The Sight Unseen by Robert V. Pajak
by Katy TerBerg
Robert V. Pajak, who graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in Social Psychology, is no stranger to the human condition and, in his new book, “The Sight Unseen: Chronicles of Lernia,” Pajak details the struggles of living with a major sight condition.
“Most of the book is about a guy’s eye condition and attending two colleges, accompanied by a female friend—and other little sub-stories leading from that main story.
It is meant to convey to the reader that discipline, morality and principles, as well as humor, can be applied to everyday living, and this can help overcome the ups and downs of life, resulting in a person becoming a meaningful and contributing member of society,” he said.
The story is semi-autobiographical, putting Pajak at the helm of the story. Like his titular character, Pajak suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a condition in which the retina slowly deteriorates until it causes tunnel vision. However, Pajak reminds us that each case of retinitis pigmentosa is a bit different.
“Mine is different,” he said. “It’s as if someone splashed a can of
paint on the retina. If I walk with one eye open, there would be
ragged walls.”
The book is a commemoration of one of his favorite movies and
historical events, “The Titanic.” He also mentions the Boris Pasternak
novel, “Dr. Zhivago.” These are both brought in to elevate the touching
double climax of the story.
Links:
Department of Psychology
Bay City MLive article on The Sight Unseen
The Sight Unseen
