City of Joy

Have been doing a lot of reading of late, most of it started out of compulsion as i had a couple of interviews lined up. Only book which i could get my hands on free of cost was "City of Joy" by Dominique Lapierre.
Sid, the loyal un-marxist bengali(a true rarity) that he is, suggested and handed me this one.
I obliged.

Its a well written story, and one can envisage the eclectic lifestyle of the 'city of joy' the author is trying to portray.
Stephen Kovalski, the protagonist finds solace in the filth, that Anand Nagar is.
The story goes on to describe his confrontations with the nonpareil happenings, which reinforces his faith in the almighty and makes him strive all the more, to help the destitutes. It has a couple of other parallel stories. And hell did he introduce me to some sesquipedalians.

My opinion is that the concept would appeal a lot more to people who are not aware of the existence of general population held in squalor to such a great extent.
A French baroness nibbling croissants might choke and spit it out, on reading about Anouar's disease. But for a Mumbaiite just back from Churchgate in a Virar Local and the miasma at the ticket counters, it would just bring in a sense of nostalgia.

But some chapters were quite revelatory about our mythology. Now I know theres more to Ramayana, then what Ramanand Sagar televised. Or like what Shivalinga actually symbolizes.

Not a bad book huh?.....dont know if I should hand it over to Sid, maybe keep it on the shelf and show off the varied reading interests I have, to gullible visitors.

"ohhh...your son has read City of Joy, must be an intelligent boy....kuthé aahhey tow?"