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Amanda Leduc: Disfigured (2020, Coach House Books)

"Challenges the ableism of fairy tales and offers new ways to celebrate the magic of …

Review of 'Disfigured' on 'Goodreads'

Disappointed, although it might be a case of mismatched expectations.

What I have expected is a scholarly analysis of fairytales and their relation to disability. What I have gotten is an autobiography with precious little scholarship. The author’s understanding of a fairy tale seems to be entirely surface level - especially obvious in her preoccupation with happy endings and insistence that fairytale world is portrayed as just and that “good” people are rewarded, which... has not been a feature of fairytales except in the most modern of times.

Another minor grip is the constant use of “what would happen if...?” leading questions that the author then coyly refuses to elaborate on or provide any evidence for, instead engaging with some sort of imaginary implied answer