Testimonials
“A clear-eyed look at the pervasive influence of hearing loss on almost every aspect of life. In her memoir, Claudia Marseille’s creative zest for life triumphs over what some might consider a disability, and she candidly sets her struggles alongside the story of her relationship with European parents still living under the shadow of the Holocaust. A wonderful, poignant read!”
Gael Hannan, Advocate, Author “Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss" (with Shari Eberts) and "The Way I Hear It: A Life with Hearing Loss”
"In her eloquent story...
Claudia Marseille awakens readers to the barriers and biases most of us fail to recognize or fully understand. Through her singular courage, tenacity, and self-discovery she gracefully illuminates the ways difference and determination can transform us all.”
-- Elizabeth Rosner, author of Survivor Café: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory
“Claudia boldly shares with us a
heartwarming story...
unveiling the challenges of a significant and isolating disability, and heartbreaking insights into complicated relationships. Her persistence to overcome these obstacles and “fit in” help us grow to deeply appreciate her numerous natural talents, bravery, and beauty.”
-- Jill Ellis , M.Ed., Co-Founder Center for Early intervention on Deafness, Consultant for Schools and Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
“A well-written and indispensable book about the author’s journey from silence to sound...
and the challenges and isolation it entailed. A must read for able-bodied people to learn about the trials of an invisible disability. This is a heroine’s journey – learning to speak, navigating hearing loss, and cultivating other senses for artistic expression - a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit.”
-- Theresa Silow, PhD, LPCC, Professor, PhD in Psychology, Concentration in Somatic Psychology, at The California Institute of Integral Studies.
A poignant memoir...
rich with vivid details about the full impact of severe hearing loss on every aspect of daily life, and ultimately a story of resilience and triumph over adversity.
-- Barbara Ridley, author of “When It’s Over” - IBPA Silver Medal in Historical Fiction
Marseille creates a vivid picture of what it meant to grow up with hearing loss,Marseille creates a vivid picture of what it meant to grow up with hearing loss
the complexities, the sadness, the frustrations, and how she was able to successfully navigate to a place of self-acceptance. Marseille is special and so is her story. She traversed a world that wasn’t built for her and in her journey she finds her true authentic self. This is a story you will want to hear for yourself.
-- Susanna Storm, AuD, CCC-A, Blue Sky Hearing, Audiologist
“Claudia Marseille’s beautifully rendered memoir...
doesn’t stop at offering insights into the hearing disabled world. This well-crafted tender tale begs us to consider the grave challenges faced by the disadvantaged, and how it is that such individuals defy great adversity and champion debilitating handicaps to achieve remarkable personal goals. Marseille’s narrative is informative, stirring, and noteworthy.”
-- Julie Ryan McGue, author of Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging
“Marseille deftly weaves the realities...
of the ever-present communication challenges, and the deep sense of isolation she so wanted to overcome. We learn just how impactful communication barriers can be. Most importantly, Marseille, a person with a communication disability, faced down these challenges and realized her desire to have a fulfilling life and engage as the socially outgoing woman she is.”
–– Robin E. Miller is an attorney who represents students with disabilities.
“Claudia Marseille’s memoir paints an evocative picture of her loneliness...
and perseverance through hiding her hearing loss during her early life. This is a must-read for new parents, grandparents, pediatricians, and anyone who works with children and young people to prevent such isolation and loneliness.”
–– Mary E. McCall, PhD, Developmental Psychologist, consultant, retired Professor of Psychology, Saint Mary’s College of California
"Claudia Marseille's memories...
are reported with vivid color and sight descriptions and muffled sound. This is a tale of medically induced hearing loss, lifelong learning, survival, love, music, and finally art."
–– Maureen Fitzgerald, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Certified American Sign Language Interpreter
“A breath-taking tour de force!
Claudia Marseille’s heart-breaking memoir is a game changer opening new vistas on the world of the hard of hearing. Marseille’s sincere narrative seamlessly navigates the gaps between her needs and her reality as she worked hard to create an admirable path forward to the life of her dreams and aspirations. I’m sure I won’t be alone in being grateful that Marseille has shared this wonderful story!”
–– Esther Erman, author of Rebecca of Salerno: A Novel of Rogue Crusaders, a Jewish Female Physician, and a Murder
“Marseille’s skilled down to earth, deeply moving and bravely intimate story telling is a captivating look...
at the profound lifelong impacts of growing up and finding one’s way as an adult with a severe hearing loss in a hearing world. Yet, while hearing loss is central to her story, it is also about the many experiences that has created the tapestry of a life rich with complex relationships, passionate artistic talent and profound personal growth.”
-- Rachel Dash, Faculty Emeritus, West Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
“Claudia Marseille illuminates the experience of living with severe hearing loss in her extraordinary and powerful memoir.
With tremendous sensitivity and insight she eloquently brings the reader into her world of growing up with a serious and invisible disability. My understanding of what it means to live with hearing loss was blown wide open. This needs to be required reading for those in education, healthcare and, simply put, everyone.”
-- Miriam Eisenhardt, MPH, RN, Assistant Professor, Samuel Merritt University
“This well-crafted, intimately personal, and honest exploration of the author’s truth...
is a revelatory experience for any reader, whether they are hard of hearing themselves, Deaf, or hearing. In this memoir, Claudia Marseille brings us with her on the lifelong journey of finding her place in the world of silence and sound.”
-- Ruth Dubin, MEd, CI/CT/SC:L, Nationally Certified American Sign Language Interpreter
“In her compelling story,
Claudia paints in fine details the story of her life challenged by a severe hearing loss while also managing to live an adventurous and fulfilling life rich with her many talents in music, art and creativity.”
— Ronnie Wilbur, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University