Crippled by Paul David Power was honestly an amazing story. It tells the tale of Tony in a play script, who thinks he has lost it all. He deals with a disability and must use crutches, and though his partner died 3 years prior he is still trying to find a reason keep going.

Though Tony has a disability, he absolutely hates the “I need to help him” culture that surrounds the fact that he uses crutches. His partner looked past his crutches, and didn’t just treat him as a burden that needed help all the time. They worked together, and as the story goes, the partner held the plates at the buffet, and Tony loaded the plates with food. He didn’t need someone to do everything for him, and he appreciated that his partner didn’t. So when his partner died, his world came undone.

This was an absolutely amazing story. It dealt with themes of grief and mental health, and the main character Tony was gay. I loved how they set the scenes in this, and how the story started with “Evan” who followed Tony out of a bar, and ended with Tony’s partner helping him get closure, and learn to trust and keep going.

This is one of those stories/plays I think people really need to read, and I highly recommend it. It really dives deep into Tony’s feelings and opinions as a man with a disability, trying to navigate relationships as a gay man, and trying to lead a life.

BOOK REVIEW 🎭🎫

Reading Crippled by Paul David Power was a truly memorable experience. In its description, it says, "You will laugh, you will cry, and you will walk away with a new perspective about life as well as what matters." I indeed laughed, cried and have a new perspective on what we take for granted in life. This was a script for a play.

While I am blessed enough to be in good health, and do not have any physical disabilities; Tony -the main character- takes us on a journey of what it's like to live with something like that. Not only externally but internally as well.

While it was a great story, at times, I felt it was being dragged along. That might simply be due to the fact that it was written to be performed on stage.

However, although this book may not have been my cup of tea, as an avid reader, I can still appreciate its craftsmanship, the character development and overall the message from this story. At times it's rare to see and even feel, for that matter, the character's emotions and inner battles.

If you're looking for a book that explores the struggle of having a disability, grief, and the power of telling your story then this may be the book for you!

⭐️⭐️/5 stars