Helen Keller In Love: A Novel (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
This book evoked strong emotion in me. I found myself disliking every character except Helen. I was disgusted by the way she was treated by her family, Annie and most especially Peter Fagan. Did the author intend to portray him as a weasel? My skin crawled during the intimate scenes between her and Mr. Fagan, because he just seemed like such a creep. I kept waiting for him to steal her check book and disappear or take her away and hold her for a ransom. None of that happened so maybe I would rate it higher if I read it again, dropping my misconceptions, but I won't read it twice it was too sad. I didn't feel it was a love story at all. Just a tragic tale about the people Helen loved most abusing their power and taking advantage of her fame and connections. This is the story of the love affair Helen Keller had when she was 37. After she came to fame by beating the odds to hold her down, Annie Sullivan became ill with what could have been TB. The family hired Peter Fagan to be her secretary, and their relationship became sexual.This book is a true story, a true and very sad story of a woman who, though she supported her family financially, was never allowed to become her own woman. Helen was like any woman. She wanted love and a family. When Peter came into her life, Annie’s husband had left her for another woman who was bearing his child. She was very bitter about this and very protective of Helen. She felt all men would do this to all women. Helen’s mother Kate flat out stated she can never have a lover or a family. My heart broke for Helen. And for Peter, who at first I thought was using her to promote himself, but in the end gave in to the family pressure and backed away. Good story…but sad
What do You think about Helen Keller In Love: A Novel (2012)?
I learned a lot about Helen Keller but the book drug on and on about her and her lover.
—amberfetters
A few moments of greatness, but this one fell a bit flat with me.
—Lola1234
