Book Review: Hands of My Father

Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg: What a beautiful book. This is a memoir of the author's childhood, growing up as the hearing son of two deaf parents during mid-twentieth century in Brooklyn, NY. The author honestly recounts his confusing feelings of intense loyalty and protectiveness of his parents, as well as shame and embarassment and his resentment at the burden he carried being his father's interpreter out in the world from a very young age. I found this to be perfectly written - incredibly tender, moving, hilarious, and thought-provoking. I'm not even quite sure why I picked this book up in the bookstore initially, except that I love memoirs and lately am drawn to anything dealing with disabilities. I was so drawn into the characters and was very sad when the book came to an end. I really loved this book.

I am hoping to get Michael, who does not enjoy reading, to read it. It has so many elements in it that he would relate to and enjoy: growing up in NY, being Jewish, and the deaf culture (Michael worked in the deaf community for several years and is fluent in sign language).