Long Time, No See

by Beth Finke

Book Overview

Long Time, No See is certainly an inspiring story, but Beth Finke does not aim to inspire. Eschewing reassuring platitudes and sensational pleas for sympathy, she charts her struggles with juvenile diabetes, blindness, and a host of other hardships, sharing her feelings of despair and frustration as well as her hard-won triumphs. Rejecting the label "courageous," she prefers to describe herself using the phrase her mother invoked in times of difficulty: "She did what she had to do." With unflinching candor and acerbic wit, Finke chronicles the progress of the juvenile diabetes that left her blind at the age of twenty-six as well as the seemingly endless spiral of adversity that followed. First she was forced out of her professional job. Then she bore a multiply handicapped son. But she kept moving forward, confronting marital and financial problems and persevering through a rocky training period with a seeing-eye dog.Finke's life story and her commanding knowledge of her situation give readers a clear understanding of diabetes, blindness, and the issues faced by parents of children with significant disabilities. Because she has taken care to include accurate medical information as well as personal memoir, Long Time, No See serves as an excellent resource for others in similar situations and for professionals who deal with disabled adults or children.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0252028279
• ISBN13: 9780252028274
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

The Story of Beth Finke , A Person You Would Love To Know

I loved this book , not because it is inspiring , which it is , but because it is the story of a fascinating , interesting , fun loving , intellegent , warm , beautiful , real woman ... there is nothing she can't accomplish ! This book reads so easily and with so much anticipation, I put everything aside until I finished it , and when I came to the end I could have started all over again ...... Thank you Beth Finke

Long Time, No See by Beth Finke

I read this book on an airplane flight and didn't even think about how my knees were jammed into the seat in front of me. Some of my fellow passengers were probably curious if they noticed that I laughed out loud (the pinto beans..) and cried at different points. Simply an amazing, funny and inspiring autobiography.

Inspiring

As I read "Long Time, No See" I felt as if the author, Beth Finke, was sitting right next to me telling me her story. She tells it as it is. The book tells of Beth's struggles with blindness, a son born with multiple disabilities, job discrimination, marriage difficulities,while all the time keeping her diabetes in check. Beth writes honestly and with a touch of humor that I'm sure helped her through her many struggles along with her mother's philosphy of "just doing what you have to do." Enjoy the book and be inspired.

I couldn't put it down

An easy quick read with so much inspiration. Finke's writing flows easily and intimately. This is a person you would like to sit down and chat with. She has had many struggles in her young life as she describes her Type I Juvenile diabetes diagnoses to her marriage, loss of sight and then the birth of a multiply handicapped son. She overcame so much and yet her message becomes a cry to help all handicapped people become contributing members of our society without discrimination. Interesting and inspiring-as a teacher I found it helpful and thought provoking as I deal with students who have disabilities. As a parent I wonder how the mother (a young widow) of Beth dealt with the illness and then the other struggles of her youngest daughter with such courage.

Gripping, poignant, hilarious -- a great read

This is an extraordinary book. Right from the start I was captivated by Beth Finke's story. She is so brutally honest about life. Her story ranks right up there with Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes"--if not more extraordinary. The book is written with great wit and humor. What Beth Finke has gone through in her life really helps to put your own life in perspective. I really enjoyed the book (couldn't put it down) and recommend it to everyone.