Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space (Exploded Views)

This book is a must read for everyone. It is such a truth bomb for how fairy tales have abandon so many who are different

So first off, this book came in great condition. Its a very pretty book with a very pretty cover. The book itself is really good. I love reading about different fairy tales that I've never heard of and it really makes you think about things that you didn't think about before. I also really enjoyed hearing about the authors experience growing up with a disability, its very interesting. I'm not done with the book yet but I almost am, I only have a few chapters left. I would recommend this!

Read this at the recommendation of a friend. This is no where near my field of study so I learned a lot. Great combination of anecdotes mixed with evidence. I'll be teaching from this book for the first time this fall- will try to update this in about 6 months to let everyone know what my undergrads thought.

Read this book if you want to learn about disability history, perspectives and how this fits to our ideals that shape human beings as disabled or able-bodied. I recommend this book for any Disabilities Studies course or Equity, Diversity or Inclusion course or discussion.

Best book I’ve read in 2022. Highly recommend everyone read this!!!

I’ve been impacted by Amanda LeDuc’s many articles, so I came to her nonfiction book, Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space, ready for her perspective-shifting and eye-opening prose. She did not disappoint.Ms. LeDuc writes eloquently of her experiences, from school yard bullies to dreams of high heels. She explores classic fairy tales and modern takes on the tropes, including super heroes and small screen adaptation of “The Game of Thrones.” She draws attention to the importance of names and goals and condemns “well meaning condescension.” (I was particularly rocked by the repeated, “Look at you! Acting like any other person! How inspirational! I don’t know how you do it. I’d have killed myself.”)Ms. LeDuc writes from the experience of an intelligent, empathetic woman who has cerebral palsy. Every case of C.P. is individual. My daughter also has C.P., and her experiences vary greatly from the accomplished Amanda LeDuc’s, but so much of what is included in this book gripped me.“My disabled body is at once hyper-present and simultaneously invisible.” Preach! The side-eyes. The pointed fingers and laughs.The whispered words. We notice.One point in particular screamed for attention. The goal of the average disabled person is not to become emperor, but instead to dismantle the broken system that sets unequal values. It’s about fulfillment and happy endings for all. And yes, it will involve struggle for everyone, but that is how life works. Overcome obstacles, accept ourselves and each other, adapt the whole darned world so no one is excluded and everyone can achieve Happily Ever After.

A friend recommended this book to me, and after reading the description, I knew I had to read it. Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review."Disfigured" revolves around fairy tales and how they influence our expectations and behavior. Amanda Leduc dives deeply into the history of these tales, their creation and purpose, and how their evolution was shaped by various religions, socio-economic trends, and political climates. Along the way, she shares her own experience with disability (moving me to tears more than once), and ultimately brings us into modern day and the confusing messages we get from the media about heroes, success, and "happily ever after."This was a very compelling read. Leduc explores many underlying themes in these tales we all learn as children--the most revealing, to me, being that the main character is almost always expected to change. Rather than society changing and learning to support that character's challenges, it's the character who must overcome (through sacrifice, faith, or hard work) and ultimately "earn" the happy ending.Another troubling theme explored is that of perfection--the princess is always beautiful, always healthy, always gets her handsome prince. Where are the princesses with glasses or in wheelchairs, Leduc asks. Where is the community that grows to accept her for who she is, rather than expect her to magically become a stereotypical, media-driven ideal?Good questions.There's way more in this book than I can describe, so I'll wrap up with one of my favorite lines: "Give me fairy tales where disabled characters not only triumph but also change the world." I love that, and I love this book for its honesty and courage. Well done, Leduc. Well done.

Language is powerful, especially in fairy tales. In her book Disfigured On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space, Amanda Leduc writes about how these ancient stories do more than entertain; they teach, influence, and shape the way a reader looks at the world. It is an influence that doesn’t end when the tale is done but has real world implications for those with disabilities.In her writing, which also includes an examination of superheroes, Leduc asks hard questions, forcing the reader to take another look at these familiar stories and see the damage they can do to an individual that doesn’t fit the prince/princess mold.More than once I had to stop and think about the point Leduc was making; she forced me to look at fairy tales from a different angle.

5 stars.As someone who considers themselves within the disabled community, this book seemed right up my alley and had rather strong reviews so I added it to my TBR and read a couple of pages to get an idea on writing style… Since that fateful day, I have picked this book up and devoured it every opportunity I have had. This is a book that should be on all bookshelves. From a psychology point of view it leaves a reader with endless ponderings on how intrinsically ableist our society and environment makes us. This book encourages all readers to try harder. To find the breadcrumbs dotted among our history and cultures that feel so utterly wrong when identified without societies rose-tinted glasses. This book helped me consider how even those within the community fall prey to the inner trappings of society and the changes we must incur. How can the community, not me, not you, but US do better. And also, why we should be aiming to do so. Leduc is incredibly human as a writer and writes with a passion that she aims to keep as open and guided as she can, and although other reviewers found her discussion a whine, I found it an open-conversation we all should be having, in all walks, strolls, runs, swims, wheels, stays of life. Because why is a wheelchair or access dog a phenomenon more so than the idea of a fairy godmother? The world is not a fairy-tale, but fairy tales are this world, and are certainly influenced and vice-versa by the world we reside in. This book addresses a large percentage of the fairy tale and folklore that our children and ourselves encounter in this modern world and presents the views of many in a calculated and clear way that really supports her message.“Give me stories where disability is synonymous with a different way of seeing the world and a recognition that the world can itself grow as a result of this viewpoint.”

Really great book on disability and fairytales. So much to think about.

There’s some good stuff in this book, but it drifts into (and wallows in) polemic which lessens the impact. An ok read - nothing more.

Research

This is beautiful Read that legitimises and develops so many of my thoughts as a disabled person and a writer.