The Centaur’s Wife gets a starred review in Quill & Quire!
In her 2020 non-fiction book, Disfigured, writer Amanda Leduc explored the powerful, near-subliminal force of fairy tales, in particular “how the allure and the potency of these stories has continued to influence the perceptions of disability today.” Leduc, who lives with cerebral palsy and spastic hemiplegia, went on to posit a new approach to storytelling, which would prize difference rather than reinforcing conformity.
Laura Bain interviews writer Amanda Leduc from Hamilton, Ontario, about her recent non-fiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space published by Coach House Books.
Though they may seem like simple tales with heartwarming messages, fairy tales sometimes provide a false sense of reality when they depict magic and divine intervention erasing disabilities and disadvantages. “Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space,” author and disability advocate Amanda Leduc analyzes how the stories we learn when we’re young help shape our ideas of self-worth, for better or worse.
Jon Menaster and I have a lovely chat about writing, reading, and all kinds of book love (as well a talk about Disfigured, naturally) on the Read Learn Live.
