I have read countless books and I have never reviewed one. I
don’t intend to start doing so here. However, recently, I read a book that was
recommended to me by my mum and OMG…it was one of the most difficult books I’ve
read thus far. Not that it was long or that it had many chapters. But the emotions that
were invoked in me as I read page after page, chapter after chapter…I felt as
though my soul was being slowly chipped away as I turned the pages, while at
the same time, hope, inspiration and gratitude was threatening to burst out of
my heart. Never have I felt such a roller coaster of emotions while reading a
book. And that is why I have to write this.
I’m the type of reader who prefers to read within my genre
of comfort. Reading a book that is not in my comfort zone is a rarity,
something that I have just began to venture out into. And so, when I decided to
take up my mother’s recommendation about the book, both my sis and mum were
surprised! Surprise soon turned to regret (I think), because I kept complaining
the whole time I was reading the book, much to their chagrin!
The book: The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre
“What irony, that one of Calcutta's
most devastating slums should be known as Anand Nagar, ``the City of Joy.'' By interweaving
impressionistic glimpses from the lives of a Polish Catholic priest, a rickshaw
driver, and an American doctor, Lapierre creates a searing vision of the
struggle for survival, the flashing violence, and the social and cultural
practices of the slum. His theme that from human misery can emerge joy might
seem to some readers as a bogus acceptance of a terrible evil. Yet Lapierre's
narrative slides skillfully in and out of both history and fiction to create an
effective but horrible montage of disease, death, and destruction amid elements
of charity, hope, and love.” – adapted (and edited) from Barnes and Noble.
The book was written based on interviews, immersions and
visits to the City of Joy.
In a way, it was sort of like a consolidated diary of various people. I took
that review/synopsis from the Net as I just could not find the right words to
describe the premise of the book. To me, whatever I say will not live up to
quality of the book.
As I read the book (which was later turned into a movie
starring Patrick Swayze), a whole range of emotions went through me. There were
times when I wanted to cry, when I actually laughed out loud, when I actually
closed my nose when reading a scene. The book really hit me simply because, I
have, to an extent, experienced some of the scenarios from the book - the lack
of (or no) water and electricity; mingling with the children (not slum children
but rural children who are underprivileged); the poor men and women being so
generous with their food and whatever else they had. I’ve been to India
twice and reading this book brought me right back.
I’ve not been to Calcutta,
but I guess the extent of poverty, disease and destruction is somewhat similar
all over India.
Lapierre’s use of words and description of places were so vivid that I did not
even have to imagine it in my mind; but rather, I could SEE it so clearly, as
though I was a fly on a wall, watching every move, everything that was
happening. This was an old book, written in 1982 (if I’m not mistaken). While
my copy of the book looks like it has been chewed by a dog, the issues detailed
in the book, sadly, have not changed in the 30-odd years since it was first
published. That is just so sad.
The good thing is: the book is a great read! No regrets! And
while I was forced to delve into emotions that really shook me, I’m happy to
have “survived” and come out stronger, more inspired, more thankful. The book
also delves into religion and there were times when I had to stop reading,
close the book and pray, thanking God for all that I have. I’m not a strictly religious
person but the people in this book served as a reminder to me that, even when everything
is going wrong, faith and hope (in God) can carry us through anything.
This book is going to stick to me for quite awhile. It’s
just hard to forget or erase what I have “seen.”--
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