Commentary/review

Biographies coming from South-East Asia could be, for the moment, my favourite type of biography. The ones I read so far tended to be about important issues and the general human condition, not about imaginary first-world problems or issues selected according to the “Today’s Hot Topic” list. While I understand that hot topics often touch upon important issues, I usually approach them with a suspicion that their importance was somewhat influenced by controversy or public outrage. There can only be so much politics to go around and I wish that topics like housing (see Homeless) and the rights of persons with disabilities (this audiobook) enjoyed more coverage.

The audiobook contains a wealth of first-hand knowledge about the experience of blindness from a perspective of a professionally independent, resilient woman living in Singapore. I was moved by her confession that becoming a mother was what prompted her to pioneer in the use of guide dogs in her part of the world. The book is very warmly written, with the dog – Esme – and the circle of friends and supporters of “The Dog Team” at the forefront. I have never read a better case for self-advocacy and inclusivity than in this short piece. From a perspective of a reader from Europe, it comes as a small shock that dogs are so unwelcome in a well-developed country like Singapore. We can never fully appreciate what we enjoy every day.

I loved that the narrator could imitate South-East Asian accents so well. It is always interesting to hear them.

Cover photo by Andri Kummer on Unsplash