Author: Charmaine Leung
Genre: Memoir / Singapore Literature / Non-fiction
Ideal for: Readers of memoirs, lovers of Singapore history, and anyone interested in stories of identity, resilience, and belonging.
Some books take you into a world you’ve never known, while others bring you home to places you thought you understood—only to reveal them in entirely new light. 17A Keong Saik Road by Charmaine Leung does both.
This memoir is not just a personal story—it’s a living, breathing portrait of a place and a time in Singapore’s past that is often overlooked, sometimes whispered about, but rarely spoken of openly. Keong Saik Road, now a gentrified hub of cafés, boutique hotels, and trendy bars, was once the heart of Singapore’s red-light district. For Leung, it was also home. This juxtaposition—the personal and the historical, the intimate and the social—makes her memoir a truly powerful read.
Reading this book felt like being guided gently down the streets of old Singapore, listening to voices that history has often silenced.
The Premise
At its heart, 17A Keong Saik Road is a memoir about growing up as the daughter of a brothel owner in 1970s and 80s Singapore. Charmaine Leung recounts her childhood in this vibrant but stigmatised neighborhood with sensitivity and honesty, peeling back layers of secrecy and shame that surrounded her upbringing.
The address, 17A Keong Saik Road, becomes more than just a place—it is a symbol of contradiction, identity, and belonging. It was the site of joy and community, but also one of stigma and exclusion. Leung explores what it means to grow up in such an environment, to leave it behind, and eventually, to return in search of understanding and reconciliation.
What Makes It Shine
What struck me most about this memoir is its courage. Writing about family secrets and social taboos is never easy, especially in a culture where silence often feels safer. Yet Leung approaches her story with remarkable openness and vulnerability. She doesn’t sensationalize her upbringing, nor does she downplay the complexities. Instead, she writes with empathy—for herself, her mother, and even for the larger community around Keong Saik Road.
Her prose is elegant yet accessible, infused with a kind of quiet poetry that lingers. She paints Keong Saik not just as a backdrop, but as a character in its own right—full of contradictions, bustling with life, and heavy with unspoken stories.
Themes That Resonate
1. Stigma and Silence
Leung’s story is one of living under the weight of stigma. Growing up, she often concealed the truth about her family and her home, navigating a society that judged harshly. Her reflections remind us of how silence can shape identity—how the things left unsaid in childhood echo for years.
2. Mother-Daughter Bonds
One of the most moving threads in the memoir is Leung’s complicated relationship with her mother. As a brothel owner, her mother lived in a world deemed shameful, yet she was also a figure of strength and sacrifice. The memoir beautifully captures the love, tension, and resilience embedded in this bond.
3. Transformation of Place
Keong Saik Road itself transforms over the decades, evolving from red-light district to cultural hotspot. Leung’s reflections highlight how places carry memory, even as their facades change. This theme resonates for anyone who has ever revisited a childhood place, only to find it both familiar and unrecognisable.
4. Identity and Belonging
Ultimately, this is a story about finding one’s place in the world. Leung grapples with shame and estrangement, but also with reconciliation and acceptance. Her return to Keong Saik is as much about reclaiming her past as it is about redefining her future.
Why It’s a Five-Star Read
I gave this memoir five stars because it succeeds on so many levels—it is deeply personal yet universally resonant, rooted in a specific place yet expansive in its themes.
As a work of Singapore literature, it’s significant. Too often, the stories of marginalised communities are omitted from the official narrative of progress and prosperity. By sharing her memories, Leung preserves a vital part of Singapore’s social history, one that is rarely acknowledged.
As a memoir, it’s moving. Leung’s honesty allows readers to connect with her story on an emotional level, even if their own backgrounds are very different. Her courage in confronting shame and stigma is inspiring, and her ability to find beauty and meaning in difficult memories makes the book uplifting despite its heavy themes.
And as a piece of writing, it’s simply beautiful. Leung has a gift for capturing atmosphere—the smells, sounds, and textures of Keong Saik Road are vividly brought to life. The writing is intimate without being indulgent, poetic without being inaccessible.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Singaporeans who want to engage with the more complex, hidden layers of their country’s history.
- Memoir lovers who appreciate stories of resilience, identity, and personal growth.
- Global readers interested in narratives that challenge the glossy, tourist-friendly images of cities and reveal the lived realities of their people.
- Fans of Asian literature who enjoy works that intertwine personal stories with broader cultural and social histories.
What Stays With You
When I closed the book, what lingered wasn’t just the story of a girl growing up on Keong Saik Road. It was the feeling of resilience that underpins the entire memoir. Despite shame, despite silence, despite societal judgment, Leung finds a way to honor her past and reclaim her story.
It also left me thinking about the importance of place. How many neighbourhoods, across the world, carry hidden histories that risk being erased in the name of progress? How many stories like Leung’s go untold because of stigma or silence?
And perhaps most importantly, it reminded me of the transformative power of storytelling. By writing this memoir, Leung not only heals a part of herself but also gives voice to a community that history might otherwise forget.
Final Thoughts
17A Keong Saik Road is more than just a memoir—it’s a powerful act of reclamation. Charmaine Leung’s story is deeply personal, yet it resonates with universal themes of belonging, identity, and resilience.
This is a book that makes you pause and reflect, not only on the hidden histories of places but also on the untold stories within families, communities, and nations. It challenges us to confront the silences we carry and to find courage in giving them voice.
For me, it was an easy five-star read—moving, beautifully written, and profoundly important.
Highly recommended if you liked:
- Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah
- Wild Swans by Jung Chang
- Ponti by Sharlene Teo
