Kenny Fries

Kenny Fries is an American writer and poet known for his work exploring disability, identity, and LGBTQ+ experiences. His memoirs and poetry collections have made significant contributions to disability literature and studies. As one of the first writers to examine the intersection of disability and gay identity in his work, Fries gained recognition with his memoir "Body, Remember: A Memoir" (1997). His book "The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory" (2007) won the Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Fries has taught creative writing and disability studies at various institutions including Goddard College and Columbia University. His work has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, and he has received multiple fellowships including those from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Fulbright Program. His most recent work "In the Province of the Gods" (2017) chronicles his experiences in Japan as a disabled foreigner and explores Japanese attitudes toward disability, mortality, and resilience. Fries continues to write and speak about disability rights and representation in literature.

Readers appreciate Fries' honest portrayal of disability experiences and his skill in weaving personal narratives with broader cultural observations. Several reviewers note his ability to discuss complex topics about disability and sexuality without sensationalism. Readers highlight his poetic prose style in "Body, Remember" and the unique perspective in "In the Province of the Gods." One Amazon reviewer wrote: "His observations of Japanese culture through a disabled lens offered insights I've never encountered elsewhere." Some readers found "The History of My Shoes" difficult to follow due to its nonlinear structure. A few reviews mentioned that certain sections in "Province of the Gods" moved slowly or contained too much detail about Japanese customs. Ratings across platforms: - "In the Province of the Gods": 4.1/5 on Goodreads (48 ratings) - "Body, Remember": 3.9/5 on Goodreads (62 ratings) - "The History of My Shoes": 3.8/5 on Amazon (15 ratings) Review counts are relatively low, but consistently positive among academic readers and disability studies scholars.

The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory (2007) A memoir exploring the intersection of disability and natural selection through parallel narratives about the author's specially-made shoes and Darwin's development of evolutionary theory.

Body, Remember (1997) An autobiographical work detailing Fries' experiences as a gay man with a congenital disability, including his relationships and travels in Germany.

Anesthesia (1996) A collection of poetry addressing themes of disability, identity, and medical experiences.

Staring Back: The Disability Experience from the Inside Out (1997) An anthology edited by Fries featuring literature about disability written by authors with disabilities.

In the Province of the Gods (2017) A memoir chronicling Fries' experiences in Japan as he explores disability culture, art, and spirituality while living with HIV.

In the Gardens of Japan (2017) A poetry collection focusing on Japanese gardens and the author's experiences during his travels in Japan.

The Healing Notebooks (2020) A memoir examining the author's experiences with healthcare systems and chronic illness across different cultures.

Eli Clare writes about disability, queerness and social justice through both poetry and memoir. His work "Exile and Pride" explores themes of disability pride and identity similar to Fries' perspectives.

Anne Finger combines personal narrative with disability rights history in her writing. Her memoir "Past Due" documents experiences with polio and medical treatment that parallel Fries' exploration of medical histories.

Simi Linton examines disability through cultural and academic lenses while incorporating personal experience. Her book "My Body Politic" shares Fries' focus on how bodies are viewed and treated by society.

Stephen Kuusisto writes poetry and memoir centered on blindness and disability identity. His work "Planet of the Blind" deals with medical interventions and societal perceptions in ways that connect to Fries' themes.

Petra Kuppers creates work about disability culture through performance, poetry and narrative. Her book "Ice Bar" explores disability and embodiment themes that align with Fries' investigations of the body and identity.