All I can say about this book is Wow! Lyrical, haunting and pulls at every emotional string you have as it runs its course.
What is visible is the story of Laura Bridgman. A woman I had never heard of before reading this book. Laura was the first deaf-blind person to receive a significant education in America. Laura was stricken with scarlet fever when she was two, taking away 4 of her senses, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The only sense she was left with was touch. During her life, she was referred to as the second most important woman in the world. Though she seems to have been lost in history, replaced by her successor, Helen Keller.
with scarlet fever when she was two, taking away 4 of her senses, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The only sense she was left with was touch. She wore shades over her eyes and only a couple of people ever saw what was behind those shades. During her life, she was referred to as the second most important woman in the world. Though she seems to have been lost in history, replaced by her successor, Helen Keller.
What Is Visible is told in the form of diary entries from Laura as well as all the people she interacts with the exception of her childhood friend, Tenny. Ms. Elkins does an amazing job of giving a distinct voice to each of the characters in the book and weaving their voices in a way that brings you into the room with them and witness to their thoughts.
I think it would be very easy to find the need to portray someone as disabled as Laura in the light of a saint or martyr. But, Ms. Elkins did not fall prey to this either with Laura nor any of the other characters in the story. And that is what makes this such an incredible book. The characters are very human.
Laura moves between being this intelligent rational observer of her dark world to moments of vanity and arrogance. There are times when she shows petty jealousy, meanness and downright hatefulness. But, in the blink of an eye, you get another insight into her where you want to cry and forgive her any and all cruel thoughts she has.
She speaks of her impressions of the people around her, what she likes and dislikes. Her need to touch, her only sense, often overwhelms the people around her and she is often disciplined for crawling in bed with the other girls and fondling them. Her discipline for misbehaving is having gloves put on her hands for a unique version of time out.
Ms. Elkins creates a love affair for Laura, in the form of a servant named Kate. And she again shone her talent here as she described the intense relationship between the two women which often migrated into the realm of S&M. Her reasoning in the afterward was that she had to imagine that such an area would be explored as far as it could be taken with one whose only sense was that of touch. And also given that it was well documented that Laura did “hurt herself”. And she executes it well, creating an intense and beautifully blossomed relationship between these women.
The other voices in Laura’s life are given equal consideration. From the
“doctor” and his wife, the servants, teachers, friends. The triumphs, frustrations, anger and disappointments, not only in Laura, but in every aspect of their lives. It is not just a picture of Laura’s life, but equally a picture of the life of her universe, both when it is alongside her as well as when it has moved on.
I laughed, I cried, my heart sometimes sinking deep with the weight of the words. At times, my breath was taken for a moment at the sheer beauty and wisdom of the words in this book. Through it, I not only got a peek inside what it must be like to live your life in a form of solitude, with only one tiny gateway to the outside world, but what it was like to take the hand of that soul for just a while.
Most of the story is true and based on documented research, according to the author’s afterward. She took some liberties, gave Laura some things she only guessed or hoped she would have experienced. I appreciated the fact that she laid all this out in the afterward. Because, you walk away knowing that almost all of it was real. And you are glad for the elaborations she made, and hope, that maybe even in those, Laura was granted those boons. They just weren’t “known”.
Its like a house of mirrors that just seems to go on and on and on and on. Welcome to Deception Pass. And one of a set of bridges that gets you across it. We didn’t get here quite as early as I had hoped we would. First thing in the morning is one of the most magical times to see the pass as the morning mists hang over the water and hills.
Holy Bat Monsters Robin! That’s the biggest fish I’ve ever seen! Doesn’t this thing go any faster? I think he’s gaining on us.
Have crack or crevice, will grow. Stony mountainside? Not a problem. If there’s the tiniest fissure, green will happen.
Tiny lichens hanging on the branch. Tiny lichens grabbing any line to cling to.
And when you find that the forest floor is too populated for your liking, you can always take root on the side of the trail. The added benefit of this is to create worry of crushing by the hikers that walk alongside.
For those that need to know if they really want to take on a hike of a certain magnitude. One is, after all, a daunting .7 miles distance. Of course, what they don’t tell you on these signs is the elevation gain and drop on any of these. So, the .1 mile could potentially be .1 of cliff climbing.
Can’t you just close your eyes and imagine those roots reaching up and wrapping around your ankles to drag you screaming into a gaping maw of earth before closing in over your head??
It just looks more ancient when you strip the colors, doesn’t it?
There really, really needs to be a swing from the center of this!!! That would be an E-Ticket ride if ever there was one!!!
And it looks much the same after a trip backward in time.
And way off in the distance, you can see the prodigal son. Looks like he is trying to figure out some fancy setting on his camera to show his mother up. But, he is missing the gaping maw before me, which no fancy setting is a match for!
And there is even a treasure hidden deep in its depths. They may look like simple beach stones to the average person, but they are really coins dating back to the caveman days and still used by our local Sasquatch communities. They have found that the exchange value isn’t quite as good as they like when trading with the locals though.
Bout all you can say about this little plant is Oooooh, Ahhhh!!! Pretty!!!
One more time – Ooooh!!! Ahhhhh!!! Pretty!!!
Filters are fun to play with!
They’re even pretty in shades of gray! Ooooh! Ahhh!
Gotta love those determined cliff clinging trees! Its nature’s way of showing off and letting you know She can put her trees anywhere and they will be fine.
As it rises from beneath the rocky shores of the island, reaching out its green mandibles for unsuspecting bare toe blood sport!
Okay, now if this doesn’t look like something from a scene in Dune, I don’t know what does.
For those who are wondering where it is the flower fairies hide when the humans are around, they have these little clifftop retreats. This also explains the tiny acorns that get dropped on your head even though there is no wind nor oak trees around.
What luck! It seems we have the fortune of being witnesses to the ever elusive dance of the wood nymph!
And they are known for dancing to full exhaustion.
And the nurse tree that had the boy so fascinated. Next time, I’ll have to take him to one of the old growth trails.
Blends quite well with the natural wildlife, doesn’t he?
Peek-A-Boo!
Breathtaking, isn’t it?
Pretty little flowers, all on a vine. Pretty little fan leaves, following close behind.
Wild roses!!! Pre-thorn era.
Now you didn’t think you’d get through one of my wanders without a shot of something dead or decaying, did you?
Its a miniature little land within the great above.
Rollin, rollin, rolling down the river!!
I really did intend to write reviews on the previous installments of the Iron Druid Chronicles. I just wasn’t doing quite as well at keeping up with reviewing the books when I read/listened to the previous ones.
She has done it again! Chills up my spine and flesh crawling amazing! This woman is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors!
And here we have one of those lovely guardian trees showing its appreciation for an offering it received by doing the solar dance of freedom. The supplicants are hiding in the little shack, as it has been rumored that these dances can bring about the dropping and flinging of branches and pine cones of most unusual size. Injuries and death have been known to result to unprotected supplicants and it has been proposed that there might be an intentional component in this as it would provide additional sacrifices to these ravenous creatures.
And as I drive onto the island, I take a turn on one of the side streets that I have been eyeballing for quite some time. It was a beautiful long stretch of road that ended at the coastline on the other side. I’ll save that area for another day. But, I had to stop for the clouds. And this one just looked like a storm God baring in for an assault on the ground below!!
Or maybe its a momma cloud Goddess chasing after its runaway offspring. Poor little thing! Oh Wait! No! Its dancing and chanting, “naner, naner, naner! Can’t catch me!” Ah, but we all know that mom will win this battle. And that light misty rain that followed? The little one with the paddled bottom!
Ah yes, and we step again into that wayback machine to a simpler time, a time of Laura Ingalls and John Wayne and no electricity and not internet . . . . Yeah, maybe not.
Looks like they have more than plenty of room for guest here. And don’t have to worry about them being underfoot! And its nice there are windows so they can look out, or be watched!
And this was the last picture I got before my beloved camera got sick. Its now at the camera hospital and though I do have the point and shoot to keep me somewhat occupied, life will not be the same till my baby comes home.
Pretty much the same here. The branches were clear out across the steps. Oh, ad the small brown building there behind the bushes? That’s the pain cave. Or, at least the part that involves the larger pieces of electronic equipment. But, there are also speakers in there so I can be a nuisance to the hag. I am willing to bet that she doesn’t have a taste for Nightwish, Garbage and probably not Pink either. Gonna try a few more out before I am done. 🙂
And here is the front view of it. Nice and pretty, isn’t it?
love this tree! I know, I know! But the blossoms are such a soft shade of pink. But they’re flowers and pink is okay on flowers. I didn’t do any work on the tree today. I just saw it when I was heading to the garage for something and thought it needed having a picture taken of it. I am certain I saw one of the branches wave at me to get my attention. And no, it wasn’t the wind. That was blowing in the OTHER direction!
Okay, two pictures! And she smiled after!
Pretty little purple flower star!!!
Okay, so here’s one of the herb gardens. I have no idea what that broad leaf plant is in there with the red stalks, but its pretty, so I will leave it for now. Many standard kitchen herbs like dill and fennel and sage and cress and parsley. Couple of healing ones like astragalus, and motherwort. Will be adding more to other areas later. And I also have some inside boxes with some of the same for easy access while cooking and climate control come next winter.
Hello there again! It’s Cassie, in case you forgot. Don’t listen to any of the humans who try and tell you that I am Missy Floof. I will put up with the little princess as I am sure that will result in the generous offerings of tasty treats. They’re in the drawer in the end table, by the way. Feel free to fish some out and make an offering.Okay, it seems mom has been working a bit in the garden and there are pictures and stories to tell you about it. And no pictures of me at the moment. We don’t need to give mom more evidence to support her theory that I drool on myself. Its really just an odd play of the light. Trust me. Here, let me show you. *lick lick* See? All gone. Uhm, never there! Well, carry on!
I don’t think I will ever get tired of looking at these lovely flowers. The stark contrasts in the colors with their white petals vivid yellow stamens. I am a bit proud of this shot as it got a lot of likes on my Google + feed.
As she looks out upon the garden about her and contemplates the world as she knows it.
The sun in me recognizes and honors the sun that is in you!
Oh! Hi there! hehehehehe, didn’t see you come in. No! I am sure mom meant for me to play with these. Why else would she have left them laying on the bed where I could find them? You’re not going to tell her are you? She might not give me extra treats if you do.
Okay, so here’s the mission for the morning. To turn the dirt in as many of these compartments as my energy will allow for. I will obviously not need to engage in any additional modes of exercise this day.
Sometimes I just utterly amaze myself!!! I would have been happy to have completed a couple of those squares. But, I actually managed to get ALL of them done. And I found many large stones in the process. I forgot to take a picture of the fire area, but I made a circle about halfway around it. I figure if I dig up enough stones, maybe I can accumulate enough to make a real fire pit. On the downside, I didn’t find any bones. Ah well! Can’t win them all.
And I have beans sprouting up!!! Though it seems something ate three of the bean types. Those critters need to be bones fertilizing my garden!!!
Ah, you are done? I have spent a pleasant time watching one of my new big screen kitty TVs that came with mom’s new house. Hope you had a fun time. Oh, and before you leave, can you toss me another treat? This sunbathing is hard work and I have worked up quite an appetite. Actually, if you could make that two, that would be great!
