Comfort of My Eyes: A Hybrid Memoir by Abubakar Isah

Comfort of My Eyes belongs to the Bildungsroman class of prose because it centres on the development of the central character growing up, learning, stumbling, and rising again. It is a timely text, especially now that education grapples with how to revive and instil a strong reading culture among young learners.

The narrative craftsmanship and the suspense employed in the story will hold the reader’s interest, thereby improving the reading culture. It is a special kind of memoir that blends personal experiences, past shared wisdom, and gentle reminders drawn from everyday life, wherever we may find lessons worth emulating.

The author skilfully feeds the reader with events the characters pass through from the school environment, parental expectations, moments of fear, and achievements that come through resilience. As a reader, one can easily relate these experiences to one’s own life: dreams, challenges, and the ability to overcome them, no matter how big they may seem.

What makes the book unique is its simplicity. The language is clear and friendly, and more importantly, the experiences are drawn from environments most readers can easily recognise. The domestication of the story makes it one of great appeal: readers can see exactly what they know woven into an artistic work.

The book also teaches us that the journey of adulthood is not a straight line; it bends, turns, and unfolds with surprises at every corner. As readers enjoy the pages ahead, they may well be reflecting on parts of their own story.

Aminu Bashir (NCE, B.A Ed. M.A, PhD in view)
Department of English
School of Secondary Education (Languages)
Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare.
Bauchi state, Nigeria.