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Blind: A Memoir
Imagine that the most severe physical pain and sorrow of your life was caused by the people you trusted most. In the spring of 2007, Belo Cipriani was beaten and robbed of his sight at the hands of his childhood friends. "Blind: A Memoir" chronicles the two years immediately following the assault. At the age of 26, Belo found himself learning to walk, cook, and date in the dark. Armed with visual memory and his newly developed senses, Belo shows readers what the blind see. He narrates the little known world of the blind, where microwaves, watches, and computers talk, and where guide dogs guard as well as lead.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2011
About the author
Belo Miguel Cipriani
7 books28 followersBelo Miguel Cipriani is a columnist with the Bay Area Reporter. In 2017, his column on disability issues was recognized by the National Center on Disability and Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.
He is the author of Blind: A Memoir (2011), which received an Honorable Mention for Best Nonfiction Book by the 2011 Rainbow Awards, and an Honorable Mention for Best Culture Book by the 2012 Eric Hoffer Awards.
He has received fellowships from Lambda Literary and Yaddo, and was the first blind writer to attend the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Cipriani has guest lectured at Yale University, University of San Francisco, and University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and was the Writer-in-Residence at Holy Names University from 2012 to 2016.
His writing has appeared in several publications, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Business Insider, and HuffPost. He was a contributor to the Ed Baxter Morning Show on iHeart Radio, and was also a frequent commentator on San Francisco’s KGO Radio, as well as on several NPR shows.
Cipriani has received numerous awards for his disability advocacy work, including being named “Best Disability Advocate” by SF Weekly (2015), an “Agent of Change” by HuffPost (2015), and an “ABC7 Star” by KGO-TV (2016). He was also honored as the first blind Grand Marshal at San Francisco’s 45th Annual Gay Pride Parade.
He lives in St. Louis Park, MN with his partner, James, and his guide dog, Oslo.
He is the author of Blind: A Memoir (2011), which received an Honorable Mention for Best Nonfiction Book by the 2011 Rainbow Awards, and an Honorable Mention for Best Culture Book by the 2012 Eric Hoffer Awards.
He has received fellowships from Lambda Literary and Yaddo, and was the first blind writer to attend the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Cipriani has guest lectured at Yale University, University of San Francisco, and University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and was the Writer-in-Residence at Holy Names University from 2012 to 2016.
His writing has appeared in several publications, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Business Insider, and HuffPost. He was a contributor to the Ed Baxter Morning Show on iHeart Radio, and was also a frequent commentator on San Francisco’s KGO Radio, as well as on several NPR shows.
Cipriani has received numerous awards for his disability advocacy work, including being named “Best Disability Advocate” by SF Weekly (2015), an “Agent of Change” by HuffPost (2015), and an “ABC7 Star” by KGO-TV (2016). He was also honored as the first blind Grand Marshal at San Francisco’s 45th Annual Gay Pride Parade.
He lives in St. Louis Park, MN with his partner, James, and his guide dog, Oslo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 30, 2018
Belo Miguel Cipriani was robbed of one of our most precious senses, his sight, by people he once knew as friends. Beaten senseless, this book follows the 2 years following the brutal attack, and chronicles how he learned to navigate, cook, live independently, and yes, even date, while blind.
Cipriana was already, he admits, a bit of the unusual, considering he is a half-Jewish, half-Brazilian gay man.
This is a debut author, and he pens this tome with heartfelt agony, and yet it is also filled with love and speaks to a person who overcomes much difficulty (to say the least) to regain his life and make it, admittedly, not the life he dreamed of, but as close to it as possible.
I read this book in a short period of time. It grabbed me and held on. I felt his pain, his utter despondence at the loss of his sight, his anger at the people who took away his vision, his acceptance, and finally, a life he could enjoy.
Well don Belo!
Cipriana was already, he admits, a bit of the unusual, considering he is a half-Jewish, half-Brazilian gay man.
This is a debut author, and he pens this tome with heartfelt agony, and yet it is also filled with love and speaks to a person who overcomes much difficulty (to say the least) to regain his life and make it, admittedly, not the life he dreamed of, but as close to it as possible.
I read this book in a short period of time. It grabbed me and held on. I felt his pain, his utter despondence at the loss of his sight, his anger at the people who took away his vision, his acceptance, and finally, a life he could enjoy.
Well don Belo!
May 20, 2013
Ugh. Just wrote most of the review only to have my cat lean on the keyboard and erase the entire thing. I don't even know how he does it!
Now, with the keyboard on my lap, I grudgingly begin again...
This was a fine book to listen to while getting things done around the house. I'm always up for an inspirational story of someone who overcomes adversity and this book certainly fit that category. Belo, a Latin, gay, young man loses his vision as a result of a horrific beating from people he once considered to be his friends. Belo does not dwell too much on the incident that cost him his sight, but instead focuses on the challenges he faces in starting his life again without sight. I found all of this to be quite interesting - getting a guide dog, taking classes, dating. He also goes back in time periodically and describes moments of his life before he lost his sight. These moments usually describe a memory of his past attitudes towards blindness or any other disability. While I thought this was an interesting addition, I sometimes felt confused as to the timeline. Perhaps this was only because it was an audio book and I had trouble keeping my attention focused. Anyway, overall it was worth a listen if you appreciate this kind of story.
Now, with the keyboard on my lap, I grudgingly begin again...
This was a fine book to listen to while getting things done around the house. I'm always up for an inspirational story of someone who overcomes adversity and this book certainly fit that category. Belo, a Latin, gay, young man loses his vision as a result of a horrific beating from people he once considered to be his friends. Belo does not dwell too much on the incident that cost him his sight, but instead focuses on the challenges he faces in starting his life again without sight. I found all of this to be quite interesting - getting a guide dog, taking classes, dating. He also goes back in time periodically and describes moments of his life before he lost his sight. These moments usually describe a memory of his past attitudes towards blindness or any other disability. While I thought this was an interesting addition, I sometimes felt confused as to the timeline. Perhaps this was only because it was an audio book and I had trouble keeping my attention focused. Anyway, overall it was worth a listen if you appreciate this kind of story.
October 6, 2011
"Blind" by Belo Miguel Cipriani is an amazing memoir of a young gay man. He was a victim of incredible cruelty by people who he thought were lifelong friends. Severe pain was not enough for his tormented, they took his sight away.
Born to a Brazilian father and Italian mother, he worked in the financial district of San Francisco. He spent his money on expensive clothes and techno toys. He had twelve years of Capoeira training. I had never heard of the Brazilian form of marital arts before. Just in case you are not familiar with it either, I am including this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira
Belo's life changed suddenly the day he was beaten, robbed. He had several operations but he was left with permanent total blindness.
The rest of his memoir is his struggle to accept his blindness and learn to navigate through the non-seeing world. I learned so much from this book, not just about how people see the blind and react to them but also about the special gadgets that help daily life. Most important is facing up to what you have and dealing with it.
If you have a day off, try getting through just two hours blindfolded. Try it! I think you will find it very challenging.
This book is written in crisp language and wit. This book is not just for people who have a visual disability.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book is a real winner.
Born to a Brazilian father and Italian mother, he worked in the financial district of San Francisco. He spent his money on expensive clothes and techno toys. He had twelve years of Capoeira training. I had never heard of the Brazilian form of marital arts before. Just in case you are not familiar with it either, I am including this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira
Belo's life changed suddenly the day he was beaten, robbed. He had several operations but he was left with permanent total blindness.
The rest of his memoir is his struggle to accept his blindness and learn to navigate through the non-seeing world. I learned so much from this book, not just about how people see the blind and react to them but also about the special gadgets that help daily life. Most important is facing up to what you have and dealing with it.
If you have a day off, try getting through just two hours blindfolded. Try it! I think you will find it very challenging.
This book is written in crisp language and wit. This book is not just for people who have a visual disability.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book is a real winner.
September 2, 2011
Trauma transforms us. Some people are able to create a new life for themselves after a horrendous experience. Others are less successful.
One of the modalities that seems to help open doors of rebirth is writing about what has happened, how one is responding to it, and the difficult journey to rebuild one’s life. Belo Miguel Cipriani’s "Blind – A Memoir" is a case in point.
After a most unexpected and vicious assault and subsequent unsuccessful surgeries, Cipriani was left with no sight at all – a “total” in the lingo of the blind community. His book documents not only the details of his torturous path to create a new life for himself but also describes with candor and insight his interior struggles along the way.
Cipriani’s writing style is crisp and melodic. Each chapter embodies searing honesty and endearing informality. His willingness to recount his story is generous to us as readers and hopefully somewhat cathartic to him as writer.
By coincidence, I was reading "Blind" at the same time as Cipriani was reading my memoir "August Farewell". Though our stories are different, we both have discovered a measure of life in creating a written testimony of the valley through which we have walked.
One of the modalities that seems to help open doors of rebirth is writing about what has happened, how one is responding to it, and the difficult journey to rebuild one’s life. Belo Miguel Cipriani’s "Blind – A Memoir" is a case in point.
After a most unexpected and vicious assault and subsequent unsuccessful surgeries, Cipriani was left with no sight at all – a “total” in the lingo of the blind community. His book documents not only the details of his torturous path to create a new life for himself but also describes with candor and insight his interior struggles along the way.
Cipriani’s writing style is crisp and melodic. Each chapter embodies searing honesty and endearing informality. His willingness to recount his story is generous to us as readers and hopefully somewhat cathartic to him as writer.
By coincidence, I was reading "Blind" at the same time as Cipriani was reading my memoir "August Farewell". Though our stories are different, we both have discovered a measure of life in creating a written testimony of the valley through which we have walked.
June 8, 2011
It has been said that everyone has a story to tell, but what a powerful one Belo Cipriani had with his memoir Blind. I finished this book in two nights and I relived the past few years of his life when he was brutally beaten blind by people he knew. His moving story is told with candor (and humor) and though I can only assume I would have completely given up on everything and have been full of self pity - this amazing man shares a journey of strength and endurance like I cannot imagine. Fascinating how losing something can make someone so enlightened in all that they do. I highly recommend this book about a period in this incredible person's life that has shaped who he will forever be as a person and as a writer.
September 12, 2011
Amazing!! I have already passed this on to my aunt to read. She retired as a teacher at our State School for the Visually Handicapped. This really made me think again about my preconceived notions I had about blind people.
At first, I didn't care for the way each chapter was a different essay, and they somewhat jumped around in time. However, as I continued to read, I think that doing it this way brought a better understanding to the essays to have them in the order that they are. This isn't written like a normal story, with a beginning, middle, and end. It also doesn't tie it all up in a nice bow at the end - and I don't think it should. This is one of the most outstanding books I've read in a long time, and I will be recommending it to others.
At first, I didn't care for the way each chapter was a different essay, and they somewhat jumped around in time. However, as I continued to read, I think that doing it this way brought a better understanding to the essays to have them in the order that they are. This isn't written like a normal story, with a beginning, middle, and end. It also doesn't tie it all up in a nice bow at the end - and I don't think it should. This is one of the most outstanding books I've read in a long time, and I will be recommending it to others.
January 21, 2012
A raw, honest, and ultimately uplifting account of a person's courageous journey through darkness to light. A real hero's journey.
May 29, 2019
An amazing story of transformation and adapting oneself to a new world. After surviving a hate crime beating, realizing your sight is disappearing and there is nothing you can do about it. The anger and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness were very high. To be able to turn that around and truly thrive is a huge accomplishment. What a great guy. People are lucky to have him in their lives and I’m lucky to have read his story. I learned a lot about what I take for granted as a sighted person.
September 13, 2011
Blind: A Memoir, follows Belo Cipriani's journey from a young, gay man full of all the joy and promise that seems to glow off all people in their twenties, to tragically becoming blind after a vicious attack. Belo presents his memoir beginning with a series of vignettes of his teenage years filling us in on how he found some other young gay teenagers who accepted him and understood where he was coming from. All, until he decided he wanted to go to college and move to San Francisco.
Years later he runs into these friends, men who should have been his strongest support system, but instead viciously assaulted Belo so badly he became permanently blind after a series of surgeries that tried to save his vision. This section was hard to read because of the rage it can produce in the reader. Not only did I feel bad for Belo, but shared his utter rage and disbelief of his situation. It amazes me how cruel human beings can be to each other.
Belo tells of his struggles, depression and obstacles that he faced, but more importantly tells of his triumphs and his new life. Belo's story is amazing, thoughtful and inspiring. I loved following his journey, understanding his anger towards his attackers and admiring his strength to move on. I loved one chapter that was about one of his first outings, the morning bus commute, with his guide dog, how everyone was talking about her, admiring her and telling Belo they were glad he got a dog. Only to find later when he arrived at the office that she had a pair of his boxers in her mouth!
Belo's story is a testament to the cruelty of some, but the true strength of a person. His attackers never saw jail time and only had to pay a minuscule sum in a civil suit trial, but Belo has moved on and I hope that he will continue writing.
Years later he runs into these friends, men who should have been his strongest support system, but instead viciously assaulted Belo so badly he became permanently blind after a series of surgeries that tried to save his vision. This section was hard to read because of the rage it can produce in the reader. Not only did I feel bad for Belo, but shared his utter rage and disbelief of his situation. It amazes me how cruel human beings can be to each other.
Belo tells of his struggles, depression and obstacles that he faced, but more importantly tells of his triumphs and his new life. Belo's story is amazing, thoughtful and inspiring. I loved following his journey, understanding his anger towards his attackers and admiring his strength to move on. I loved one chapter that was about one of his first outings, the morning bus commute, with his guide dog, how everyone was talking about her, admiring her and telling Belo they were glad he got a dog. Only to find later when he arrived at the office that she had a pair of his boxers in her mouth!
Belo's story is a testament to the cruelty of some, but the true strength of a person. His attackers never saw jail time and only had to pay a minuscule sum in a civil suit trial, but Belo has moved on and I hope that he will continue writing.
September 5, 2011
Belo Cipriani's account of the violence that led to his blindness, and of the strength and friendship that ultimately led to his recovery, is an inspiration to anyone facing unexpected adversity.
While a lesser talent could have resorted to overwrought prose, Cipriani writes in a crisp, straightforward style that engages the reader and draws us into his world. The episodic structure and anecdotal tone present snapshots in time that are sometimes painful, sometimes bittersweet, and sometimes, unexpectedly, laugh-out-loud funny. In the process of describing his journey of recovery, Cipriani presents the everyday experiences of life, like bus rides and nights out, from a perspective that most of us have simply never had to consider. That alone makes this book a "must read".
Ultimately, Cipriani's story is about the victory of hope and optimism over hatred and despair, and about the power of the human spirit.
While a lesser talent could have resorted to overwrought prose, Cipriani writes in a crisp, straightforward style that engages the reader and draws us into his world. The episodic structure and anecdotal tone present snapshots in time that are sometimes painful, sometimes bittersweet, and sometimes, unexpectedly, laugh-out-loud funny. In the process of describing his journey of recovery, Cipriani presents the everyday experiences of life, like bus rides and nights out, from a perspective that most of us have simply never had to consider. That alone makes this book a "must read".
Ultimately, Cipriani's story is about the victory of hope and optimism over hatred and despair, and about the power of the human spirit.
January 18, 2012
I enjoyed this book it was inspirational and at times very heartwarming. I am so glad that Ciprian wrote this book and I am happy I stuck with it but there was a lot about the book that could have been so much better. The story about how he lost his sight was to short and there was no reason given at all. The one that sort of was made no sense. It is possible that Ciprian doesn't have a reason either but that should have been stated in the book. The writing style for me was also a bit hard to read at times with the jumps in times etc... leaves you confused and I think makes the book hard to get through. Overall tho a great story and thanks for sharing it with us.
March 29, 2013
Perhaps my expectations for "Blind" were set too high, but I felt that Cipriani spent too much time telling the story of being a gay man struggling with a loss of eyesight instead of developing the story of the difficulties of any young man or woman overcoming blindness. Being straight or being gay didn't seem relevant, yet he spent a fair amount of time discussing his dates and boyfriends. The book is subtitled "a memoir", so the story was his to tell, but personally, I much preferred another book with a similar story: "Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See", by Robert Kurson.
July 12, 2016
Interesting premise and the writing was good enough... Very unsatisfying in some areas but that's the fault of modern life more than that of the author. Good to know that services for the blind which I grew up with are getting better all the time and it was cool to read about some of the gadgets available to help but, as usual, the costs are prohibitive. I'd love to learn more about several things written about or touched on in passing.
November 11, 2016
beautifully written - and read, the choice of the reader voice was perfect.
cipriani tells his story about how he lost his sight in an act of unsolicited violence to mastering blind skills in just two years. he grows really fast to adopt to his new world, far from getting stuck in the complainer or helpless guy many others could have become.
interesting character - and enjoyable adventures in blind california.
blind capoeira too - i had never heard of that before this book
cipriani tells his story about how he lost his sight in an act of unsolicited violence to mastering blind skills in just two years. he grows really fast to adopt to his new world, far from getting stuck in the complainer or helpless guy many others could have become.
interesting character - and enjoyable adventures in blind california.
blind capoeira too - i had never heard of that before this book
June 9, 2011
Compelling, at times distressing, ultimately inspiring. Told in a clear, warm, and distinctly personal voice. I expected Belo's story to be intriguing, but I didn't expect to become so involved that I finished it in a single session.
January 26, 2013
When will I get to read the inspirational memoir of someone aged, poor, already partially disabled, unable to finance as much as the filling of their teeth or a new hearing aid, not to speak of a guide dog and expensive computer gear? Never. That's why these books get such kudos.
October 26, 2018
Wow!
This guy is amazing. He lost his sight, due to a beating from his so called friends. God bless him!
This guy is amazing. He lost his sight, due to a beating from his so called friends. God bless him!
May 26, 2020
This is a memoir written by a young, gay, blind man who lives in San Francisco. He became blind 2 years ago after being severely beaten by a group of his closest friends.
The story tells of his struggles to deal with the anger at his friends and to adapt to his blindness. He receives support from multiple agencies and makes many new friends who are either partially or completely blind.
It is a very eye-opening (no pun intended) story. Belo describes what being blind is like after losing the sight he had his whole life. He describes the challenges he faces but he also describes how he learns to adapt. It made me realize that some3one who is blind is just like other people, just without their sight. They have the same hopes, dreams, and feelings.
Belo had been a Capoeira dancer for 12 years. Capoeira is a highly acrobatic dance that is done to live music. It was created by enslaved Africans in Brazil in the early 1700's. It is a fighting technique comprised of fast swaying movements, including handstands and flips. It also has a religious component. Belo meets a girl who is blind and is a Capoeirista. With her help, Belo finds a studio to continue his practice.
Reading this has given me an important awareness. At one point, Belo is out at a bar with a new date, named Nate - he has his sight. They have some drinks and dance. Another man tries to pick up Belo and Nate becomes very insecure.
"Despite the occasional laughing and dancing, Nate continued to highlight his insecurities about his appearance for the rest of the night. His comments reminded me that I lived in a visual-centric world. I had learned a new way to gauge art, beauty, and comfort, yet I was discovering that other people were still limited by their vision."
Due to his blindness, Belo made friends with people based on who they were - not how they looked. In America especially, we judge people based on their looks - this makes us 'blind' to other people. Imagine what middle school or high school would be like if everyone was physically blind. We would make friends and enjoy people based on their personalities - NOT on what they wore or how pretty they were. No longer would kids clamor to be friends with the 'mean' cheerleader or the 'popular' football player. It is not until we get older that we realize that what is important is a person, not their appearance. Even then though, a person's appearnce can make us 'blind' to the real person underneath.
The story tells of his struggles to deal with the anger at his friends and to adapt to his blindness. He receives support from multiple agencies and makes many new friends who are either partially or completely blind.
It is a very eye-opening (no pun intended) story. Belo describes what being blind is like after losing the sight he had his whole life. He describes the challenges he faces but he also describes how he learns to adapt. It made me realize that some3one who is blind is just like other people, just without their sight. They have the same hopes, dreams, and feelings.
Belo had been a Capoeira dancer for 12 years. Capoeira is a highly acrobatic dance that is done to live music. It was created by enslaved Africans in Brazil in the early 1700's. It is a fighting technique comprised of fast swaying movements, including handstands and flips. It also has a religious component. Belo meets a girl who is blind and is a Capoeirista. With her help, Belo finds a studio to continue his practice.
Reading this has given me an important awareness. At one point, Belo is out at a bar with a new date, named Nate - he has his sight. They have some drinks and dance. Another man tries to pick up Belo and Nate becomes very insecure.
"Despite the occasional laughing and dancing, Nate continued to highlight his insecurities about his appearance for the rest of the night. His comments reminded me that I lived in a visual-centric world. I had learned a new way to gauge art, beauty, and comfort, yet I was discovering that other people were still limited by their vision."
Due to his blindness, Belo made friends with people based on who they were - not how they looked. In America especially, we judge people based on their looks - this makes us 'blind' to other people. Imagine what middle school or high school would be like if everyone was physically blind. We would make friends and enjoy people based on their personalities - NOT on what they wore or how pretty they were. No longer would kids clamor to be friends with the 'mean' cheerleader or the 'popular' football player. It is not until we get older that we realize that what is important is a person, not their appearance. Even then though, a person's appearnce can make us 'blind' to the real person underneath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
I really wanted to be inspired and interested in this book. It is his story to tell but I felt there was very little information about the assault and far too much about his dates and boyfriends that contributed nothing to the story.
June 27, 2016
When I lived in a dormitory, one day the classmate who lived in the room one floor below mine confronted me, "You drive me crazy! Every night you take off one shoe and drop in on the floor. Then you take off the other shoe and set it down on the floor and I never hear the other shoe drop!" I stared at the guy, imagining what his life must be like, waiting for my other shoe to drop.
Well, ironically, I am now that guy. Amy Tan, on the cover of this book, declares this book "riveting and suspenseful." I would say she is right, but only because the author puts the other shoe on the floor in the most disappointing way.
I heard great things about this book. I think that this book does meet a contemporary need: for people who are clueless when they meet someone with a disability, please read this book. You will learn what it is like to lose your eyesight and be totally and irreversibly blind. You will learn what not to say to such a person. You will learn about other people who suffer with different degrees and history of blindness. You may not be clueless after you read this book.
I read it because ministry to people who are blind is one of the ministries I work with. I wanted to understand the contemporary experience, but I found that I'm pretty up to date with my knowledge.
There's another side to the story - the story of betrayal by friends. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that I believe that the author also put this shoe on the floor in the most disappointing way, too. Early in the book, I decided that I was reading an author who had no religious experience. Even friends gave him the advice, "It's okay to hate." Then there was a moment when he realized he had never thought of God as responsible for his disability, but neither had he turned to God for help (except at that moment in the story). Will this lead some where? Ask my frustrated neighbor!
Another strand of the story was the author's homosexuality. Besides the usefulness of this book for teaching the naïve that people who are blind vary greatly, this book can demonstrate that the same is true in the gay culture. The hero and the villain are both gay. The hero is likeable (almost as wonderful as his guide dog) and the villain is detestable, and any second shoes never hit the floor.
Well, ironically, I am now that guy. Amy Tan, on the cover of this book, declares this book "riveting and suspenseful." I would say she is right, but only because the author puts the other shoe on the floor in the most disappointing way.
I heard great things about this book. I think that this book does meet a contemporary need: for people who are clueless when they meet someone with a disability, please read this book. You will learn what it is like to lose your eyesight and be totally and irreversibly blind. You will learn what not to say to such a person. You will learn about other people who suffer with different degrees and history of blindness. You may not be clueless after you read this book.
I read it because ministry to people who are blind is one of the ministries I work with. I wanted to understand the contemporary experience, but I found that I'm pretty up to date with my knowledge.
There's another side to the story - the story of betrayal by friends. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that I believe that the author also put this shoe on the floor in the most disappointing way, too. Early in the book, I decided that I was reading an author who had no religious experience. Even friends gave him the advice, "It's okay to hate." Then there was a moment when he realized he had never thought of God as responsible for his disability, but neither had he turned to God for help (except at that moment in the story). Will this lead some where? Ask my frustrated neighbor!
Another strand of the story was the author's homosexuality. Besides the usefulness of this book for teaching the naïve that people who are blind vary greatly, this book can demonstrate that the same is true in the gay culture. The hero and the villain are both gay. The hero is likeable (almost as wonderful as his guide dog) and the villain is detestable, and any second shoes never hit the floor.
June 14, 2016
One of the best functions of literature, and especially memoir, is to transport us into another world. What would it be like to have your world turned upside down by a sudden, inexplicable act of violence? Blind tells of such an event. With normal sight, Belo Cipriani is suddenly blinded by a vicious attack from his so-called friends. We then follow his journey as he gradually accepts his blindness and learns to deal with a world that is painted in darkness. This is a story of courage, resilience, loss and acceptance, and even humor. It is a striking portrait of what it takes to recover. Most of us will - thankfully - never have to deal with this kind of trauma, but all of us, sooner or later, will have to deal with blows to our existence. Our ability to overcome and move on will be as significant a character trait as any we ever learn. Learn from someone who has done it with grace and success.
February 4, 2018
A very descriptive insight into the struggles and triumphs of becoming blind and adjusting to the new life. As a sighted person whose career (designer) heavily depends on the visual, I often worry about how I would survive if I had lost my vision, and this book is an inspirational, well-rounded toe-dip version of the probably overwhelming range of emotions I would experience if that were to happen.
November 7, 2018
A complete guide to becoming blind and succeeding with life blind!
This book took me by surprise. At first I wasn't sure O would enjoy it when I suddenly realized I couldn't put it down until I had completed it. Life not only gives you lemons to make !emonade, through work, loved ones and the ability to get past the 'poor me' attitude, you can make your life into gourmet lemonade!
This book took me by surprise. At first I wasn't sure O would enjoy it when I suddenly realized I couldn't put it down until I had completed it. Life not only gives you lemons to make !emonade, through work, loved ones and the ability to get past the 'poor me' attitude, you can make your life into gourmet lemonade!
November 14, 2018
A Review of the book - Blind: A Memoir
I choose this rating because of the reality of this story. I felt the authors fear of so many things he had to deal with as well as his sense of loss.
I cheered him on with starting over and achieving the steps required that would allow him to be independent. The final step was to achieve
A loving and working relationship with his seeing eye dog.
I choose this rating because of the reality of this story. I felt the authors fear of so many things he had to deal with as well as his sense of loss.
I cheered him on with starting over and achieving the steps required that would allow him to be independent. The final step was to achieve
A loving and working relationship with his seeing eye dog.
December 6, 2018
It was a good way to learn t little a out being blind but jump around in time a lot and sometimes I was not for sure if the story was a memory a dream of something happening right now. It was confusing to me and the end just sorta slapped me in the face.
I liked it but wish it would have had a better time line and ending. Being guy distracted from being blind.
I liked it but wish it would have had a better time line and ending. Being guy distracted from being blind.
April 6, 2019
Good book
The book was a very interesting look into how becoming blind changed the author's life. It was wonderful to see how well he was able to adapt to his new reality. It took a lot of work and trust for him to become as confident as he was before he became blind. It was a very good book!
The book was a very interesting look into how becoming blind changed the author's life. It was wonderful to see how well he was able to adapt to his new reality. It took a lot of work and trust for him to become as confident as he was before he became blind. It was a very good book!
April 6, 2019
I found it interesting to learn about Mr. Cipriani's life before, during and after he becomes blind. His experiences are quite unique to any thing I am familiar with but the way in which he describes them make them accessible. it is plain that we must try to find a way to make these services and products more available to more, indeed all people who would benefit from them.
September 26, 2011
I received this book as a giveaway, so I really didn't know what to expect. The book tells the story of a young man who becomes blind because of a beating by so-called old friends. This book is an inspiration to read on overcoming adversity in ones life.
November 4, 2018
Awesome book
What a courageous voice the author used. He showed vulnerability in his honest account of his journey. Hero's are not those who never falter but rather those that can pick themselves from life's unfair circumstances and journey on.
What a courageous voice the author used. He showed vulnerability in his honest account of his journey. Hero's are not those who never falter but rather those that can pick themselves from life's unfair circumstances and journey on.
November 25, 2018
Interesting for many readons
The writer takes us into several worlds through his journey. He tells the story from street level with primal honesty. The story itself is nothing short of amazing, but the storytelling is enthralling!
The writer takes us into several worlds through his journey. He tells the story from street level with primal honesty. The story itself is nothing short of amazing, but the storytelling is enthralling!
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