From the time she was a toddler, Lou Ann Walker was the ears and voice for her deaf parents. Their family life was warm and loving, but outside the home, they faced a world that misunderstood and often rejected them.
A Loss for Words: The Story of Deafness in a Family
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This is much more of a story than the subtitle suggests, beautifully written and deeply affecting. Born in the Midwest in 1952, Walker is one of three hearing daughters of Gale and Doris Jean Walker, both deafened as babies by illnesses. As the oldest child, the author served as her parents' "interpreter," dealing with outsiders. There is humor in her recollections but nothing lighthearted in accounts of crude or condescending reactions to her father and mother from indifferent people. Walker is candid in detailing her own frustrations and the burdens of life with the deaf. Having graduated from Harvard, she eagerly went her own way, establishing a writing career in New York, but she reunites frequently with the family in a home warm with love and shared memories. The reader says a fervent amen when the author declares, "I'd seen plenty of families where there was more communication and less love."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Readers will come away from this book informed, deeply moved and full of admiration for Walker's marvelous parents." -- -- People
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a child of Deaf adults (CODA), I found this book to be a mirror of my upbringing. Ms. Walker's stories of negotiating the hearing world for her parents are right on. Anyone who wants to know what growing up hearing in a Deaf world was like MUST read this book.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was assigned to read this book while taking an ASL class (American Sign Language). Usually, the books that are assigned aren't of the biggest interest to me, but in this case, it was well worth my time. I think that it is a great insight into the historical and present day happenings that effect the daily lives of those who are members of the Deaf Culture. I thought the book was helpful in understanding a small aspect of a world I know that I will never completely understand.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Walker's account of her relationship with her Deaf parents, the Deaf community, and by extension herself, is a touching, poignant and well-balanced treatement of a very important topic. It is a brave account, at once respectful of her parents and all Deaf people and at the same time unblinking in its honest approach to Deaf culture and the paternalism of many hearing people. Not only are readers treated to a portrait of a loving family, they come away with an in-depth understanding of Deaf people, their position as "other" in a dominant hearing culture, and the importance of the norms and language of that culture. Moreover, readers come away understanding a relatively unknown and unique group of people: CODAs, hearing children of Deaf adults.
Walker's first person account will be interesting for readers unfamiliar with deafness and deaf culture. She carefully weaves her experiences as a child into her adult life in ways that are important for anyone. Th! ese experiences, however, are exceedingly important for those raised in the unique circumstances of being the hearing children of deaf adults.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the subject of Deaf peole. It is a thoughtful, comprehensive, and brave treatment written in a delightful, honest, easy-to-read style.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Its a Paperback book
Its a good story. It gets a little slow 3/4 of the way in, but over all, good light read. Got the book in an almost new condition
Published 4 months ago by Baby Jade
A Loss For Words
Excellent book. Enjoyed throughly!!! Recommended to all whom have deaf family members or friends. Loved it. Class required reading but, will read again.
Published 4 months ago by karissamae
Amazing
I love this book it's so awesome a great read. I could not put this book down, I read it every chance I got. Read more
Published 15 months ago by SjC209
Family story, deafness and hearing
A very touching, funny, poignant and interesting book. I got it for a sign language class, but I would recommend this to everyone. Quick read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Kramer6
Touched beyond words
I could not put this book down. As a professional American Sign Language Interpreter (Non-CODA) I was very toucehd by the author's insight into herself as well as her family and... Read more
Published 20 months ago by CelticWmn
Easy read, but a little dramatic.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. Aside from a few irking grammatical errors, the Harvard graduate, Lou Ann Walker, writes well. Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. Neogy
great book
This was a required reading for ASL class. The book was here in no time at all. Thank you.
Published on October 7, 2009 by M Larkins
A Loss for Words
The quality of the book was a little worse than expected but the speed of delivery was very fast.
Published on September 27, 2009 by Monica Powers
A Loss for Words
The book was in perfect condition and shipping was very speedy. I would recommend them to anyone!!
Published on September 12, 2009 by Janeen M. Corsones
Book Club Loved it!
We chose this book for our book club and EVERYONE LOVED IT! What great insights into the deaf culture.
Published on July 23, 2007 by Robin Berry
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Mom and Dad drove me out to Harvard the fall I trans. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
deaf kids, deaf friends, deaf school, deaf people, deaf world, deaf parents Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Big Willie, Doris Jean, Ball State, Grandpa Wells, Lou Ann, Helen Keller, Aunt Margaret, Miss Pitman, Nellie May, Virgin Mary, Grandpa Walker, Christmas Eve, Code of Ethics, Miss Thomas, Puerto Rico, South Bronx, Thanksgiving Day New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Mom and Dad drove me out to Harvard the fall I trans. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
deaf kids, deaf friends, deaf school, deaf people, deaf world, deaf parents Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Big Willie, Doris Jean, Ball State, Grandpa Wells, Lou Ann, Helen Keller, Aunt Margaret, Miss Pitman, Nellie May, Virgin Mary, Grandpa Walker, Christmas Eve, Code of Ethics, Miss Thomas, Puerto Rico, South Bronx, Thanksgiving Day New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
11
books
cite this book:
See all 11 books citing this book
- Helen Keller Hb (Famous People Famous Lives) by Harriet Caston on page 20
- Silent Night by Sue Thomas on page 114
- The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion (Oxford World's Classics) by Ford Madox Ford on page 144
- The Good Soldier (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) by Ford Madox Ford on page 144
- Chelsea: The Story of a Signal Dog by Paul Ogden on page 62
- Signing: How To Speak With YOur Hands by Elaine Costello Ph.D. in Front Matter
- Stutter by Marc Shell in Back Matter
- Mental Health and Deafness by Peter Hindley on page 23
- Living to Tell the Tale: A Guide to Writing Memoir by Jane Taylor McDonnell in Back Matter
See all 11 books citing this book
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