9780062892027
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Learning to See audiobook

  • By: Elise Hooper
  • Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
  • Category: Biographical, Fiction
  • Length: 10 hours 28 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: January 22, 2019
  • Language: English
  • (791 ratings)
(791 ratings)
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Learning to See Audiobook Summary

“Written with grace, empathy, and bright imagination, Learning to See gives us the vivid interior life of a remarkably resilient woman. Dorothea Lange’s story is about passion and art, love and family, but also about the sacrifices women make–and have always made–to illuminate the truth of the world.” Danya Kukafka, national bestselling author of Girl in Snow

Learning to See is a gripping account of the Dorothea Lange, the woman behind the camera who risked everything for art, activism, and love. …

In 1918, a fearless twenty-two-year old arrives in bohemian San Francisco from the Northeast, determined to make her own way as an independent woman. Renaming herself Dorothea Lange she is soon the celebrated owner of the city’s most prestigious and stylish portrait studio and wife of the talented but volatile painter, Maynard Dixon.

By the early 1930s, as America’s economy collapses, her marriage founders and Dorothea must find ways to support her two young sons single-handedly. Determined to expose the horrific conditions of the nation’s poor, she takes to the road with her camera, creating images that inspire, reform, and define the era. And when the United States enters World War II, Dorothea chooses to confront another injustice–the incarceration of thousands of innocent Japanese Americans.

At a time when women were supposed to keep the home fires burning, Dorothea Lange, creator of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century, dares to be different. But her choices came at a steep price…

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Learning to See Audiobook Narrator

Cassandra Campbell is the narrator of Learning to See audiobook that was written by Elise Hooper

A native New Englander, Elise Hooper spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting an MA and teaching high-school literature and history. She now lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters. Previous novels include The Other Alcott and Learning to See.

About the Author(s) of Learning to See

Elise Hooper is the author of Learning to See

Learning to See Full Details

Narrator Cassandra Campbell
Length 10 hours 28 minutes
Author Elise Hooper
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date January 22, 2019
ISBN 9780062892027

Subjects

The publisher of the Learning to See is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Biographical, Fiction

Additional info

The publisher of the Learning to See is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062892027.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Cindy

July 31, 2020

Learning to See tells the story of Dorothea Lange’s extraordinary life and her efforts to expose severe social injustices during the 1930s and 1940s. Lange spent the early years of her career in San Francisco as a portrait photographer. After her marriage begins to crumble and the U.S. economy collapses with the onset of the Great Depression, Lange must find a way to support her two young sons. She begins to travel around California capturing images of the Dust Bowl migrants and others who headed west during the 1930s transforming herself into an advocate and activist for the poor. After World War 2 began, Lange focused on the Japanese American internment camps exposing the horrific conditions under which these poor people were placed.Dorothea Lange’s photographs from the Great Depression era and the Japanese American internment camps are iconic and part of the fabric of our culture. Hooper’s novel brings the woman behind those photos to life including the sacrifices she made personally to bring about social change for those less fortunate. I loved that Hooper includes some of Lange’s photographs at the end of the book. While I was familiar with some of them, there were several I had never seen before, and it was enthralling to pore over the photos and Hooper’s caption for each photo. Learning to See is a tribute to an important American whose humanitarian efforts shone a spotlight on the poor and later the incarceration of Japanese Americans. The structure of the book is fabulous – Hooper begins in 1964 as Lange has received a letter from MoMA about launching a retrospective of her work and then travels back in time to tell Lange’s tale. I cannot say enough good things about Learning to See; Elise Hooper has written a book that every American should read about an important person and era in the history of the United States.Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....

Cherisa

November 17, 2022

Hooper writes this novelization of Dorothea Lange’s life as a memoir, and it really works. She gives us the person, the maverick, the mother, the photographer, the artist, from inside the woman. Making it personal makes it feel very authentic, and from brief web research, it seems to have hit all the right notes of her life and work. As poignant and significant as Lange’s Dust Bowl migrant and Japanese internment camp photographs are, they touch me even more as I browse them after finishing the book. Very nicely done bio.

Asheley T.

October 19, 2019

I really loved this book!4.5/5It's so, so funny how life works out sometimes. When I was in high school, my AP US History teacher of all time (my favorite teacher of all time) often started class by showing us iconic images and then facilitated critical thinking discussions about what we were seeing, what may have led the photographer to take the photo, etc etc. He used many of Dorothea Lange's photographs and they have been cemented in my brain throughout my life, which led me to do the same thing with my own high school-aged kids in our homeschool. We discuss the importance of images, not only to preserve the real history of the time for us to see for ourselves, but also as potential forms of subversion and protest and speaking out.I never could have foreseen that years later, a book like Learning To See by Elise Hooper would enter my bookish life! I've been a huge fan of Dorothea Lange's work for years-learning from it, using it to educate my children-so when I got the chance to read and review this book, I leaped upon it, Olympic-style. I have also read and loved Ms. Hooper's previous book, The Last Alcott, so I had all ideas that I would love this one too. And I did.The book begins when Dorothea Lange moved to San Francisco in the early 1900's. She lived among other artists and photographers, so she was really fortunate to be present in a place where she could blossom as an artist herself. She was ambitious for a woman during that time in America's history, when women were most often still staying at home, married and raising families. She got her beginning as a portrait photographer and was really successful at that, but she was more fulfilled when she was out among the people, roaming around, taking the pictures that told the stories of what life was really like out in America for people that didn't have a voice, particularly the folks trying to find work during the Dust Bowl-era and Japanese Americans that had been relocated during the Second World War. Her work was noticed, and I mean noticed-some of it was actually censored because of the truth she exposes.Not only do I love the actual historical significance of Lange's work in this narrative, I love what Ms. Hooper has shared with us about her life. Dorothea Lange lived during a time when women had expectations and roles in terms of marriage and motherhood, and even though she was incredibly driven and successful professionally, she still carried the majority of the parenting duties. In Lange's case, marriage and parenting was particularly difficult. I'm not sure whether or not it would have been any easier had she been married to someone other than a famous artist like Maynard Dixon (whose work is also amazing), but these two had an interesting go of it, to say the least.I feel like it is important to say that this is a work of fiction, but it is well-researched and I feel like I was able to get a good feel not only for Ms. Lange, but for her contemporaries and for the time in which she was living. Speaking of contemporaries, there are so many cool people mentioned in this book. So many people that Ms. Lange crossed paths with and communicated with-I think that's one of the neater parts about her story. There is a part involving John Steinbeck and his incredible novel The Grapes of Wrath that sticks out in my mind LIKE WHOA because it is my top-favorite classic novel. I read this part three times and feel like I want to do a little bit more research on this! Certainly with the subject matter of many of Ms. Lange's photos and also the subject of The Grapes of Wrath being similar in nature, this interests me greatly. But no spoilers here!I'm just always in awe of women that lived during these times when their roles were so defined with so little wiggle-room and yet are able to be so successful, driven, and productive. Ms. Lange contributed so much to society and history, and we are still able to benefit from her work-perhaps more than ever before-and I'm just a huge, huge fan of her work. And this book.I highly, highly recommend Learning To See by Elise Hooper for people that enjoy reading stories about women in history, stories about art, stories about the Depression-era or the Dust Bowl-era or even the period of time surrounding the Second World War. Even though this book isn't really about the war itself, Lange's work and what she experienced when she was out working helps to paint a picture of what the landscape of America was like during that time. Dorothea Lange is a flat-out icon and holy batman, this story is just really, really excellent.I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!

Kate

January 12, 2019

MASTERFULI count the author as one of my bookish friends and I’m so grateful she entrusted me with review copies of her novels ❤️.Her first title THE OTHER ALCOTT was a natural hit for me given the subject matter ~ Louisa May Alcott’s sister, Amy. However, I had never even HEARD of Dorothea Lange before reading LEARNING TO SEE and now I’m absolutely obsessed with this groundbreaking photographer. Hooper writes historical fiction about fascinating women and does what so many other writers avoid ~ writing the REAL woman. Not a romantic fluffy version. And that is everything to me..I’ll (probably) share a more in-depth review of LEARNING TO SEE closer to the 1.22.19 pub date, but for now just know it’s fabulous, fascinating and an intense look at United States in the 1920s - 1940s. Covering the Great Depression and internment of Japanese Americans, it taught me so much. 5 feminist stars!.If you read this genre, pre-order or request from your library now! And you can read THE OTHER ALCOTT while you wait.

Carol (Reading Ladies)

January 10, 2019

4.5 stars Thanks to #WilliamMorrow #HarperCollins for my free copy of #LearningtoSee by Elise Hooper in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own."It takes a lot of practice to see things are they are, not as you want them to be." (P 121)Learning to See is a fictionalized biography inspired by real life photographer, Dorothea Lange. We first meet twenty-two year old Dorothea in 1918 as she arrives in San Francisco with her best friend. Through wit and a determination to create her own life far from her home in the Northeast, Dorothea takes a risk to open a portrait studio and marries an older independent artist, Maynard Dixon. Dorothea's portrait studio is well established and provides a steady and dependable income for their growing family of two children when the economy collapses in the 1930s. This puts tremendous strain on an already fragile marriage and Dorothea desperately seeks out ways to support her two young sons and a drunken, disillusioned, and out-of-work husband. As Dorothea's portrait business suffers in the economy, she begins to take pictures of the poor and desperate people on the streets of San Francisco. In addition, she travels throughout California and the Southwest documenting labor conditions on farms, and she gradually realizes that these pictures are more meaningful than what she produces in her portrait studio because her pictures from the streets and fields are telling a true story of the economic hardships that people are facing. Later, the United States enters WW11 and Dorothea accepts jobs photographing the internment camps into which the Japanese have been placed. Not everyone appreciates seeing the truth of these pictures and she is censored, threatened, and discouraged. This doesn't deter Dorothea from her travels, her photographs, or her purpose. There's a dual timeline running through the story which allows the reader to know Dorothea at the end of her life. The extensive research that went into the telling of this story is evident. Not only is there an abundance of historical facts and descriptive details which enable readers to feel like they are experiencing life in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, but the author also puts a great deal of effort and thought into building a case for the possible motives that inspire Dorothea to take certain actions. I had a difficult time accepting the decision Dorothea made for the care of her children, but the details in the story left me with a reasonable ability to understand Dorothea's actions. Certainly, some important themes include the plight of working mothers in that time, the hardships of the depression, marriage to someone that is not a full or dependable partner, loyal friendship and support from other women, making difficult decisions to follow your dreams/passions and accepting the consequences of that decision, taking risks, the effects of childhood experiences on adults, and character traits of pioneers. Dorothea Lange is remembered today for her photography work and her indomitable spirit. I think you'll enjoy the historical setting and this imagined story of her life behind the facts. Throughout the story, the title of Learning to See takes on multiple meanings. As an artist, Dorothea is not afraid to photograph what she actually sees and not what others want or expect to see. As a mother and wife, Dorothea sees (or intuits) the emotional help her troubled son needs, and she also sees the truth of her marriage to Maynard. Dorothea sees injustice and has a vision for meaningful work, and she is willing to take the risks to follow her passion despite the sacrifices. She is not afraid of hard work or activism, and perseveres in spite of obstacles. "I was a photographer of people--men, women, and children who worked, suffered, rested, and loved. .... I lived for the moment when time slowed, when I could capture an expression or gesture that communicated everything. I needed more of those moments. If I was going to give up my family, every second needed to count. The sacrifice had to be worth something bigger than me." (p 179)I love stories of real women, and even though Dorothea might not be the most well liked character, I'm highly recommending Learning to See for fans of well written and extensively researched historical fiction, for readers who are looking for a story of a strong, independent, and pioneering woman, and for those who want an engaging page turner. Learning to See is nicely paced with well drawn characters, and some readers might want to know that it includes some romantic details. It would make a good book club selection because of interesting discussion topics.Pub Date: January 22, 2019For more reviews visit my blog readingladies.com

Cheryl

November 04, 2021

A fictional take on the incredible life of Dorothea Lange and her work capturing America behind the facade of epitome. Facts filtered through, like censored photographs, give a snippet of her life, her loves, her pain, and her devotion to showing the ills of this country. Well done, easy reading with an intensity I was unable to set aside. One of my favorite reads this year.

Meredith

December 21, 2018

A beautiful portrait of the life and activism of Dorothea Lange. San Francisco during Lange's early career in the 1920s is particularly vivid. I learned so much more about Lange and her Depression Era photography than I already knew from the famous portrait Migrant Mother. A wonderful book for fans of historical fiction, strong female protagonists and book clubs. Highly recommended!

Sarah

September 17, 2019

A novelized version of Dorothea Lange’s life and career. Her photographs, though some were kept from the public by the government, showed what was really happening in America. From the victims of the dust bowl and nightmare of the Depression on middle American farmers, and share croppers we see the human condition as it is pushed to its extremes. One of her last big projects was to show the Japanese interment camps and the hideous treatment to American citizens who happened to be of Japanese decent even as little as 1/16th. The government kept many of her photos because it showed inhumane treatment and cruelty to a people who were its own. Many of Lange’s photos showed mistreatment and reminded the people who committed it of being too similar to German concentration camps so the images were held back. The book covers Lange’s life from her point of view and many hard decisions and experiences. It’s a fascinating and gripping read.

Meg - A Bookish Affair

January 28, 2019

4.5 stars. "Learning to See" is a fictionalized story of great American photographer Dorothea Lange. Even if you don't think you know her name, you probably know her work. She is best known for some of the work that she did capturing people in difficult circumstances during the early to mid part of the 20th century. This book gives a great picture of what Lange was like behind the scenes. Well-researched, this book has so much good detail. We get to see how Dorothea goes from a fledgling photographer to a very sought after photographer, well known for her work. As she is starting her career, she meets the volatile artist Maynard Dixon and starts a family. I really appreciated her meditations on the difficulty of having a successful career (especially during a time where this was just not something a woman did) and balancing it with a family. Dorothea feels pulled in a million different directions and wants to find a way to make it all work.I really liked the writing in this book. The descriptions are wonderful. We get to see the action through Dorothea's eyes, which I thought was super effective in pulling me far into the book. This is a little hard to explain but I thought the author did a really good job of moving us through the highlights (and lowlights) of Dorothea's career and her personal life. Lange feels more like a friend. I loved getting to know the back story behind some of her most iconic work. This book is a great tribute to her!

Onceinabluemoon

June 07, 2020

A part of history I have seen often, but never knew the story behind it. Love books that encourage me to learn, spent hours googling the artist and her friends work. In these strife times the reminder of the internment camps brought tears to my eyes, forcing families to live in horse stalls at race parks. I am raw with emotion these days, doesn’t take much to have me sob at humanity, acts of cruelty or kindness, I seem to feel it all to the umpteenth degree...

Amy (TheSouthernGirlReads)

January 15, 2019

For me the need to research when I finish a book based on a real life person is a testament to an amazing book. Learning to See did that for me. When I closed the book. I needed more. Wiki to the rescue...I was able to immerse myself in the life of Dorothea Lange even more. I loved this book. Elise is an amazing storyteller. The amount of research is absolutely staggering.✨I love historical fiction. It is a genre I hold close. The way Elise writes...based on true events is quite possibly my favorite. I have a story saved in my highlights on Instagram about the book specifically...watch it. In the meantime. Put this book on your TBR for January 22. If you are a historical fiction fan, you will not be disappointed. If you want to read something she has out now...read The Other Alcott.

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