Inspiring ... The innovative way in which DiMarco and coauthor Robert Siebert tell these stories is by interspersing American Sign Language (ASL) into the English text ... Mixed in with his empowering autobiographical tales are fascinating historical facts and stories from Deaf history and culture ... Deaf Utopia is an empowering, eye-opening and beautifully expressed memoir.
An eye-opening and engaging tale of what it is like to grow up in the Deaf community along with the difficult and rewarding aspects of navigating the world when everyone expects you to be able to hear everything ... DiMarco’s book is an interesting depiction of being Deaf in the entertainment industry ... DiMarco’s memories, told with a true gift of storytelling and filled with his big personality, are funny and enlightening for any reader.
Deaf Utopia is generous to its hearing readers, offering patient insights into Deaf culture and history, and it takes the unique step of conveying ASL conversations that employ the grammar and rhythms of ASL as far as possible, rather than finding near equivalents in spoken English. This joyful memoir celebrates DiMarco’s ambition and adaptability, his journey to understand his queerness, and the vibrant Deaf community that made him who he is.
An immensely inspiring story of the experiences, people, and culture that made him 'the proud Deaf man I am today.' Expertly weaving in seminal moments from Deaf history, DiMarco paints a vibrant picture of his 1990s childhood growing up in a multigenerational Deaf home; recounts his journey to 'coming out my way'; and passionately details his work to improve Deaf representation in media. Along the way, he immerses readers in the rich dialogue of American sign language ... This exuberant account isn’t to be missed.
Interwoven throughout the narrative are pivotal moments in Deaf history and culture that have shaped the author as an individual. He discusses how the creation of the book proved challenging during the conversion process from ASL into written English, noting how he used a method called 'ASL gloss.' While DiMarco admits that the written translation naturally lacks much of the innate charm of the ASL experience, his continued advocacy remains critical to diminishing the awareness gap between hearing and Deaf communities. Unique and vividly written, the memoir effectively serves a dual purpose: to showcase the author’s life and exuberant pride as a Deaf individual and to bring increased awareness to the Deaf community by spotlighting 'the beauty, power, [and] magic of ASL.' An honest, heartfelt, and thoroughly memorable portrayal of growing up Deaf.
