Emma perceives the world in a way that comes across almost as synesthesia. This is a great book for awareness of other ways of experiencing the world.The writing was really unique. There’s a lot about how Emma learns to function so well. Blind definitely taught me things I hadn’t known before, especially about the differences between being born blind and becoming blind later in life. Thus, the measured reading really seemed like it WAS Emma and that brought her alive enough for me to care about the tiny details of her daily life.Plus, it’s really fascinating to learn so many details about what it’s like to be blind.

This is actually a side effect of her blindness, because she’s trying really hard not to stand out. Even when she gets angry, she tends to do it quietly. Though Annalie Gernert didn’t read with all that much emotion, her narration really fit with Emma, who is very quiet and thoughtful. It’s mostly the boring bits, which is cool, but also slow-going and definitely going to be a hindrance to some readers.Blind is one of those cases where I probably would have DNFed the book in print, but I enjoyed the audio. It’s all believable, but it’s the most exciting week in someone’s life or their life is just a bit more exciting than a person’s usually is or the boring bits are skipped. We call the genre realistic fiction, but usually it’s a fictional realistic. Otherwise, this book is very realistic on the ins and outs of her days. The most dramatic bit is some friendship trouble. The suicide is important to her, but it’s not action or drama really. The arc is her coming to terms with her blindness and learning to accept her new self. The only real conflict is Emma’s inner conflict. Blind is an in-depth study of what life is like for a newly blind teenager.There’s not much plot in Blind. It’s going to be a struggle for a lot of readers, but highly pleasing for a select group. Actually, Blind is a rather strange book, more of a character study than anything. If you’re here for that, then you’re going to be disappointed.

The blurb somehow made it sound like it would be a murder mystery, but, honestly, that’s really misleading. For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.Rachel DeWoskin’s Blind was a book I was curious about, but I wasn’t so sure it would be my sort of book.

Blind by rachel dewoskin