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· 6,897 ratings · 523 reviews

Start your review of My Left Foot

Petra kissed a toad and he kissed her back

This book is all about character. If you are going to have to live with the kind of disability that hides your intelligence, as cerebral palsey did Christy Brown's, and you want to live as full a life as possible, then two things are indispensible. One is a supporter with a great strength of character who will enable you to do whatever you can. The other is to have great strength of character yourself and maintain it when all around you see only your disability, not your glowing intelligence, ta This book is all about character. If you are going to have to live with the kind of disability that hides your intelligence, as cerebral palsey did Christy Brown's, and you want to live as full a life as possible, then two things are indispensible. One is a supporter with a great strength of character who will enable you to do whatever you can. The other is to have great strength of character yourself and maintain it when all around you see only your disability, not your glowing intelligence, talent and determination to live a full life. It also helps to have, as Dr. Stephen Hawking had, a lot of money.

Christy Brown and his mother might have lacked money, but they were strong together, sometimes the total is far more than the sum of its parts. And so he achieved a good life through his talents of writing, poetry and painting, and that the brought the money that made his life and that of his mother that much easier.

He died tragically of choking at dinner at home. He was 49.

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Aug 20, 2016 Paul rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars rounded up
This is Christy Brown's account of his early life, published in 1954 when he was twenty-two. Brown was the tenth of twenty-two children (thirteen of whom survived). Brown was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy and his parents were told that they ought to put him into an institution and forget about him because he would be a "mental defective". It was the determination of his mother, not giving up on him, that proved decisive.
The story is well –known through the film starri 4.5 stars rounded up
This is Christy Brown's account of his early life, published in 1954 when he was twenty-two. Brown was the tenth of twenty-two children (thirteen of whom survived). Brown was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy and his parents were told that they ought to put him into an institution and forget about him because he would be a "mental defective". It was the determination of his mother, not giving up on him, that proved decisive.
The story is well –known through the film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, but the book is well worth reading and Brown writes honestly and with some humour. The story is obviously one of struggle and persistence and there are also some good descriptions of family life in Dublin in the 1930s and 1940s. There is also a growing sense of sadness and frustration as Brown gradually realises how different he is from others and how important it is considered to be "normal". There is a passage where Brown describes a growing friendship with a girl when he is in his very early teens. There is a moment when he realises the look she gives him is not attraction or even friendship, but pity. It's very powerful writing. Brown describes his disability as a glass wall between himself and others. Brown eventually says "If I could never be like other people, then at least I would be like myself and make the best of it."
Brown also charts his growth as a writer. Initially his access to books was very limited and he read only Dickens. Reading was an awakening for him, however being limited to Dickens, his first attempts at writing were in a Dickensian vein. Combine the flourish and floridity of Dickens with a lad from Dublin trying to write about his life and you get the picture. Brown is brave enough to add a few extracts of these early attempts and honest enough to admit how bad they are!
Brown is likeable and engaging and he tells his story well. Good as the film is, I think it's a shame it has overshadowed the book; which has merit in its own right.
I am currently making an effort to find and read literature from the disabled community and this is certainly a good place to start.
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Sep 13, 2012 K.D. Absolutely rated it really liked it

Recommended to K.D. by: 501 Must Read Books

This is a true story of a man's triumph over odds. Boy, what he went through in life? It was just unspeakably sad. Christy Brown (1932-1981) was born to a poor Irish family. He had 13 surviving siblings. He was born with cerebral palsy but he became a writer (this book is an autobiography) and a painter. His only way to communicate and coherently express himself is by using his left foot. Imagine yourself if you could not use your hands, you could not walk, you could not speak properly and the This is a true story of a man's triumph over odds. Boy, what he went through in life? It was just unspeakably sad. Christy Brown (1932-1981) was born to a poor Irish family. He had 13 surviving siblings. He was born with cerebral palsy but he became a writer (this book is an autobiography) and a painter. His only way to communicate and coherently express himself is by using his left foot. Imagine yourself if you could not use your hands, you could not walk, you could not speak properly and the only extremity that is left with you to use is your left foot? Me, I would probably kill myself. Uh, maybe not but that will definitely cross my mind.

No-frills writing. Brown makes you feel that you are growing up with him: I am now 8 years old, at nine I was..., now seventeen, etc. The storytelling is like reading a diary including his first crushes. The heartbreaking part is when you realize that he, despite his physical disability, does fall in love and dream of better life. Then it will down on him that he is not normal like us. Then it will down on you (the reader) that he is the same as all of us even if his life is written in a book (that at first tells you that he is different).

Brown published this book when he was 22 years old and I guess that made the tone of this book very edgy yet painful. Compared to when say Frank McCourt wrote his opus Angela's Ashes when he was already in the twilight of his years and you would doubt how he could remember the details. So, this book can readily connect to the young group of readers. A must read for them who are pushing for quarter-life crisis in their late twenties. Hey, there is this man Christy Brown who can help you sort out that your problems are nothing compared to what he went through.

Also, what I really liked about this book, compared to the other memoirs? It does not dwell too much on the family's poverty. It is almost devoid of sentimentality yet there are many funny parts like when Christy Brown almost drowned two young lovers in the toilet because he thought that they were playing hide and seek.

Want to read a light inspiring memoir? Go for this book.

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the next time you complain because you got no shoes
take a look at the man on the next stool
the man has got no feet, no toes to play the blues

Dale Watson's cautionary song would've made a decent epitaph for Brown, whose autobiography chronicles his struggle to compensate for the one thing he lacked: a body that obeyed him. Luckily, he had the three most important things in the world: a good brain, an iron spirit and a loving mother.

The only problem with a mid-life autobiography is the lack of ar

the next time you complain because you got no shoes
take a look at the man on the next stool
the man has got no feet, no toes to play the blues

The only problem with a mid-life autobiography is the lack of artistic output; we see him master the brush but save Dickens, not his literary influences. His time at the hospital offers a tantalizing glimpse at the mid-century state orthopedics, all tough the basics remain unchanged: operate where you can & train your limbs to stimulate the neurotransmission to the max.

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Jun 22, 2011 Alida rated it really liked it

Several amazing things about Christie Brown: he was one of 22 children born to one woman, he is an Irish author with a happy childhood, and most of all, crippled by cerebral palsy he wrote and painted with his left foot, the only part of his body he had control over.

I am always looking for new biographies/autobiographies/memoirs to add to my classroom library and this one fell into my lap by a current student. I ordered my own copy and flew through it within a day (not that it was challenging to do) so that I could ensure the inclusion of it in my classroom by the end of February vacation. That in itself may have been one of the downfalls, ending in my 2-star rating.

Christy Brown's life was incredible and his talents, abundant. Let me start by saying that m

Christy Brown's life was incredible and his talents, abundant. Let me start by saying that my review and rating is for his book, not his challenges and accomplishments. It does make it harder to mark a book as only "okay" when it is a story of amazing feats that have been attained, in spite of one's trials.

So this is a story that was published in 1954 and one that I truly wonder if I have encountered before - the more I read of it and looked at his photos, both on the cover of the book as well as online, the more it felt familiar to me. But much of my lack of engagement with this book came from the language he used and the way the story itself was told. I couldn't help but feel that I was simply watching the words pass by on the page, as opposed to falling into the actual story. I tell my students all the time in regards to their writing: show me, don't tell me, and I wanted so badly to tell Mr. Brown the same thing.

On page 144, he talks extensively about his first and second manuscript and how he modeled his writing after Dickens, with him being "quite determined never to make a simple statement if I could turn it into a complex one. I seldom expressed on individual thought in a single sentence. I required three or four sentences before being satisfied that I'd really expressed my meaning, and sometimes I would use up a whole paragraph to express a single thought". It is not as though I would want to read a text as he describes above, but I almost feel he went too far the other way, with this current edition being lackluster and focusing so much on parts that I wanted to know less of and breezing over parts that I would have killed to have more time with. It is perhaps the time in which this was written, simply his style, his writing immaturity/age, etc. that contributed to this. But while his story and his whole existence was compelling, his writing about it, simply wasn't.

My closing comment actually has to do with the ending: I can see and understand why he may have left his story off where he did, but I couldn't help but wish there was more. Again, I wanted him to elaborate on pieces that he choose to keep much less explored; I had hoped to know more about his mom and her unwavering support of him. I also wanted an epilogue or something that addressed his marriage, his paintings (were any of them ever sold?), where his life journeyed once he found some more doors opened for him. Perhaps this is asking a lot, as he was only around 20 when the book was published, but additions after the fact, for me, would have made this book so much more well-rounded.

I still feel that the addition of this text into my classroom is valuable, and it opens up the expanse of options within subjects of biographies. I, myself as a reader, was simply looking for something a little different than what was presented here.

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ENG: At first, we can think that "What is the exact novelty of this book?" because we think we know all the necessary things about handicapped people's life. However, being able to see the world through the eyes of Christy Brown and understand it in very many different ways was a very extraordinary experience for me. This kind books hold a great power of forming a sense of emphaty and notion for handicapped people in fictional basis.
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AZE: Kristi Braun dünyaya beyin iflici qurbanı o ENG: At first, we can think that "What is the exact novelty of this book?" because we think we know all the necessary things about handicapped people's life. However, being able to see the world through the eyes of Christy Brown and understand it in very many different ways was a very extraordinary experience for me. This kind books hold a great power of forming a sense of emphaty and notion for handicapped people in fictional basis.
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AZE: Kristi Braun dünyaya beyin iflici qurbanı olaraq gəlmişdir. Lakin hərəkət edə bilməyən bəxtsiz körpədə gələcəkdə irland ədəbiyyatının nəhəngləri arasında öz yerini tutacaq yazıçının parlaq təxəyyül yə həssaslığa malik ağılı gizlənirdi. Bu, Kristi Braunun həyat hekayəsidir. O, uşaqlıq illərinin oxumağı, yazmağı, rəsm çəkməyi və nəhayət, sol ayağının barmağı ilə çap etməyi öyrənmə mübarizəsini xatırlayır. Bu üslubda o, bestseller olan "Hər gün nisgil" romanını yazmışdır.

Söhbət fiziki məhdudiyyətləri və qüsurları olan insalardan düşəndə mən həmişə belə insanlara qarşı digərlərinə necə münasibət bəsləyib-düşünürəmsə, elə yanaşmağa davam edirəm. Çünki o insanın və ya varlığın fiziki qüsurlu insanlara "özündən fərqli" birisi kimi yanaşmağa haqqı var ki, o, ya ölümsüz olsun, ya əbədi cavan, ya da ideal sağlamlığa malik olsun. Ən əsas məsələ isə ondan ibarətdir ki, hər şey bədənin sağlam olub-olmamasından asılı deyil. İnsanın şüuru, tərbiyəsi, ağlı heç də hər zaman bədənin bütün üzvlərindən asılı olmur. Mənim şəxsi mövqeyim də ondan ibarətdir ki, fiziki məhdud insanlar və ya əlillər nələrdənsə məhrum ola bilərlər, amma bu həm də cəmiyyət üçün böyük fürsətdir ki, onların bacara biləcəkləri işləri onlara ötürək, beləliklə onlar cəmiyyətin bir hissəsi olmaqda kasadlıq çəkməsinlər. İnsanları bərabər edən bədənləri deyil, ideyaları və düşüncələridir. Necə ki, bunu Kristi Braun öz "Sol ayağım" romanı ilə sübut etdi.

"Sol ayağım" kitabı mənə hədiyyə olunanda mən kitaba qarşı bir qədər skeptik yanaşdım. Düşündüm ki, görən bu insan nə yazıb ki, biz onu yeni və fərqli bir şey kimi qəbul edək? Onsuz da yaxşı bilirik ki, fiziki qüsurları olan insan nələrisə edə bilmir, cəmiyyətdə hamıdan fərqlənir və əsasən öz fiziki və mənəvi ağrıları ilə yalnızlaşır. Qiraətə başlayan kimi əmin oldum ki, öz səmimiliyi, bədiiliyi və özünəməxsusluğu ilə, Kristi Braun bədii ədəbiyyatda əsl inqilab edib. O, sadəcə həyatında olub keçənlərə yenidən baxmır, həm də özünə kənardan baxır, özünü obrazlaşdırır. Sanki, şüuru ilə bədənini bir-birindən ayırıb ayrı-ayrı fəzalarda var olmaqlarını təmin edir. Bu oxucuya imkan verir ki, həm sağlam bir insan kimi söhbətin nədən getdiyini başa düşsün, həm də fiziki məhdud olmağın nə demək olduğunu Kristinin "bədəninə daxil olaraq" açıq-aydın təsəvvür etsin. Deyərdim ki, bu öhdəsindən gəlinəsi heç də asan vəzifə olmayıb, amma Kristi Braunun istifadə etdiyi ədəbi üslub və dil, hər bir insana öz sadəliyi ilə xitab edərək, onun ağrılı, amma bir o qədər də heyrətamiz dünyasına dəvət biletini təqdim edir.

İndi nadir hallarda xoşbəxtlik hissi keçirirdim. Mən mətbəxdə pəncərənin önündə oturar və qardaşlarımla dostlarının evin yanındakı yolda futbol oynamaqlarına baxar, Piterin tez-tez qol vurduğunu görərdim. Bəzən onlardan biri mənə gülümsəyər və əl edərdi. Mən də əl etməyə çalışar, lakin qolumu qaldırdıqda o, yanıma düşər və pəncərə çərçivəsinə dəyərdi. Sonra mən özümü arxa tərəfdəki divanın üstünə atar və üzümü onun küncündə gizlədərdim. - Bu cümlələrdə fiziki cəhətdən qüsurlu olan insanla ətraf-aləmi arasında olan münasibətlər ideal olaraq bədii dil ilə təsvir olunub. Kristi Braun öz əlilliyini cəmiyyətlə onun arasında olan "şüşə divar" adlandırırdı. Buna baxmayaraq onun sol ayağı hərəkətli idi və o, məhz sol ayağı vasitəsi ilə dünyanı kəşf etməyə başlayır. Talenin ironiyası belə gətirib ki, Kristi sadəcə bircə bədən üzvü ilə dünyanı dərk etməyə çalışırdısa, onun yaşadığı dünyada milyonlarla insan digər bütün bədən üzvləri ilə bunu edirdilər. Sadəcə bircə orqanın tam funksional olması sayəsində Kristi kimi rəssam və yazıçı dünyada öz adını eşitdirməyi bacarıbsa, görün əslində sağlam insanlar bəşəriyyətə nə qədər şeyi təqdim etməkdə tənbəllik edirlər. Kitabdan seçilmiş növbəti cümlələr bu haqda maraqlı məqamlara işıq salır: Ayaq barmaqlarımın arasında tutduğum bir parça sarı qırıq təbaşirlə döşəmədə cızdığım həmin hərf məni yeni dünyaya aparan yolum, məni əqli azadlığıma qovuşduracaq açarım idi. Bu, əyilmiş ağız arxasında özünü ifadə etmək həsrəti ilə yaşayan gərgin, gərilmiş əşyaya - mənə rahatlıq mənbəyini bəxş edəcəkdi.

Kristi həm də özünün bir yazıçı kimi necə inkişaf etməsini təsvir edir. Bu haqda oxumaq mənim üçün xüsusi dərəcədə zövqverici oldu. Sadəcə Çarlz Dikkens oxuyan birisi kimi əsasən necə köhnə ingilis dili istifadə etdiyini və sonrada müasir insanlarla əlaqə yaratmaq üçün necə onların dilinə uyğunlaşdığını oxumaq maraqlı oldu. Buna baxmayaraq o, həmişə ustad axtarışında və mənəvi dayaq sorağında olub: Bax belə! Kaş yanımda mənə məsləhət verən, aydın və konstruktiv şəkildə, sözlərin arasında, mətnin ortasında "boşluqlar" qoymadan yazmağı öyrədən biri olaydı! Elə bir adam ki, nə danışdığını bilsin və məni doğru məcraya yönəltsin. Mənim bələdçilik edən ələ ehtiyacım vardı. Sadəcə beyin yox, həm də ürəyə sahib olan bir kəsə ehtiyacım vardı. Kristi Braun

Bütün bunlara baxmayaraq, anadangəlmə iflic olan Krsiti Braun çox mübariz ruhlu birisi olub. "Sol ayağım" kitabını oxumaqla, biz həm də motivasiya xarakterli bir işlə tanış oluruq, çünki sahib olduğu tək hərəki orqan - sol ayağı ona mümkünsüz hesab ediləcək işləri görməyə kömək edib: On üç yaşımda mən hələ özünü tam olaraq kəşf etməmiş, yaxud öz bacarıqlarından onlardan yararlanacaq qədər xəbəri olmayan uşaq-rəssam idim. Rəssamlıq mənim üçün hər şeyə çevrilmişdi. Onun vasitəsilə mən özümü çoxlu incə yollarla ifadə etməyi öyrənmişdim. Mən görüb hiss etdiyim hər şeyi, faydasız bədənim daxilində hücrədəki bir dustaq kimi qalıb mənim üçün hələ də reallığa çevrilməmiş dünyaya baxan ağlımda baş verən hər şeyi onun köməyilə əlaqələndirirdim. Lakin bunlara rəğmən Kristi Braun öz şifahi danışıq qabiliyyətinin məhdudluğu, bəzən isə mümkünsüzlüyünə qarşı güclü nisgil bəsləyir və növbəti cümlələrdə bunu nəinki bədii, həm də fəlsəfi yöndən çox gözəl şərh edir: Nitq mənim insanlarla adi münasibət qurmaq cəhdlərimin qarşısını hər zaman alan ən böyük maneə olmuşdur. Çatışmazlıqlarım arasında mənə ən böyük acını nitq yaşatmışdır, çünki nitq olmadan insan faktiki olaraq itmiş sayılır, qalan adamlarla arasına sədd çəkilir, milyonlarla şeyi demək istədiyi halda, bircəciyini də dilə gətirə bilmir. Yazı çox yaxşı çıxış yoludur, lakin elə duyğular var ki, onları təkcə yazılmış sözlərlə ıifadə etmək, hiss etdirmək olmur. Yazı ölümsüz ola bilər, lakin o, iki insan arasındakı boşluqda səsin yarada biləcəyi körpünü qura bilmir. Məsələn, mən dünyadakı ən dahiyanə kitabı yazmaqdansa, hansısa dostumla bir saatlıq dəhşətli mübahisəyə, ya da bir qızla söhbətləşmənin bir neçə anına üstünlük verərdim. Möhtəşəmdir, elə deyilmi?

Bir daha "Parlaq imzalar" nəşriyyatına təşəkkürümü bildirmək istərdim ki, belə bir kitabı yaxşı azərbaycan dilində bizim cəmiyyətə ötürmək missiyasını öz üzərlərinə götürüblər. Dünya ədəbiyyatının belə nümunələri düşüncə üfüqlərimizi genişləndirməyə, tərbiyə olunmağa və mənən zənginləşməyimizə xidmət edir. Şadam ki, bu kitab doğma dilimizdə var və daha çox insan bu kitabla tanış olsa, ikiqat şad olaram.

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I very rarely read autobiographies because more often than not the information inside has already been made public, or the subject of the autobiography is so far removed from the actual writing of the novel that it might as well be fiction. However, 'My Left Foot' was surprisingly different. Though it was only 184 pages, I feel like I got to know Christy Brown and his struggles inside and out. His strength, determination and belief in himself really spoke to me as did the unending support and lo
I very rarely read autobiographies because more often than not the information inside has already been made public, or the subject of the autobiography is so far removed from the actual writing of the novel that it might as well be fiction. However, 'My Left Foot' was surprisingly different. Though it was only 184 pages, I feel like I got to know Christy Brown and his struggles inside and out. His strength, determination and belief in himself really spoke to me as did the unending support and love he received from his (huge!) family. I loved how he spoke about writing and the freedom it gave him; it's amazing to think he did it all with his left foot. So glad I was given the chance to read this touching and heartfelt autobiography and I will probably end up reading it again. ...more

3.5 Stars My Left Foot told an amazing tale. The writing, however, was subpar. My teacher also reviewed this book, and she said something along the lines of, "He told. He didn't show." This is absolutely true. While his story was absolutely amazing, and would have gotten five stars from me alone, I'm afraid that because of the style of writing I cannot give that five stars. But the fact that he wrote it with his left foot is pretty amazing. My Left Foot is the story of Christy Brown, a man who ha 3.5 Stars My Left Foot told an amazing tale. The writing, however, was subpar. My teacher also reviewed this book, and she said something along the lines of, "He told. He didn't show." This is absolutely true. While his story was absolutely amazing, and would have gotten five stars from me alone, I'm afraid that because of the style of writing I cannot give that five stars. But the fact that he wrote it with his left foot is pretty amazing. My Left Foot is the story of Christy Brown, a man who has cerebral palsy. It is basically about him learning to look past his disease and actually live. It is an amazing story that I recommend to just about anyone, regardless of the poor writing. ...more

Awwwwwwwwwwww, Christy Brown, you're my Hero!!!!!!!

Now, word of explanation: I'm a big sap for books like this. Books about painters and artists. Books about people being dealt the short end of the stick and making it nonetheless.

So even though I've watched the movie way, way back (worth watching btw My Left Foot (1989)). Even though I knew the story inside out. Reading this, made me all weepy in a good way once again.

My only grievance? The ending was too abrupt, and left me wanting more. More!

Awwwwwwwwwwww, Christy Brown, you're my Hero!!!!!!!

Now, word of explanation: I'm a big sap for books like this. Books about painters and artists. Books about people being dealt the short end of the stick and making it nonetheless.

So even though I've watched the movie way, way back (worth watching btw My Left Foot (1989)). Even though I knew the story inside out. Reading this, made me all weepy in a good way once again.

My only grievance? The ending was too abrupt, and left me wanting more. More! More! More! Give me more of Christy Brown. I'm gonna keep stumping my feet until I get the reminder of his life put down on paper in such a beautiful, simple, restrained way as this was! Stump. Stump. But truth be told, I'm not expecting another bio piece, not until after his death (and we don't wish for that happening anytime soon).

All in all: Huge respect.

That's what I wanted to say: huge respect, Christy, seriously.

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Mar 24, 2018 Naaz rated it really liked it

I first read an excerpt from this book in one my English textbooks a good 10 or 11 years ago and remember being fascinated by it. When I saw it purely by chance while browsing through the library earlier this month, I was immediately reminded of that textbook and picked it up straightaway so that I could finally read the full version and find out what happened before and after that excerpt left off.

This was an inspiring story about disability and the resilience of the human spirit. I could feel

This was an inspiring story about disability and the resilience of the human spirit. I could feel the joys and frustrations that the author was describing and was constantly in awe of the discipline he was capable of when he set his mind to something. He had a huge advocate in the form of his mother and I can't help thinking of how different his life could have been had his mother not fought for him and given him all the opportunities she possibly could. It was particularly moving to read about how his mother began to build a house in the back garden herself, despite knowing nothing about it after her husband and sons refused to do so.

This was a deeply emotional and incredibly inspiring read and I am glad that I read that excerpt so many years ago that led to me picking up the actual book as soon as I saw it. Would definitely recommend as it is a short and quick read that you may be able to get a lot out of.

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Aug 19, 2018 Grayce rated it it was amazing

Absolutely inspiring. Christy Brown was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a time when not much was known about it. His mother refused to listen to what the doctors told her, knowing that her son had a physical impairment but not an intellectual one. Her confidence and his drive were the perfect pair. Together they proved everyone wrong. Christy provides a candid, first hand account of the struggles and triumphs he encountered with having cerebral palsy using only his left foot to do so.

I read fiction almost exclusively, therefore I am not sure how to rate an autobiography.

It is very inspiring and heart touching story of a man trapped in the prison of disability, in a body with cerebral palsy. He strive to break through and fight with no weapons except the determination of his left foot.

A great book I read many years ago and then saw the film with Daniel Day Lewis. A humorous and touching story that was one of the best books I read.

Such an incredible autobiography. Christy Brown is a true inspiration.

May 11, 2018 Henry Wright rated it it was amazing

This book deserves five stars just for being written. It is so hard to imagine the authors voice trapped inside his mind, limited to oral grunts for so many years.

Feb 15, 2013 Ingrid rated it really liked it

My Left Foot is the 1954 autobiography of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy on June 5, 1932 in Dublin, Ireland.

In "My Left Foot" a lot of major themes, which often appear Irish literature, occur. A theme which is addressed is poverty. Compared to other books by Irish authors it is not that dominant, as Christy himself does not care about money at all. He is happy with what he has, joyful in his own world, living together with his family.
A often reoccurring theme in books in general as well as in "My Left Foot" is definitely love. Firstly there is motherly/fatherly and brotherly love. Especially motherly role is described in detail. His mother is a very caring person and is the closest to him through the book. Whenever he has problems she is always there for him, a person he can lean on.
His father is a character which does not appear that frequently, but has a fairly important role. He builds Christy's own house and is overwhelmed with joy and has a hard time controlling it when he finds out that his son can be cured.
His brothers took him outside to play when he was little and sitting inside "Henry". They do not seem to be ashamed of their brother, went for a swim and helped father with bricklaying the house. In the novel the author never describes and struggles or fights within the family, so one can suppose that there were not any worth mentioning.
Of course there are also a love towards women in Christy's life. Although he had some relationships/friendships, they did not last long, as he is not able to express himself the way he wishes to.
That is the reason why the importance of expressing yourself is raised in this book as a theme as well. As Christy is not able to communicate with others through speaking or moving his legs/arms, he has to find different ways of "speaking" with others. To be able to express oneself, gives one freedom, a identity. Christy is on a constant quest for his identity, trying to find new means of communication.
For him art plays a big role as well. Through it, he gets the chance to express what he feels in his own way. He is a very emotional sensitive child/teenager who gets aroused and annoyed easily. Art is also a way of occupying himself and calming himself down a bit. Through painting and drawing with his left foot, he found a way to break out of his prison, as he calls it. Christy wants to be accepted by the others and tries to accomplish all the things which are easy for the "normal" children. He is constantly searching for someone he can trust; rely on and who understands him the way he is. Although Christy is disabled, he always tries hard and even harder than his siblings in order to achieve the goals he sets for himself. He does not seem to realize it, but he is a constant competition with his siblings, trying to be better or simply improve himself.

I really enjoyed reading this book, as it has so much depth in it. It's such a touching narrative. I generally don't like 1st person books much, but this one was surprisingly wonderful!

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Sep 21, 2016 Sophie rated it liked it

A pretty harrowing yet intriguing, informative, down to earth and sometimes, paradoxically uplifting account of Christy Brown's struggles with Cerebral palsy, back in the days (around 1940s by the sound of it) when it wasn't well recognised or known about. Many 'cripples' (as they were referred to then, even by the sufferers themselves) were just locked away. His mother refused to let this happen to him.

For most his life- up to the point of writing this biography at least (at age 19+) - he had v

For most his life- up to the point of writing this biography at least (at age 19+) - he had very little control over any of his body. The only part he really had control over, he discovered, was his left foot. (He can only communicate otherwise through grunts).

Despite his disability, during his childhood he manages to have a few adventures with his <22 siblings(!) as they took him out in some kind of cart in the Irish streets, where he lived.
As adolescence approaches, he sees his siblings 'getting on' with their life. He ends up depressed but finds refuge through creative means. That and seeing a woman he liked, is what helped him carry on.

In the early 1950s a revolutionary (now well known!) treatment was evolving. Christy has to agree that to follow the treatment programme means he is not to rely on his left foot a lot which is obviously very difficult. But he begins to improve. The climax at the end is lovely.

The thing I like most about this book is when he sees other people suffering and his viewpoint there - how he can relate but some people are much worse off than him.
I would be interested in a follow up book although I'm not sure that will happen as this was published a while ago.

I listened to the audiobook produced by the BBC, through Listening Books.

Hard to rate -I can't say it was the most enjoyable book I read but it's quite provoking and well written and some would find it inspiring. The audiobook narrator had an irish accent but I could understand it fine which is saying something for me who is terrible at understanding accented English.
(Not quite sure why it appears to have been so widely read or so available in Arabic speaking countries since it was written and set in Ireland. I'm aware there is a film based on it and it must have become popular).

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Jan 21, 2016 Deborah rated it liked it

His particular attestation that affected me most:
"Speech has always been one of the biggest obstacles in my endeavour to make ordinary contact with people. It has been the one aspect of my handicap that has caused me the bitterest pain, for without speech one is practically lost, curtained off from other people, left wishing to say a million things and not able to say one. Writing is all very well, but there are some emotions that cannot be conveyed, that cannot be 'felt' through the written wo His particular attestation that affected me most:
"Speech has always been one of the biggest obstacles in my endeavour to make ordinary contact with people. It has been the one aspect of my handicap that has caused me the bitterest pain, for without speech one is practically lost, curtained off from other people, left wishing to say a million things and not able to say one. Writing is all very well, but there are some emotions that cannot be conveyed, that cannot be 'felt' through the written word alone. Writing may be immortal, but it does not bridge the gap between two human beings as the voice may, and oh, I would rather have an hour's fierce argument with a pal or a few moments of soft chatter with a girl than write the greatest book on earth.

I respond to this because on the several occasions throughout my life - notably at UCLA and at the nearby rehab facility - I've failed miserably to understand the speech of people with CP, meaning "failed and made no attempt." I'd like to think in the future I would take the time, just as I try to remember to sit down even briefly when talking with someone in a wheelchair, to be at their eye level.

There was little "clinical" information about his progess, only a mention that the clinic he attended as a teenager was to help him relax his spasticity. But at earlier ages it wasn't at all clear to me how much his uncontrolled movements interfered with what he wanted to do in everyday activities and playing with his siblings. I think growing up with my Dad and his sister (whom I rarely saw) having choreoathetosis from birth, this awareness is ingrained in me.

So this wasn't the book to understand day-by-day life with CP, nor had I especially expected that.

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Picked this book for Book Riot's 2016 Read Harder challenge to read a book made into a movie and decide which was better.
Well, we all know the book is almost always better. So, I chose My Left Foot, because I remember seeing the movie when it came out and thinking the performances were brilliant; a five star, two thumbs up movie.
Watched it again this month, and I cannot fault this film. The story is happy, sad, inspiring, smart, and honest. In the book Christy Brown shares his trials, his grow Picked this book for Book Riot's 2016 Read Harder challenge to read a book made into a movie and decide which was better.
Well, we all know the book is almost always better. So, I chose My Left Foot, because I remember seeing the movie when it came out and thinking the performances were brilliant; a five star, two thumbs up movie.
Watched it again this month, and I cannot fault this film. The story is happy, sad, inspiring, smart, and honest. In the book Christy Brown shares his trials, his growth, and what he was thinking. In the movie Daniel Day Lewis must get all this across pherrysically, which he does brilliantly. Brenda Fricker won an Academy Award for her performance as the mother in this very large Irish family. Day Lewis won Best Actor. Love this movie. Daniel Day Lewis gives arguably the best performance of his career.

The book, by Christy Brown is small and quite sweet. We hear, in Brown's own words, what he was thinking and feeling as he remembers growing up with cerebral palsy. He wasn't diagnosed until he was a boy which left him frustrated and feeling left out of his family because he was unable to communicate with them in any way other than by making grunting noises. This is a very good book, Christy Brown was a very creative, super bright, tenacious, and loving person. He talks a bit about his brothers and sisters, his doctors, and, especially, about his wonderful mother. A very good story, well written.

The movie will stay with you forever. In my opinion-Movie better.

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Jul 03, 2011 Alexis rated it really liked it

Christy Brown's autobiography is an autobiography that I would recommend for individuals interested in the history of cebral palsy tratment. Although Christy did not begin receiving medical treatment for his condition until he was 18 years of age, we learn much about his family's and society's view of disabilities at the time.

Christy's writing style is vivid and easy to follow. In reading his words, the reader is transported to a much different time in history, a time in which there were few ca

Christy's writing style is vivid and easy to follow. In reading his words, the reader is transported to a much different time in history, a time in which there were few cares in the world and a time that was happy and good for Christy.

Although his teenage years were frought with challenges and emotional turmoil, one still can sense his family's love and support. The reader feels Christy's depression along with him. When he escapes the pit of depression and begins receiving treatment and other support, we feel his joy and elation.

In the epilogue, the doctor describes Christy's condition in medical terms. Reading the epilogue, I was shocked at the correlation that was made between a child's physical disabilities and his or her mental state. I realize this was written in the early 50's, but when reading these comments made by the doctor, I was taken aback.

Overall, I felt this book was worth the read. One must take the comments made by others about Christy's supposed mental defficiencies as merely a sign of the time the book was written.

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Jul 31, 2011 Nicole rated it did not like it

I just didnt like it. I started to read it for school over the summer a few years ago but I jut couldnt do it. I had to stop reading it a few chapters in and in hopes it wouldnt effect my leaving cert.
I know I may come across as cold hearted or a bitch but I just could stand his bitterness even though I know he had every right in being so and he seemed in my opinion very self centered from what I had read. I was actully getting very frustrated while reading it that I just had to put the book dow I just didnt like it. I started to read it for school over the summer a few years ago but I jut couldnt do it. I had to stop reading it a few chapters in and in hopes it wouldnt effect my leaving cert.
I know I may come across as cold hearted or a bitch but I just could stand his bitterness even though I know he had every right in being so and he seemed in my opinion very self centered from what I had read. I was actully getting very frustrated while reading it that I just had to put the book down and never look at it again. ...more

May 06, 2015 Day's rated it it was amazing

Years ago, I saw the movie of the same title starring Daniel Day-Lewis. He won the oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown who was born in 1932 with cerebral palsy. I was so impressed with Day-Lewis's performance that I still tell people they have to see the movie. Now that I've read the book, I'll be telling people they HAVE to read the book. It is an amazing story of how Brown was able to become a painter and writer with the support of his parents, 21 siblings and medical professionals who sa Years ago, I saw the movie of the same title starring Daniel Day-Lewis. He won the oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown who was born in 1932 with cerebral palsy. I was so impressed with Day-Lewis's performance that I still tell people they have to see the movie. Now that I've read the book, I'll be telling people they HAVE to read the book. It is an amazing story of how Brown was able to become a painter and writer with the support of his parents, 21 siblings and medical professionals who saw his abilities in spite of his disabilities. Highly recommended. ...more

Aug 13, 2015 Steven rated it liked it

Great story, well told. The author overcomes so many hurdles, and the book itself may be his magnum opus. Just a remarkable achievement. I remembered but had never seen the movie. I'm sure it is excellent. But the book is amazing. While reading it, it is hard to remember that you are reading the memoir of a man so deeply afflicted by cerebral palsy that he never learned to speak clearly and lived his entire life unable to walk or feed himself. Yet, he accomplished so much.

Mar 15, 2008 Julia rated it really liked it

I agree with some people that it was a wee bit long at certain points, but I still loved it. It really fascinated me; the insight into such a great personality you would've never been able to get, if he hadn't written this book. It really makes you think about life and health and in a different way. At least it did that for me. Christy Brown seems to have been an amazing person. I agree with some people that it was a wee bit long at certain points, but I still loved it. It really fascinated me; the insight into such a great personality you would've never been able to get, if he hadn't written this book. It really makes you think about life and health and in a different way. At least it did that for me. Christy Brown seems to have been an amazing person. ...more

Mar 05, 2012 Mekeisha rated it really liked it

Great perspective on what it's like to have cerebral palsy. Christy Brown was born with cerebral palsy, but learned to write with his left foot when he was young. I would recommend this to anyone who works with special needs children or adults, because it helps people to see that even if someone's body is uncooperative, their mind can still be quite clear. Insightful reading. Great perspective on what it's like to have cerebral palsy. Christy Brown was born with cerebral palsy, but learned to write with his left foot when he was young. I would recommend this to anyone who works with special needs children or adults, because it helps people to see that even if someone's body is uncooperative, their mind can still be quite clear. Insightful reading. ...more

Dec 05, 2015 Fatima rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely consider reading more books by this author. I found it filled with emotions, parts of it were so sad it made me feel for Christy but most of it was so inspirational. I found that as a disabled person myself i could relate to how he felt in places which made the book extra special for me

I loved this book. It was so clearly written and easy to read that it is hard to believe the author once struggled with the issue of making his writing accessible. It is such an energizing and inspirational story!

Christy Brown was an Irish artist and writer. However in order to do both these things he could only use his left foot. Having been born with cerebral palsy this was the only
way he could express himself.
He was born in Dublin on the 5th June 1932. His mother was the first to notice that something was wrong. But it wasn't until he was just over a year - old that his parents sort medical help. By now Christy Brown was an Irish artist and writer. However in order to do both these things he could only use his left foot. Having been born with cerebral palsy this was the only
way he could express himself.
He was born in Dublin on the 5th June 1932. His mother was the first to notice that something was wrong. But it wasn't until he was just over a year - old that his parents sort medical help. By now
there were distinct signs that he had something wrong with him. The doctors told his mother that nothing could be done. She would never give up on him though. It was through her help and
support that he achieved what he did. Her love and strong belief that he was not totally incapable
drove her onto prove this.
Then it happened when one day he picked up a piece of chalk in his left foot and unsure what do
next. She began to show him by writing the letter "A" and encouraging him to copy it. After some difficulty he managed to do this. She then went onto teach him the rest of his letters. She taught him
as best she could since he couldn't go to school even though by this time he
was 6.
She had a very large family but, despite having to look after all of them and doing the household chores, she still found time to help him. She even started to build an extension on the house
so he could have a room of his own, to begin with his father and 4 brothers all of whom were bricklayers, refused to build a room for him. So she began to do it herself and they then took over.
Christy Brown published his autobiography My Left Foot in 1954. It was later turned into an award winning film. He also published several novels before his death in 1981.
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