Double Take: A Memoir

Double Take: A Memoir
By Kevin Michael Connolly
HarperStudio, 2009. 227 pgs. Biography

Kevin Connolly was born without legs. His parents never treated him with kid gloves or allowed him to pity his situation. While trying to find a sport that he could enjoy and excel at, he discovered mono-skiing and eventually competed internationally. While traveling through Europe, Kevin found himself the object of many staring eyes sometimes filled with surprise, sometimes with curiosity, and often with pity. These looks fueled a type of passive revenge as he started photographing the looks from those passing him in streets around the world. Besides the cathartic therapy these pictures gave Kevin, they also resulted in a unique photo collection that has toured museums and galleries around the world.

This was a quick biography of a fascinating individual. Connolly’s honest appraisal of his feelings and actions are refreshing. He describes his difficulties without self-pity but doesn’t brush past his frustrations or insecurities. The photos included at the beginning of each chapter are as telling as his narrative. An inspiring look through the eyes of a uncommonly perceptive young man.

CZ