Of Such Small Differences

by Hannah Green, Joanne Greenberg

John, who is blind and deaf, leads a life of isolation until he meets Leda on the job, and as their accidental involvement deepens into love, they must both accept his limitations and their unique relationship

Genres: Fiction, Disability, Romance, Roman

271 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

pen name of Joanne Greenberg

Reviews

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and important novel about John Moon, a 26-year-old Deaf-blind man. John was born blind, but lost his hearing after being beaten by his father. This sounds like an incredibly grim premise, and this is a difficult and painful story, but it's also a passionate plea for autonomy and dignity for all disabled people, and a book which cherishes different ways to experience reality. John works at a factory which employs some disabled people, assembling parts or sorting objects. His world feels small to him: arbitrary rules created by abled people govern his life, and he often misses the chance to make connections with people or find the answers to his questions. The Sighted-Hearing world is governed by strange rules and experiences beyond his comprehension: although he passionately curious, an avid reader, keen to make connections with people around him, and writes poetry.

At his job, he meets Leda, a Sighted-Hearing woman, who takes an interest in him, and gradually becomes his friend and lover, and begins to help him make sense of a wider world which has dismissed him or refused to allow him to find connections. I found this book incredibly important because of its acceptance of disabled lives and that a disabled way of being as not lesser or unimportant. Of Such Small Differences achieves an incredible balance between allowing us to see the things that are painful, hopeless or deeply unfair in John's life, while also prizing his autonomy and his right to exist in the world just the way he is. His reality is as important as anyone else's reality. I felt like this book was sitting with me and giving me permission to lament the ways in which the world is hard and painful and traumatic, and but at the same time never talking down to me, and never taking away the importance of our diverse experiences. Joanne Greenberg's In This Sign also captures important insights into disabled life though following a Deaf family, but I found this book even more moving and it commanded my attention completely. I'm so glad this story exists and that I found it.

[Christine Hutcherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my absolute favorite books. Lots of interesting ideas about thinking like a deaf/blind person (Why is it called "rush hour" when all you do is sit? Try explaining opacity to someone.)

[Janine Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verhaal over een doofblinde man. Geeft mooi beeld hoe hij de wereld beleeft. Zeker wanneer hij een ziende en horende vriendin krijgt. Verhaal kabbelt verder een beetje door. Zijn werk, de verschillende tolken, bezoek aan zijn familie die hem nooit echt geaccepteerd heeft, de gedichten die hij maakt enz.
Meest interessant is te lezen wat zo’n handicap betekent, dat hij zich enerzijds goed weet te redden, maar wel op zijn eigen manier, met veel orde en regelmaat & hoe er telkens misverstanden ontstaan met de horende en ziende wereld.

[Kim W · Rating 2 out of 5]

It reads like “Young Adult Fiction”. Something you’d see on a summer reading list. Bland and simple. Gives some insight into a Deaf-blind person’s world but it’s not a very compelling book. Beach read maybe.

[Tineke De Sutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ondanks geschreven in de jaren 80, zeer moderne schrijfstijl en dus vlot te lezen heden ten dage (mijn schrijfstijl is minder modern). Ik hoop van harte dat de huidige situatie voor blinde en dove personen al veel verbeterd is.

[Twinslovebooks2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die erste Hälfte des Buches war super spannend, aber danach wurde es umso langweiliger... Habe einiges übersprungen, bin dennoch mit dem Ende zufrieden.

[Donnasue Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having, myself, worked with Deaf/blind individuals, this book offers great insight into their world.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Übersetzung ist grauenhaft - unlesbar!

[Aura Van den Brink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty okayy

[Kersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good. gave me great insight into the world of the blind-and-deaf. really good read. and sensitive to the difficulties of a romance between a blind-and-deaf person and a person without those challenges. really good.

[Devin Lind]

The translation was poor, which made it difficult to read. One would think a translator would make an effort to get specific terminology right - I always have. Still, an outdated word for Braille?! So I abandoned it. I might give it another chance in English.

[krin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book about people trying to communicate. John, Leda, his family, co-workers - all make mistakes and assumptions about what others are trying to say. Yet even with problems, friendships are formed.

[YvonneN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine vollkommene, wunderbare und ergreifende Geschichte mit imponierend literarischer Leistung. Ein fortwährend bewegender Roman über den fünfundzwanzigjährigen taubblinden John, der mit möglichst wenig fremder Hilfe ein selbstbestimmtes Leben führt.

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read many years ago and still remember. It was a novel about deaf and blind people, and fascinating.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and intense book. Should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand those who are blind and deaf.

[Heather]

Insightful book with well-developed characters. It will stay with you long after you put it down. Lots of memorable phrases and intensity.

[Murphy Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this so long ago and i never forgot it. for that i give it five stars

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. This work of fiction depicts the deaf/blind as one who is just as capable just as human as the sighted/hearing are. Great read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author also known as Joanne Greenberg. Interesting story. Sad, but made me appreciate and think about how people treat one another. A good insight into the deaf world.

[Kanisa Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really adored this book