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| The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon |
I am a sucker for a good love story. In The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon, an unlikely pair fall in love within the cruel walls of an institution called The School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. Lynnie, a developmentally disabled woman, and Homan, a deaf man, take their secret love on the run and end up at the farmhouse of Martha, an elderly widow. We soon learn that Lynnie and Homan are not alone - Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl - and in Martha the pair find a trustworthy caregiver for their child before Lynnie is hauled back to the School and Homan avoids the authorities to continue on.
The events of this one night define the lives of Lynnie, Homan and Martha over the next four decades. The power of Lynnie and Homan's love keeps them going and the belief that their baby is safe and cared for with Martha gives them hope. Keep your tissues handy, this was a deeply moving book until the very last page.
This book was beautifully written with the simplicity of the characters. As a mother of a disabled daughter it pulled at my heartstrings and had me counting my blessings that institutions have closed. This book values the humblest of humanity with warmth and compassion. A must read for those who are educated and not yet educated into the world of the disabled.
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