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hannahbellz's review
4.0
In this memoir, Nicole writes about her life with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal disease that causes her to slowly lose her eyesight, beginning with her peripheral vision and night vision.
Towards the beginning of the book, Nicole writes about first receiving the diagnosis at age nineteen.
"Then I asked if he meant I was going blind.
'Now please, remember, I'm just the messenger,' he stammered. He seemed nervous, which was disconcerting.
I couldn't imagine this was standard protocol for delivering bad news. It seemed unlikely that in medical school, the professor of Intro to Bedside Manners had instructed a younger, thinner Dr. Hall to sprinkle his diagnosis with the phrase 'don't shoot the messenger.' Was I even sure this joker was fully licensed? I knew more about breaking unfavorable news than he did, and my wealth of knowledge was gleaned entirely from overhearing my father on the phone and watching prime-time hospital dramas."
Nicole writes humorously about how she tried to make the most of her remaining years with vision and how she coped with the disease as it progressed, sprinkling tips on how to hide increasing blindness between chapters, such as:
"Tip #3: On handshakes
When you lack peripheral vision, handshakes can be a real pain in the ass. You'll inevitably leave folks hanging with their palms splayed out expectantly, and they will have no choice but to conclude you're a stone-cold bitch.
Thankfully, there's an easy solution. Be aggressively friendly and beat your partner to the shake. As soon as you sniff an introduction in the works, shoot your right hand out like a ramrod. With lousy depth perception, you may misjudge how close they're standing and end up making contact with your potential friend's solar plexus instead of their hand. Should that occur, act like it was fully intentional by rubbing the fabric of their shirt between your fingers, offering a relevant observation, for example: 'What is this, cashmere? Or is it a blend?'
This tactic works best when your partner is donning linen or silk or worsted wool, and less well when they are wearing, say, a white Fruit of the Loom T-shirt soaked through with sweat from their morning jog. Still, at worst they'll assume you're a flirt (not necessarily a bad thing) or that you're an eccentric with a background in textile arts (even better)."
Nicole's attitude is uplifting and it was inspiring to see how she came to terms with her difficult diagnosis.
Towards the beginning of the book, Nicole writes about first receiving the diagnosis at age nineteen.
"Then I asked if he meant I was going blind.
'Now please, remember, I'm just the messenger,' he stammered. He seemed nervous, which was disconcerting.
I couldn't imagine this was standard protocol for delivering bad news. It seemed unlikely that in medical school, the professor of Intro to Bedside Manners had instructed a younger, thinner Dr. Hall to sprinkle his diagnosis with the phrase 'don't shoot the messenger.' Was I even sure this joker was fully licensed? I knew more about breaking unfavorable news than he did, and my wealth of knowledge was gleaned entirely from overhearing my father on the phone and watching prime-time hospital dramas."
Nicole writes humorously about how she tried to make the most of her remaining years with vision and how she coped with the disease as it progressed, sprinkling tips on how to hide increasing blindness between chapters, such as:
"Tip #3: On handshakes
When you lack peripheral vision, handshakes can be a real pain in the ass. You'll inevitably leave folks hanging with their palms splayed out expectantly, and they will have no choice but to conclude you're a stone-cold bitch.
Thankfully, there's an easy solution. Be aggressively friendly and beat your partner to the shake. As soon as you sniff an introduction in the works, shoot your right hand out like a ramrod. With lousy depth perception, you may misjudge how close they're standing and end up making contact with your potential friend's solar plexus instead of their hand. Should that occur, act like it was fully intentional by rubbing the fabric of their shirt between your fingers, offering a relevant observation, for example: 'What is this, cashmere? Or is it a blend?'
This tactic works best when your partner is donning linen or silk or worsted wool, and less well when they are wearing, say, a white Fruit of the Loom T-shirt soaked through with sweat from their morning jog. Still, at worst they'll assume you're a flirt (not necessarily a bad thing) or that you're an eccentric with a background in textile arts (even better)."
Nicole's attitude is uplifting and it was inspiring to see how she came to terms with her difficult diagnosis.
mtnmama's review against another edition
3.0
The subject was interesting, but I was put off by some of the language and bad choices of the author. I liked her better when she became a mother and the focus was more on losing her eyesight and less on her acting out behavior.
bella613's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
4.0
This was good but I expected it to go a little deeper. It felt like all of they could have been said in one chapter and I would have gotten the same amount out of it. I did like the humor and positive feel, and the author does a great job narrating the audiobook as well.
beckyb16's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book for really one reason - I can get a glimpse into the life of my daughter - she also has vision that classifies her as legally blind - that part was real and insightful. Other than that - I felt like the language was rough and totally unnecessary - so for that alone, I would be careful to recommend it.
rosemwood's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this audio and I am glad I did. It is narrated by the Author and I fell it gives that little extra to her story. This is a fascinating story and I really enjoyed how she told her personal story. The self-deprecating humor was told in a way that I could relate on some level with her struggles with her condition. If nothing else with her chapters of parenting.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NOW I SEE YOU, by Nichole C. Kear, an uplifting, emotional, and humorous journey—a memoir about a courageous young woman and her personal battle with a degenerative eye disease—retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
She was told by her doctor, no one in her family has it. Essentially the photoreceptor cells in her retina, the ones that turn light into electrical impulses for the brain are dying. The night vision goes first and peripheral vision, then the central vision later on. Her vision had been given an expiration date—not a good sign!
Her first options: penning epic poems (Homer/Milton); composing musical masterpieces (Ray Charles/Stevie Wonder); and selling pencils out of paper cups (homeless people). Slim pickings!
Diagnosed at age nineteen, an untreatable genetic condition, basically leaving her blind within fifteen years, immediately chose to ignore the diagnosis, and faked all her symptoms for years to come. Nichole goes from being a normal college student, worrying over boys and jobs, college—she would not be able to have children, or function as a normal person. She wants to enjoy her life and indulges herself (you will laugh out at some of the things she says and does).
Bouncing from New York City to California and back, Kear surged forward, hiding her increasing disability from her family and friends. Despite the difficulties of losing her eyesight, Kear fell in love, married and tackled all that she met, even having children and a full life.
When she finally comes out of hiding and embraces all she has—she is able to live. A story of negative turned positive. An uplifting, inspiring, and well-written story—one we all could learn from. It is the little things in life that matter the most. An ideal read for any woman, especially if you are a mother.
With the author’s unique writing style, sometimes you think you are reading a book of fiction. (Loved the attractive front cover). One of the most engaging and satisfying memoirs! I loved Kear's determination and drive to do what she wants to do, despite what other people think (am a firm believer in this). You will fall in love with the author and her wonderful supportive husband. Thank you for sharing such a poignant story. Nichole is assured to empower you!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
NOW I SEE YOU, by Nichole C. Kear, an uplifting, emotional, and humorous journey—a memoir about a courageous young woman and her personal battle with a degenerative eye disease—retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
She was told by her doctor, no one in her family has it. Essentially the photoreceptor cells in her retina, the ones that turn light into electrical impulses for the brain are dying. The night vision goes first and peripheral vision, then the central vision later on. Her vision had been given an expiration date—not a good sign!
Her first options: penning epic poems (Homer/Milton); composing musical masterpieces (Ray Charles/Stevie Wonder); and selling pencils out of paper cups (homeless people). Slim pickings!
Diagnosed at age nineteen, an untreatable genetic condition, basically leaving her blind within fifteen years, immediately chose to ignore the diagnosis, and faked all her symptoms for years to come. Nichole goes from being a normal college student, worrying over boys and jobs, college—she would not be able to have children, or function as a normal person. She wants to enjoy her life and indulges herself (you will laugh out at some of the things she says and does).
Bouncing from New York City to California and back, Kear surged forward, hiding her increasing disability from her family and friends. Despite the difficulties of losing her eyesight, Kear fell in love, married and tackled all that she met, even having children and a full life.
When she finally comes out of hiding and embraces all she has—she is able to live. A story of negative turned positive. An uplifting, inspiring, and well-written story—one we all could learn from. It is the little things in life that matter the most. An ideal read for any woman, especially if you are a mother.
With the author’s unique writing style, sometimes you think you are reading a book of fiction. (Loved the attractive front cover). One of the most engaging and satisfying memoirs! I loved Kear's determination and drive to do what she wants to do, despite what other people think (am a firm believer in this). You will fall in love with the author and her wonderful supportive husband. Thank you for sharing such a poignant story. Nichole is assured to empower you!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
readingfromfrance's review against another edition
4.0
J’ai choisis ce livre sur netgalley parceque cela faisait longtemps que je n’avais pas lu d’autobiographie/biographie. Et quand je m’attaque à ce genre je préfère lire au sujet d’expériences dérangeantes comme les troubles alimentaires, les problèmes de drogues, enfin des sujets bien joyeux (pas d’ironie par ici). Donc ma foi l’histoire d’une jeune fille de 19ans qui découvre qu’elle est atteinte d’une maladie qui la rendra un jour aveugle c’était plutôt dans mes cordes. Et je dois dire que je ne suis pas dessus d’avoir lu ce livre.
La plume de l’auteur est juste parfaite pour la trame, auto-dérision, ironie et humour sont au rendez-vous. On en oublie parfois que Nicole n’est pas une « simple » adolescente/jeune mariée/maman. Ce qui d’ailleurs me porte au deuxième point que j’ai beaucoup apprécié, on accompagne Nicole du jour du diagnostic au jour d’aujourd’hui a travers de nombreuses anecdotes (études, vie sentimentale, voyages, famille, tous les sujets sont abordés) qui nous permettent de nous projeter à la place de l’auteure. J’ai également ADORÉE toutes les références littéraires que l’auteure réussis à introduire parfaitement, sans que ce soit lourd. Voilà, Nicole sait de quoi elle parle en matière d’écriture mais elle nous le fait comprendre à travers un language du quotidien, on ne ressens pas le «je suis diplômée de Yale et tu vas voir pourquoi.»
Le seul problème que j’ai rencontré est le fait que Nicole ai du mal a annoncer autour d’elle qu’elle est atteinte d’une maladie, a 19ans je veux bien, mais avec deux enfants je comprends pas. C’est de l’auto-torture. Mais je ne suis pas là pour juger les choix de l’auteure au sujet de sa vie. Et puis de toute façon juste au moment où je commençais à devenir frustrée l’auteure ouvre la partie 3 du livre. Parfait timing.
En conclusion, j’ai beaucoup apprécié cette lecture qui nous permet de remettre en question notre approche du monde en quelque sorte. Combien de fois en traversant la route nous sommes nous demandé «et si un jour je n’étais plus capable de voir les voitures arriver ?» En plus donc d’être une histoire intéressante c’est une leçon que l’on nous donne, sans prétention et sans non plus nous faire pleurer. Je conseille à tous les lecteurs. Amants du genre biographique ou pas.
La plume de l’auteur est juste parfaite pour la trame, auto-dérision, ironie et humour sont au rendez-vous. On en oublie parfois que Nicole n’est pas une « simple » adolescente/jeune mariée/maman. Ce qui d’ailleurs me porte au deuxième point que j’ai beaucoup apprécié, on accompagne Nicole du jour du diagnostic au jour d’aujourd’hui a travers de nombreuses anecdotes (études, vie sentimentale, voyages, famille, tous les sujets sont abordés) qui nous permettent de nous projeter à la place de l’auteure. J’ai également ADORÉE toutes les références littéraires que l’auteure réussis à introduire parfaitement, sans que ce soit lourd. Voilà, Nicole sait de quoi elle parle en matière d’écriture mais elle nous le fait comprendre à travers un language du quotidien, on ne ressens pas le «je suis diplômée de Yale et tu vas voir pourquoi.»
Le seul problème que j’ai rencontré est le fait que Nicole ai du mal a annoncer autour d’elle qu’elle est atteinte d’une maladie, a 19ans je veux bien, mais avec deux enfants je comprends pas. C’est de l’auto-torture. Mais je ne suis pas là pour juger les choix de l’auteure au sujet de sa vie. Et puis de toute façon juste au moment où je commençais à devenir frustrée l’auteure ouvre la partie 3 du livre. Parfait timing.
En conclusion, j’ai beaucoup apprécié cette lecture qui nous permet de remettre en question notre approche du monde en quelque sorte. Combien de fois en traversant la route nous sommes nous demandé «et si un jour je n’étais plus capable de voir les voitures arriver ?» En plus donc d’être une histoire intéressante c’est une leçon que l’on nous donne, sans prétention et sans non plus nous faire pleurer. Je conseille à tous les lecteurs. Amants du genre biographique ou pas.
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
3.0
The tone of the book was so upbeat and positive despite the fact that Nicole has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which is an incur able eye disease that eventually leads to blindness. Nicole spends many years in denial and hiding her worsening condition while at the same time making the most of every moment and living life to the fullest.
jeansbookbag's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
I liked this memoir. Kear was funny and honest and I appreciated how she put herself out there. While I don’t think I would have made the same decisions she did, but I can understand why she did. I listened to the audiobook, and really thought Kear did a good job on the narration as well. I would definitely recommend for fans of memoirs especially irreverent ones.