Mar 05, 2003 11:05 AM
7462 Views
(Updated Mar 05, 2003 11:07 AM)
This is an 'account' by lapierre of the life of inmates in the anand nagar(city of joy) slum in calcutta. the book starts with a new family joining the slum and details the happenings over a span of I think 2 or 3 years. the story is realistic and to some extent revolves around a polish priest stephen kowalski who actually did live there sharing the joys and travails of the inmates. It is a merciless look at how the poor are doomed to remain so whether they do anything about it or not. The book actually makes you choke at times and is intense. Think schindler's list. But I read lapierre's reactions to accusations that his most recent book about the bhopal gas tragedy was just cheap sensationalising for story value and all he seemed to say was ''I am a published author you are not .'' So I can't help wondering if the same holds good for city of joy. At times it is really horrifying but good writing needs to get messages across. city of joy tends to numb you with its sordid details so much that beyond a point you don't care.
But I would recommend it simply because it makes you think.
