jalopy truck with his seven-year-old son on his lap--and won't ever admit to being blind.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club

390 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Susan Vreeland was an internationally renowned best-selling author and four-time winner of the Theodor Geisel Award for Fiction, the San Diego Book Award’s highest honor. She wrote historical fiction on art-related themes, and her books have been translated into 26 languages.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Vreeland is the author of several historical-fiction books, including "Luncheon of the Boating Party" and "Girl in Hyacinth Blue." I've learned from all of her stories. This book was listed as a novel, but is based on the lives of two blind people that marry and raise a family of four in California in the 1940-50s. Photos of the family are included. I was amazed at what this family could do on their own. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to spoon feed an infant, keep track of a toddler, or run a farm? The story is heartfelt and earnest without being overly sentimental.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok ... but it tended to drag out at times. The first half of the book was about a wealthy family and the life of their blind child. The second half has the child finishing school, enjoying the adventure of overseas travel, meeting the man who would be her husband ... and having 4 children, one of whom became blind.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that will make you realize what visually handicapped people must go through, this may not be great literature but I found the characters and story compelling. The main character is amazingly courageous. The book is a “biographical novel”, so I assume it is loosely based upon a real family.
For further info, see https://www.svreeland.com/wls-thestor...

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This extraordinary account of a remarkable young woman's life following the loss of sight touched me deeply. It taught me about the mechanics needed to reach an unseen destination, the ways to communicate your deepest wishes and needs, and the recognition of what is truly important in life.

The determination and courage of young Jean Treadway enabled her to embark on the life she dreamed of in the 1940's, overcoming unimaginable odds. Relocating from New England to California, she overcame the many stumbling blocks of marriage and motherhood, happily sharing her days with her quirky but amazingly accomplished husband Forrest.

I know that this book will be one that I will not forget.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this was Vreeland's 1st book. An interesting look into the life of an East Coast debutant who became blind in her early teens, was one of the first people to employ a seeing eye dog, meets & marries a rancher who also became blind in his teens, raises 4 children with him and learns how to be an independent person. They worked HARD. They were a true team. Based, I believe, on a true story. Vreeland's other books usually feature an artist or a piece of art and are wonderful. You can see her talent in this one but I am so glad she moved from memoir to historical fiction.

[kate flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of 2018!

If you want a beautiful heartwarming story then this book is for you. It is about the strength of the human spirit and a family overcoming adversity with love and grit!

[School Side · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love sees beyond challenges

A delightful story of love; selfdiscovery, and the power of human resillance and faith-based g?this book is spinkled with these themes and the challenges of living life to its fullest. It is a must read!

[Andrea L. Schrader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

I bought this book out of curiosity. How could a couple live if both are blind? This was a wonderful book, very inspiring. The human spirit can achieve unbelievable things. The book included photos of the family which I really appreciate.

[Sara Woodyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. A solid read. One of its strengths is that it was very real about parenthood as a blind person. For example, it didn't gloss over the uglier bits with the children's behavior at times. IT seemed very well researched. It's a fascinating read.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring. Based on a true story.

[Molly Gilberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring!

[Jane K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a poignant story of a blind woman and blind man who take their shared disability and build a life together. When we complain about small annoyances, we should read this book. I loved it.

[Lorraine Inman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great enduring story, well written, easy to read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Susan Vreeland's first novel based on historic figures. It is written from the first person perspective of a girl from a very wealthy Connecticut family who becomes blind at the age of 11 in the mist of depression. She struggles to create a real life while her family, especially her domineering father, try to keep her safe and sheltered. She bravely pursues friendships her parents do not approve of and takes risks to make her life more significant. After attending a 'finishing school' in New York, she yearns to lead a more adventurous life. She gains confidence when she receives a seeing-eye dog and becomes more independent. She ventures to California to visit a friend from school and is introduced to a poor, hardworking farmer who lost his sight in a high school football injury. Forrest's personal "philosophy of gratitude" changes everything for Jean. Doors are opened and she comes to believe she is ready for make a life with him. The second part of the book details Jean's struggles as the couple starts a family and amazingly take on the awesome responsibility of raising a family of four children.

I felt part of this story and was sorry when it ended as the family embarks on their next stage, moving to a new town to ensure their youngest son received the special services he needed. The story is absorbing and the daily struggles are so well portrayed, I felt at times like giving up, too. What an amazing family; the author does a wonderful job bringing their unique and wonderful story to the page!
Great read!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 3,2012
Whew!!!I have just finished What Love Sees by Susan Vreeland, her first book...a biographical novel. It was made into a movie made for television that she told me (when she was in our town to speak about her book, Clara and Mr. Tiffany, our community read for 2012) was a work of love for these beautiful people .

She was the daughter of a wealthy family in Connecticut. He was the son of subsistence farmers in rural Ramon, California. They were both blind. They married and raised 4 children.
Close your eyes, dear reader, and imagine never seeing your children or your spouse. Imagine cooking, feeding a baby...changing a baby. Imagine the chaos of all those children. Imagine running a farm with large feisty animals.

Vreeland describes in detail how the couple learned to cope and never complained. The book does seem to drag in the middle...But there is just so much interesting material that I never once considered skipping a page.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an inspiring and touching story about a blind couple who raise their children on a California ranch. I felt it truly showed how things were for the blind back in the 1940's and the struggle they had to live independently. It also showed the extreme differences between the wealthy East coast families and West coast ranch families. Some of the ways that they raised their children back then would be considered inappropriate today and I cringed at the children being tied to a post. The letter writing between the couple as they courted was wonderful. I'm still wondering how driving a car and being blind would be o.k. even on a private road! As usual, Susan Vreeland has done a masterful job of developing the characters and describing things so that you feel that you are there.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed getting to walk in Jean's shoes, the shoes of a blind girl, making her way as best she can from childhood through motherhood. I've never known a blind person, so I loved understanding what life's challenges are for one, and I so liked her. She was vulnerable and strong, all at the same time, scared and weak, yet resilient...an inspiration. This book broadened my horizons and I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters. I'd love to see the movie based on this real family. I'd recommend this book.

[theresa Younce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a special in the kindle sale shelf and I really enjoyed it. The writing is not the best (a first novel) The author also wrote The Girl in Hyacinth Blue which I liked and the writing much better. But the story of What Love Sees is fascinating. Two blind people from entirely different social levels and from each one of the US coasts marry and raise four children on a ranch in California right before WWII. True story but a fictionalized account in that the thoughts and words are made up by the author although the account is all true. It will inspire you.

[Jennifer]

Being a big fan of Susan Vreeland, I was excited to discover this lesser known book. Well, it is no wonder it didn't get much publicity, as I could not make it past 50 or so pages. The story and characters just didn't do anything for me and I was so disappointed I had to quit and stop wasting my time. Zero stars...

[Sharon Kelley]

I really enjoyed this story. It was reccomended to me by the young blind son himself "Hap" after a chance meeting in Crystal Lake IL. It has special meaning for me because I am a sighted child of blind parents

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both the writing and the story improved page by page. By the end of the book I was completely wrapped up in the characters and am dying to know how their move went and what became of the family.

An added bonus for me was a glimpse into the life of someone who loses their sight.

[Nicole Gerrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

whilst not the best written book it was a fascination story about overcoming blindness and having a normal life. It was a remarkable story at a time when disabled people were not as well integrated into society.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So if you read my review of Stuart Scott's book about his battle with cancer, then just take all that and substitute the word blind. This seems like a very important book to read if you have blind persons in your life to understand how they feel, not just what it is like.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an amazing book and I love that it is a true story! I will never take my sight for granted again - still can't believe the challenges Jean & Forrest overcame every day.
I truly didn't want the book to end and would love a sequel after sir move to Escondido

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually haven't read this book for quite some time, but I remember enjoying it when I read it. It's one I would like to read again, but I remember there being some really poignant scenes.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read, it left me smiling!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. In fact I wanted more. The book itself was not well written. I felt like I was back in middle school reading a biography.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me think about the things that I take for granted. I liked it.

[Erin Jepsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was wonderful. The writing seemed a bit mediocre.

[Lise Schleicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read. This. Book.

I enjoyed this from the first word to the very end, and was hoping there was more.