
Seeing Eye Girl
A Memoir of Madness, Resilience, and Hope
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Narrated by:
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Lauren Ezzo
About this listen
As the “Seeing Eye Girl” for her blind, artistic, and mentally ill mother, Beverly Armento was intimately connected with and responsible for her, even though her mother physically and emotionally abused her. She was Strong Beverly at school—excellent in academics and mentored by caring teachers—but at home she was Weak Beverly, cowed by her mother’s rage and delusions.
Beverly’s mother regained her sight with two corneal transplants in 1950 and went on to enjoy a moment of fame as an artist, but these positive turns did nothing to stop her disintegration into her delusional world of communists, radiation, and lurking Italians. To survive, Beverly had to be resilient and hopeful that better days could be ahead. But first, she had to confront essential ethical issues about her caregiving role in her family.
In this emotional memoir, Beverly shares the coping strategies she invented to get herself through the trials of her young life, and the ways in which school and church served as refuges over the course of her journey. Breaking the psychological chains that bound her to her mother would prove to be the most difficult challenge of her life—and, ultimately, the most liberating one.
©2022 Beverly J. Armento (P)2022 Beverly J. ArmentoListeners also enjoyed...
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Thought it would be about Veronica...
- By Leah on 02-18-17
Seeing Eye Girl is an inspirational story that is masterfully written. This extremely powerful told story of a young girl surviving in a poor dysfunctional family. I promise you will not be disappointed if you select this book. We need more teachers today with the same drive and determination of Beverly. This book will surprise you!
An extremely powerful story!
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The story was similar to my own.
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Great story about perseverance
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What a powerful story
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In addition, the book's language is lyrical and emotional, as delivered by narrator Ezzo and enhanced the listening experience.
Engaging story of overcoming extreme adversity
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The accounts of the mother being treated by medical professionals and showcased by nonprofits was almost unbelievable vis a vis the madness that no one caught on to.
The role of the teachers was positive and they led to the writer’s resilience. I was waiting on a divine intervention and it had to come from inside the heroine. Maybe that’s the point of resilience??
The book was gripping and I kept listening. The performance by the reader was strong.
Gripping, yet hard to take in
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Loved the honesty of the author!
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powerful and important
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