I suppose this is a profile and defense of Helen Keller. It was incredibly embarrassing for me to realize that I never really considered Helen Keller until Ozick pointed out in the first part of her profile that no one really considers Helen Keller anymore. Lord, what are we coming to?
My mom bought me a library of stereotypically classic novels from a smattering of cultures and sources, with the intent to culture me and force me to educate myself, refusing to have an idiotic and un-self-reliable and codependent daughter. She bought me Twain and Anne Frank and Helen Keller in the first round of classics. I read the Twain and Anne Frank, but never even cracked the spine of Keller's. Like today, it wasn't even considered.
Ozick does what she sets out to do, which is turn the reader on to the story of Helen Keller, defend her and bring her remarkable story to the forefront again, where it should be. I didn't know Twain was such a supporter of her and Anne Sullivan. I didn't know Keller's name was trashed, that she was called fake at the age of 11. Ozick relates all of this in a matter of fact no bullshit you need to listen to this because it is important biographical way that catches you and keeps you. Im not a fan of biographical things; the writer always somehow writes themselves into a part of their subject's life, living vicariously through the subject, and sensationalizing themselves. Ozick does not do that. And I think that is awesome.
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