'In fairytales, the characters who look different are often cast as the villain or monsters. It's only when they shed their unconventional skin that they are seen as "good" or less frightening. There are very few stories where the character that looks different is the hero of the story ... I've been the hero of my story - telling it on my own terms, proud about my facial difference and disability, not wanting a cure for my rare, severe and sometimes confronting skin condition, and knowing that I am beautiful even though I don't have beauty privilege.'
This honest, outspoken and thought-provoking memoir by award-winning writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay will challenge all your assumptions and beliefs about what it is like to have a visibly different appearance. Carly lives with a rare skin condition, Ichthyosis, and what she faces every day, and what she has to live with, will have you cheering for her and her courage and irrepressible spirit. This is both a moving memoir and a proud manifesto on disability and appearance diversity issues.
Say Hello, Carly Findlay
I saw a Clementine Ford quote along the lines of "it's okay to be angry... All these years, people have been calling you 'angry' as if it's a shameful thing, when what they really mean is 'your refusal to be contained frightens me'. It is okay for you to be angry."
Carly Findlay's taken her absolute right to be very angry about a heap of stupid things, and turned it into an opportunity to point out some truths. The micro-aggressions, the blatant ableism, the intrusion, the mindless behaviour, the staring, the sniggering, the frankly slappable offences that she's faced for much of her life have made her very angry indeed, and it's a good thing that she's been as forthright with her reactions as the much missed Stella Young was on a similar range of experiences.
I learnt so much from reading Carly Findlay's excellent book. I was thrilled to see her anger, interested to see her understanding and ability to empathise with others (something we should all take note of). Couldn't help but cheer at some of the righteously pissed off responses to the flat out stupid and self-involved. Amazed to see her levels of acceptance and a willingness to reach out to those who are actively seeking engagement.
I am grateful that throughout this book there are lessons to be learnt, there are things that we all need to think about, and there are now bookmarks galore in my copy. Very pleased to see comments around that it's selling well. All power to the arms of angry young women everywhere, we need to be reading books like SAY HELLO.