Deafening

The first part of this novel was a superb 99 pages. My enjoyment of these 99 pages is what makes this a three star book despite the fact I grew too bored to finish somewhere in the middle of part three. Here is why:Part one is about a child named Grania growing up in Canada in the late 1800's. A bout with scarlet fever at the age of 5 has rendered her permanently deaf. Thankfully, Grania has an understanding family, especially her grandmother, and with their patience, she learns to lip read. I know from my own experience, lip reading is not an easy task and this book shows us just how difficult it is. Grania struggles to see words, understand words, and even feel words. Readers will feel her frustration, her fears, and her shame at times. When she begins school, we see how the deaf are treated by the hearing people with less than kind hearts. The teacher does not want to take time out of her already busy day to ensure Grania understands what is going on. The children like to laugh at her and play games that humilate her. Most upsetting of all is the ignorant assumption that deaf means dumb. When Grania is sent to a deaf school to learn lip reading and sign language, we see another world. It is a world of silence, yet friendships build and minds expand.Part two is about an adult Grania who falls in love with a hearing man named Jim. Jim is a nice fellow, but he does not hold my interest. I found his conversations with Grania dull and their romance a bit sappy. My mind began to wander.Part three follows Jim as he enters World War One and the fighting he experiences or sees. This created a problem for me, as I said earlier, Jim just didn't hold my interest.Part one seemed a novel all of its own. The style changed after that. I realize the story is about Grania and Jim and World War One, but it just was not written the same as part one. I encourage people searching for deaf fiction and literature to pick this one up tho.

I blindly selected this novel because for some reason Canadian writers are brilliant at depicting the horrors of WWI both on the battle field and at home. I equally found fascinating Itani's depictions of deaf culture especially from the point of view of a child. A wonderful novel.

I wanted to like this book, but I expected a lot, and found it a disappointment. The first half about Grania's struggles with learning how to communicate and trying to fit in with her family and friends was interesting and new perspective, even though a bit slow at times and not always that compelling. As far as the second half, I have read other books that have dealt with the horrors of WWI, and this one offered not one new perspective or new point of view or descriptions. I didn't see how it added to the story at all, and at this point in the book I really wished I wasn't reading it, but I guess some part of me wanted to find out what happened, and I felt that the ending was a let down. Mostly, I feel that this topic could have been really, really engrossing, new, and compelling, but the book's lackluster plot and storytelling left me flat. I won't recommend this book.

Set in the early decades of the 20th century through World War I in Onatrio, Canada and France, Deafening is two stories - the coming of age of young Grania struck totally deaf by scarlet fever at the age of 5, and what's like living with deafness - the second story the experience of her husband Jim in World War II France where most don't survive the battlefield, and what it's like for Grania and the other families back home.A multilayered story filled with the harsh realities of the world of the deaf and the world of the battlefield, and the compassion, love and strength of the human spirit to overcome. Itani is a wonderful writer who gets inside each of these worlds and let the reader have his and her own experience. We become involved in the lives of her characters and we feel their joys and sorrows.

Loved this book. This copy was for a friend.

I enjoyed this book very much and certainly recommend it. It is not a light-hearted read by any stretch. It is very emotional. I found the descriptions of the war hard to take at times. The descriptions of the deaf were very powerful and I learned a lot by reading "Deafening".

Itani writes a beautiful story of love, fear, guilt, and hope. Set during WW I, Deafening explores the world of the deaf, and the horrors of war. It also delves into the human heart with all of the complications of grief, guilt, fear.

As opposed to other books centered around an Irish family, this reflected little about the cultural upbringing and family could have been from anywhere. Story left out phases of the lead character's development . Shifted focus away from character development to long, drawn out story of the war.

I was enthralled by this book. Beautifully written, maybe a tad slow-paced at times, but deftly deals with powerful emotions in a matter-of-fact manner which I for one found particularly effective. The main characters are portrayed superbly.

I loved this book for the interweaving of people's lives in a beautiful way. So much that I gave it as my recommendation for my book group read.

Really good graphic and moving account of the experiences of young Canadian Soldiers during the First World War and the lives of those they left behind.

Enjoyed reading this book, deli rayon time

An interesting book which gives one the feeling of how it must be to be deaf in great detail. Set in Canada one also discovers the important role the Canadians had in the first World War.