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24th out of 97 books
—
25 voters
C'mon Papa: Dispatches from a Dad in the Dark
Ryan Knighton's humorous and perceptive tales of fatherhood take us inside an unusual new family, one bound by its father's particular darkness and light.
C'mon Papa is Ryan Knighton's heartbreaking and hilarious voyage through the first year of fatherhood. Becoming a father is a stressful, daunting rite of passage to be sure, but for a blind father, the fears are unimagina...more
C'mon Papa is Ryan Knighton's heartbreaking and hilarious voyage through the first year of fatherhood. Becoming a father is a stressful, daunting rite of passage to be sure, but for a blind father, the fears are unimagina...more
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
May 4th 2010
by Knopf Canada
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Ryan Knighton is an author and teacher of English, living in Vancouver. At the age of eighteen he was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition which left him blind. This book covers the few years before and after he and his wife, Tracy, had their baby, Tess.
I enjoyed the book for its humurous accounts of a sightless man trying desperately to support his (extremely efficient) wife and baby daughter. Even more, I appreciated the insights Knighton allowed us into the physical and emotional diffi...more
I enjoyed the book for its humurous accounts of a sightless man trying desperately to support his (extremely efficient) wife and baby daughter. Even more, I appreciated the insights Knighton allowed us into the physical and emotional diffi...more
First off, this book is not commercially available in the United States. Remarkable, considering it was featured on "This American Life"... Anyway, if you are unable to cross the border into Canada, or if you don't have a friend like I do, who is willing to risk life and limb to smuggle the book across the border for you, then you might want to pass on this review.
Ryan Knighton writes about he and his wife's attempt at having a child, then her pregnancy, and ultimately their daughter's first cou...more
Ryan Knighton writes about he and his wife's attempt at having a child, then her pregnancy, and ultimately their daughter's first cou...more
Ryan Knighton is blind. He's a Dad. This book, in essence, is about parenting while blind - the things you assume would be a challenge and the things that, as a person who isn't blind, don't even occur to you to consider.
I loved this book.
I loved it because I like books about things I "get" (in this case, parenting) and things I've never experienced (blindness). I loved that Ryan talked about the good parts and the shitty parts (in some cases, literally shitty) with a sense of humour. It's not...more
I loved this book.
I loved it because I like books about things I "get" (in this case, parenting) and things I've never experienced (blindness). I loved that Ryan talked about the good parts and the shitty parts (in some cases, literally shitty) with a sense of humour. It's not...more
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After hearing Knighton on This American Life, I thought this would be a pretty funny book. And being a dad with young kids and a blind mother, I figured I'd find plenty to connect to.
The book is, in places, funny, but it is actually far more melancholy than I expected as well, dealing with Knighton's insecurities and fears as he and his wife struggled with a miscarriage (almost the first 1/4 of the book is dedicated to this.)
The book is, in places, funny, but it is actually far more melancholy than I expected as well, dealing with Knighton's insecurities and fears as he and his wife struggled with a miscarriage (almost the first 1/4 of the book is dedicated to this.)
...more
“Or maybe she’s a bit gassy,” I said.
Gas is the preferred explanation o
Ryan Knighton proves himself again to be a comedic and passionate writer, describing his life as a husband awaiting pregnancy, then a baby with his wife. The challenge is that he is blind - he has very little sight, having lost most of it by the time he was 14.
For me personally, I found that I could relate in so many levels. My career had included six intense years as a teacher assistant to a young blind student, from Kindergarten through Grade 5. To be very good with a blind individual require...more
For me personally, I found that I could relate in so many levels. My career had included six intense years as a teacher assistant to a young blind student, from Kindergarten through Grade 5. To be very good with a blind individual require...more
As a mom whose daughter has a severe visual impairment I loved this book! Realizing the challenges he faces as a blind dad, but I loved his sense of humor even more. I also appreciated the very matter-of-fact way his wife handles his blindness, and that she wasn't really concerned with the possibility that their baby might be blind, because she is around her blind husband every day. Such a great book made me laugh out loud and cry in a couple of places!!
I had read Ryan's first book a few years ago, and I loved it. It was funny, honest and insightful. So that's what I was hoping in this one as well. And it delivered - mostly. Honest and insightful it was, but I missed the funny parts a bit. They were there, of course, but overall I felt this was on the melancholic side of things a lot more often. Which isn't in itself a bad thing, it's just not what I was hoping for. Still a good read though.
Ryan Knighton is blind. In this book, he becomes a dad and talks about all the challenges faced by blind fathers. However, Knighton is also very funny. It's hard not to get engrossed in his story. I love that he lives in East Van and that I can picture him walking around that neighbourhood. I've read both of his books, and will happily read anything he writes because of his unique viewpoint and sense of humour.
I summarized the ending of this book (the title giving climax) to my 17 year old daughter this afternoon over a late lunch after giving her a short summary of the book.
I don't know if Brian Kingston :) understands how fully he connected with all parents, I hope he does.
I encourage him to write further about his journey.
I don't know if Brian Kingston :) understands how fully he connected with all parents, I hope he does.
I encourage him to write further about his journey.
Beautifully written, wonderfully chronicled, a story of a new father , but not just any new father, one who is blind. I laughed, I cried, I was amazed at his insightful journey that every new parent travels; Ryan Knighton's story being just that more poignant. Highly recommended. Now to read his other book.
A very honest depiction of a first father. The fears of not living up to what you have imagined is something that we can all relate to whether you are sighted or not. He hits the nail on the head with dealing with situations that just simply out of your control. Deal with what you got and anything else is gravy!!!
Not as hilarious I was originally expecting from some of the other reviews I read. But you find yourself truly pulling for this guy and thinking what the heck would I do. The wittiness...more
Not as hilarious I was originally expecting from some of the other reviews I read. But you find yourself truly pulling for this guy and thinking what the heck would I do. The wittiness...more
I was amused from beginning to end. Brought back memories for me. So much anxiety and uncertainty with the first child. What a daunting additional challenge to be blind. Undoubtedly his sense of humor has been a great asset.
Dec 31, 2011
Jeanne
marked it as to-read
Heard an excerpt on This American Life
Intuitive and hilarious. I enjoyed his prayer, his story of the bear and the event that became the title of the book.
I thought this was a great look at fatherhood without even the issues that dealt specifically with being blind. What an amazing guy.
This is Ryan's second book.. a continuation of his life as he becomes a dad in the dark. His writing style is very enjoyable. I could somewhat relate to him as a person with a disability living a normal life. Here's hoping there's a 3rd book!
I loved this book. Ryan struggled his way through a new and challenging hurdle but in the end was successful and had the confidence to tackle new hurdles that would certainly come his way. Easy to read and most enjoyable.
Loved it! So funny, even in the darkest, scariest moments. A really well-written story I enjoyed.
Great book! A different perspective of a Father, who is non sighted. Comical and touching.
Jun 17, 2013
RK
marked it as to-read
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Alexandra Johnson
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Jun 14, 2013
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Calvin
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“A monumental decision such as starting a family requires persuasive dissertations, licences, spreadsheets and field research. That's what I assumed until one night when we were lying in bed and, if I recall correctly, I asked Tracy if we were ready to have a family now, and she said sure. That was it.”
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1 person liked it
“A tiredness crept over her that would shame narcoleptics. She could sleep anytime, anywhere, in any position. No hyperbole. I mean, we'd be at the dinner table, and I'd be in mid-sentence when I'd detect a fresh, eerie silence in the room, the kind that didn't sound to my blind man's ears like somebody listening. I'd just carry on with dinner, and hope that she'd made it to bed this time.”
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