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The Sound of Her Voice: My Blind Parents' Story
So much of falling in love is visual. Catching someone’s eye. Noticing — with admiration or pleasant surprise — how they dress and carry themselves. Being captivated by their smile. Feeling that initial sense of physical attraction.
But when you are blind, how do you fall in love if it cannot be “at first sight?” By sound , of course.
The Sound of Her My Blind Parents’ Story is the inspiring chronicle of a remarkable couple (both blind since childhood) who — against all odds — lived full and productive lives. Mario became the first blind graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and was later elected Judge of two different county courts in Muncie, Indiana. Jane, who was fiercely independent from a young age, ran the household and raised four sighted children without outside assistance. Capable and confident from the start, Mario and Jane Pieroni lived abundant and gracious lives, overcoming the constant challenges they faced.
A Memoir So Poignant That It Reads Like Fiction
In this inspirational first-hand account, Jane and Mario’s story is told by their youngest child, Mary Pieroni Harper. “I grew up in a loving household with parents who were patient and kind,” she tells us. “Our family looked like other families who were at Sunday Mass or on television (my main frame of reference as a child). Yet Mom and Dad’s eyes didn’t light up when they saw me or darken when I did something wrong. They had no idea what I looked like.”
Using extensive archival material — including recorded audio and video interviews, and family photos — Harper offers up a tale both historical and future-facing, helping us understand how the world unfolded for generations past and what is possible for generations to come. With clarity and emotional vulnerability, Harper takes us on an odyssey that extends more than a century — first putting the reader in the room during her mother’s birth, when young parents (Harper’s grandparents) were overwhelmed with fear and grief to meet their baby girl whose eyes were bulging with glaucoma. We travel through time during her parents’ childhoods and watch them mature and fall in love during their education at the Indiana School for the Blind. And Harper gives us powerful glimpses of her own life — then and now — as one of four children who could see her parents but whose parents only knew her by touch and sound.
A Book for All Ages and Abilities
“When you were a child,” Harper asks us, “did you ever close your eyes to see what it would be like to be blind? Perhaps you tried walking a few steps with your arms outstretched, hands waving as you tried to avoid walking into a wall.” Yes, yes we did.
Whether you’re 14, 44, or 74, The Sound of Her Voice is a heartwarming book that will leave you feeling personally empowered and more deeply connected to the people around you. If you love children (and dogs!), you can’t help but be brought to laughter and tears again and again by this book. And if you believe we are all capable of greatness, despite our challenges, this book will make you stand up and cheer.
The story of Mario and Jane — and their four children — challenges us to think about how other people (like those with vision loss or other disabilities or differences) navigate the world and how our experiences, though varied, can bring us closer together instead of separating us.
The Sound of Her Voice is an inspirational tale for all of us and an especially poignant reminder for families and individuals with disabilities that anything is possible when love guides the way.
Forthcoming in audiobook and Braille editions.
But when you are blind, how do you fall in love if it cannot be “at first sight?” By sound , of course.
The Sound of Her My Blind Parents’ Story is the inspiring chronicle of a remarkable couple (both blind since childhood) who — against all odds — lived full and productive lives. Mario became the first blind graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and was later elected Judge of two different county courts in Muncie, Indiana. Jane, who was fiercely independent from a young age, ran the household and raised four sighted children without outside assistance. Capable and confident from the start, Mario and Jane Pieroni lived abundant and gracious lives, overcoming the constant challenges they faced.
A Memoir So Poignant That It Reads Like Fiction
In this inspirational first-hand account, Jane and Mario’s story is told by their youngest child, Mary Pieroni Harper. “I grew up in a loving household with parents who were patient and kind,” she tells us. “Our family looked like other families who were at Sunday Mass or on television (my main frame of reference as a child). Yet Mom and Dad’s eyes didn’t light up when they saw me or darken when I did something wrong. They had no idea what I looked like.”
Using extensive archival material — including recorded audio and video interviews, and family photos — Harper offers up a tale both historical and future-facing, helping us understand how the world unfolded for generations past and what is possible for generations to come. With clarity and emotional vulnerability, Harper takes us on an odyssey that extends more than a century — first putting the reader in the room during her mother’s birth, when young parents (Harper’s grandparents) were overwhelmed with fear and grief to meet their baby girl whose eyes were bulging with glaucoma. We travel through time during her parents’ childhoods and watch them mature and fall in love during their education at the Indiana School for the Blind. And Harper gives us powerful glimpses of her own life — then and now — as one of four children who could see her parents but whose parents only knew her by touch and sound.
A Book for All Ages and Abilities
“When you were a child,” Harper asks us, “did you ever close your eyes to see what it would be like to be blind? Perhaps you tried walking a few steps with your arms outstretched, hands waving as you tried to avoid walking into a wall.” Yes, yes we did.
Whether you’re 14, 44, or 74, The Sound of Her Voice is a heartwarming book that will leave you feeling personally empowered and more deeply connected to the people around you. If you love children (and dogs!), you can’t help but be brought to laughter and tears again and again by this book. And if you believe we are all capable of greatness, despite our challenges, this book will make you stand up and cheer.
The story of Mario and Jane — and their four children — challenges us to think about how other people (like those with vision loss or other disabilities or differences) navigate the world and how our experiences, though varied, can bring us closer together instead of separating us.
The Sound of Her Voice is an inspirational tale for all of us and an especially poignant reminder for families and individuals with disabilities that anything is possible when love guides the way.
Forthcoming in audiobook and Braille editions.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
360 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 27, 2023
I read this book at the encouragement of my boss, who wanted to talk to me about it in preparation for a luncheon meeting he had with the author, Mary Harper.
Harper is a wonderful writer who has written about her parents, Jane and Mario, who were graduates of Ball State University (which also happens to be my alma mater as well as my employer). What’s most interesting about Jane and Mario is that they were both blind.
The way Harper reveals their love story is fascinating, and this book is an enlightening look into local history I care deeply about as a resident of Muncie, Indiana (where Mario was born and raised and Ball State is located) as well as a revealing examination of life as a blind person.
Mary has said it took her ten years to tell her parents’ story the way she wanted to, and she should be proud of what she has accomplished—this book is every bit as good as any bestseller on prominent display at your local Barnes & Noble.
Harper is a wonderful writer who has written about her parents, Jane and Mario, who were graduates of Ball State University (which also happens to be my alma mater as well as my employer). What’s most interesting about Jane and Mario is that they were both blind.
The way Harper reveals their love story is fascinating, and this book is an enlightening look into local history I care deeply about as a resident of Muncie, Indiana (where Mario was born and raised and Ball State is located) as well as a revealing examination of life as a blind person.
Mary has said it took her ten years to tell her parents’ story the way she wanted to, and she should be proud of what she has accomplished—this book is every bit as good as any bestseller on prominent display at your local Barnes & Noble.
January 5, 2023
Amazing love story! Two blind people who met and accomplished much more than people imagined. Inspirational. Interesting historical information from that time period. And to those in the Muncie, Indiana area, Mario is a hero. Although not as well known, Jane's accomplishments were just as as fantastic!
December 22, 2022
Tears of joy.
The tale of a remarkable journey of a man and his family. Mary, his daughter and author, shares his life and hers. I cried at the end. But they were tears of joy. For a life well lived.
Alice Frei
.
The tale of a remarkable journey of a man and his family. Mary, his daughter and author, shares his life and hers. I cried at the end. But they were tears of joy. For a life well lived.
Alice Frei
.
September 7, 2026
The Sound of Her Voice: My Blind Parents’ Story is a deeply touching and beautifully meaningful memoir that offers readers a powerful perspective on love, family, connection, and resilience. Mary Pieroni Harper shares her parents’ story with warmth and sincerity, creating a reading experience that feels personal and genuine.What I found most compelling was the way the book challenges us to think differently about how people connect. Love is often associated with physical appearance, but this story reminds us that genuine connection can come through conversation, personality, trust, understanding, and simply being present for another person. The emphasis on the power of a voice gives the story an especially beautiful and memorable quality.I also appreciated the family perspective throughout the memoir. It feels like more than a story being told; it feels like an effort to preserve important memories and honor two lives that mattered deeply. The experiences shared offer moments that are emotional, thoughtful, and inspiring.This memoir reminded me that everyone has a unique journey and that some of the most meaningful relationships are built on things we cannot see. It encourages empathy and reminds us to look beyond appearances when understanding others.Overall, this is a heartfelt, inspiring, and thought-provoking memoir. I would gladly recommend it to readers who enjoy true stories about family, love, relationships, and the strength of the human spirit. A truly deserving five-star read.
July 19, 2024
I had to give this memoir 5 stars because it took place in Muncie, Indiana where I grew up. It brought back so many treasured memories of my neighborhood, school and taking the bus downtown. This is a memoir written by a daughter about growing up with blind parents. They were both born with glaucoma and fell in love at the Indiana School for the Blind and raised 4 children. During the 30’s blind students were taught industrial trades such as broom-making and cane chair repairing. Both of her parents attended Ball State University (where I also attended) and her father became the first blind graduate of the Norte Dame Law School. It was a very inspirational story of their challenges, perseverance, faith and love for their family and community. I remember seeing Judge Pieroni walk to his office along busy Jackson Street with his seeing eye dog. I went to school with their children but didn’t understand how hard their mother worked in taking care of her family and the responsibilities the children had for their parents. I loved the quote, “Look not what you have lost but what you have left”.
December 3, 2025
I read this book originally because it is a local author and I remember Mario Pieroni and his dog walking by my childhood home. Being a dog loving child I was always enthralled. .
The Pieronis went to the same school and church as I did, although the children were a bit older so I didn’t know them .
This is why I read the book. But, during the course of the book I became fascinated. I did not know the whole story of the family or had ever considered the difficulties of two blind individuals raising a family. It’s the most amazing story.
I would recommend this book to anyone, not only people who have a personal vested interest in it. The Pieroni husband and wife were truly exceptional!
The Pieronis went to the same school and church as I did, although the children were a bit older so I didn’t know them .
This is why I read the book. But, during the course of the book I became fascinated. I did not know the whole story of the family or had ever considered the difficulties of two blind individuals raising a family. It’s the most amazing story.
I would recommend this book to anyone, not only people who have a personal vested interest in it. The Pieroni husband and wife were truly exceptional!
January 19, 2024
This story beautifully illustrates love, of not just the love shared between people. but the love for life, for more! I was inspired by the amazing life of Mario and Jane and how they didn't let anything hold them back from a fulfilling life. It made me realize the only thing holding us back is ourselves, not the situation we were born into. They lost their sight but not their sight on a future together, with a family, and making an impact on others. They were always focused on others and I'm so glad their daughter took the time to make a permanent record of their story so it can continue to motivate others for many more years to come.
November 4, 2025
The Sound of Her Voice is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you close the cover. Mary Pieroni Harper writes with tenderness and honesty, capturing the extraordinary love and resilience of her blind parents, Mario and Jane. Their story isn’t just about overcoming obstacles, it’s about redefining what it means to truly “see” one another. I laughed, cried, and finished the last page feeling deeply moved and inspired. A beautiful, heartfelt tribute to love, family, and the strength of the human spirit.
September 25, 2024
Lovely story of two Muncie, Indiana residents, both of whom were blind. Mario Pieroni was a lawyer and judge from an immigrant Italian family while his wife Jane was a homemaker raising four kids at home. The author is their youngest daughter, and this book is definitely her lovingly telling the story of her parents. The writing style very much reminds me of "Little House on the Prairie." Highly recommended!
November 4, 2025
The Sound of Her Voice is a touching, beautifully written memoir that moved me deeply. Mary Pieroni Harper brings her parents’ story to life with warmth, grace, and genuine emotion. Through their courage, humor, and unwavering love, Mario and Jane remind us that true vision comes from the heart, not the eyes. This book made me both smile and tear up, an unforgettable celebration of resilience and family.
November 4, 2025
This book is pure inspiration. The Sound of Her Voice tells a love story like no other, tender, real, and full of hope. Mary Pieroni Harper’s words flow straight from the heart as she shares her blind parents’ remarkable journey through life, love, and parenthood. It reminded me how powerful human connection can be, even without sight. A moving, unforgettable read that left me feeling grateful and inspired.
November 23, 2023
A Story Worth Reading
A great story with admirable characters. The writing is extremely repetitive and reads like a highschool essay. If you can get past the writing, it’s a quick and enjoyable book.
A great story with admirable characters. The writing is extremely repetitive and reads like a highschool essay. If you can get past the writing, it’s a quick and enjoyable book.
February 3, 2025
This is a beautiful story of success and challenges. I enjoyed it and thrilled in the adventures of this blind couple from their first breaths until their last. Mary has done a great job of telling this story of her family and especially her parents lives.
September 13, 2026
Mary knew her parents not by how they looked, but the sound of their voices and the feel of their hands. Beautiful true story about the lives of Mary's blind parents, their challenges and their love for each other and their children.
May 19, 2023
A fairly sad true story about two young blind people who marry in the 1940s.
Glaucoma at birth...
Glaucoma at birth...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews