REVIEW

Being Seen by Suzy Eynon is a brilliant, wry exploration of what it means to be visible to the people in charge of your healthcare.

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The book is comprised of ten, untitled pieces in which we meet Daisy, a woman dealing with a variety of health concerns. A benign tumor on her uvula, a uterine fibroid, and—true to the book’s visibility theme—ocular issues. The various adults who administer her care rarely pay attention to Daisy. Her mother, heartbreakingly, dismisses her concerns, even though Daisy has a strong kinesthetic sense. That tumor in her throat? She felt it as a child. Knew it was there even though she didn’t have the words to explain how she knew.

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Eynon’s is a dry wit. Daisy’s ocular care is performed in a three-story Target, later at a Costco—as is surreally common in this era of late-stage American capitalism—but when she finally sees an eye doctor in a formal office, the ophthalmologist fails to regard Daisy even as she’s (literally) seeing her. The doctor administers some tests, spouts off a diagnosis, and walks out. This is the painful irony of Being Seen: Daisy, despite being seen by medical professionals frequently, is largely invisible as a person to them. In fact, when the ophthalmologist leaves the room, Daisy isn’t even sure if her appointment is over. She must ask a nurse who tells her blithely she can go.

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In crafting Daisy, Eynon skillfully straddles the line between fiction and nonfiction. (And really, where does that line fall?) The book may belong to fictional Daisy but the reader can sense real-life Suzy close at hand. This effect is most palpable midway through when the narrative voice switches to first person. Suddenly, we are sitting with Suzy herself as she navigates a healthcare provider phone maze: "New or existing patient? I can be whoever you want me to be: new. Can’t schedule; please log in to schedule. But I am logged in." (Italics added.)

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In a rare, tender moment, a tech touches Daisy’s wrist to calm her during a scan. Such a simple thing. A touch. This kindness is so out of Daisy’s norm that when the narrative voice remarks—"Daisy recalls the exact spot on her wrist. She can still feel the warmth.”—the reader feels this moment acutely. Daisy is finally being seen. Except, finally isn’t the right word. Being Seen's genius is that Daisy, despite having been invisible to nearly everyone in the book, has in fact been seen all along: By Eynon. By the reader. Us. For, here, in these pages, Daisy (and Suzy) has always been more than a diagnosis or a lab result. She’s a fully legible person. Seen.

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BOOK DETAILS

 

Being Seen can be purchased here.

 

Published by Ethel, a Micro Press. The volume is 5.5”x 7.5” and is twenty pages in length (with author bio). The book is hand-made—and strikingly so. The binding is a beautiful variant of a Japanese binding stitch which allows the vellum cover to lie flat. The cover is a collage of vellum and construction paper elements that are appliquéd in a free motion quilting style and decorated with metallic pen. This volume is simply a tactile delight. The paper is a nice, crisp white that’s extra smooth to the touch. The care that has gone into making these books is extraordinary. Ethel’s books are designed and made by Sara Lefsyk.

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