Speechless

Unfortunately I was rather disappointed with this book. Having a physical disability myself, I quite enjoy books that explore disability and relationships, and this is what originally led me to Speechless.
The problem with speechless is the characters had no depth. The entirety of what we know about Travis is that his parents are dead, he is a machinist, and he lost an eye. That is it. His character is so flat, we know nothing of his personality. Even after he fell in love, there was no real emotion behind the words on the page. Drew was not much better. His character began and ended with his disability. Even some of his other secondary character traits (like music) led back to his disability. Both characters, were in a word, boring.
Aphasia is a fascinating trait to attribute to a character, but Fielding needs to learn to write more interesting character full stop. Until then, her characters barely exist outside of their disability, and that is highly problematic and objectifying.

The fact that this story involves two not so perfect people hooked my interest from the get-go. The thing is, though, when it's all said and done, they're perfect for each other. Drew and Travis are both damaged, on the outside and the in, and there's nothing more powerful, to me, than seeing a love story grow from impossible odds.
Drew has aphasia and can not speak or write, and Travis is missing an eye from an accident. What might seem an improbable relationship becomes a friendship between the two men. Travis stops and visits with Drew in the evening on his way home from work if it's not raining as Drew will sit on the steps playing his guitar and watching the passersby. Travis learns quickly how to read Drew's facial expressions and hand motions. Friendship turns to lust and then to love. But what happens to their love when the bad economy hits Travis right where it hurts and he's got too much pride to accept help?
I adored this short story. Drew was so amazing considering all he had lost. He'd been a published author, a man who lived by words, and now he can't communicate except with hand gestures and some laminated cards he carries. He hadn't allowed himself to become bitter or surrounded with hatred. Drew just lived the life he'd been given to the best of his ability. Travis had no concept of a relationship having never being in one. He grew up in an abusive and unloving home so didn't really know how to connect to people. Somehow fate brought these two together and, ultimately, in a relationship that would stand the test of time.
Thank you, Kim, for this story of love. It will stay with me for a long time.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

I love this author's penchant for tackling unusual and difficult themes in her works. Speechless is another good one. Beautiful writing, intriguing setting and lovely, relatable characters. The tone of the story is slightly melancholy in the kind of way that makes your heart ache for the protagonists. The only thing I would have wished is for the story to have been fleshed out a bit more. The ending was beautiful, just a bit rushed maybe. Still, I'd recommend this to anyone looking to be moved by what they read. It's wonderful.