The City of Joy | Dominique Lapierre | The City of Joy
books:
The City of Joy
The City of Joy
Dominique Lapierre
Grand Central Publishing
, 1990 - 552 pages
average customer review:
based on 33 reviews
view larger image
for more information click here
highly recommended
Made into a movie starring Patrick Swayze, this is the inspiring story of an American doctor who experienced a spiritual rebirth in an impoverished section of Calcutta.
STORY OF THE UNBREAKABLE HUMAN SPIRIT
No other book I had ever read has ever made me more proud about the fact that I am an Indian or importantly, a human being. The moving story, that the author claims is based on facts is probably based on a true one. What is truly remarkable though, is the fact that this is probably not an unusual story or for that matter even an uncommon one! It happens, more so in India that anywhere else, despite 200 years of British rule the Western had not been able to take from these people what they prize most, their dignity. People trying to live a decent life, who hope to live with at least an ounce of self-respect going to great extremes to attain it.
It doesn't surprise me to know this today, nor does it surprise me to know it took so long for the world to know this. What amazes me is that so many Indians have written such bad reviews about this book. It seems ironic that a book that tells a story about the majority of Indians who are uneducated is not appreciated by the minority that are. It makes sense though. This book doesn't directly attempt to glorify India's culture, its traditions or values. Instead it speaks about the bitter realities of a ghetto that almost all educated Indians with a modern outlook likes to pretend don't exist. These are the people that Westerners mostly interact with, these are the people who want to impress India to the rest of the world, and the truths in this book are not what they would think is impressive. It still impressive none the less. In fact it is more than impressive that even at the lowest of low of economic degradation a man can still try to live a life of dignity - the kind that every human being deserves to live with.
IF AFTER READING THIS BOOK YOU SHED A TEAR, either of
joy
or sorrow, GO TO THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE MOST AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM, thank them for who they are and after that thank God for the beauty that is your life and lastly thank yourself because you are a wonderful human-being.
for more information click here
The City of Joy
An outstanding book. Highly recommended as essential reading for any thinking person and any person who truely cares about the world and the plight of humanity.
The city of Joy
One of the best boooks of Dominique La Pierre, makes you see reality as is, the acceptance with
joy
of the life you are to live.
"... a heartrendering tale of the real heros of Calcutta, a tale of the indomitable spirit of humankind to triumph..."
"...The '
City
of
Joy
' shall be remembered as the best account of the life of the people in Calcutta's slums; of the city's never-say-die attitude. The book presents a very emotional account of the daily lives of the poor in the city, and makes the reader fall in love with these little heros, who daily fight the battle of life to mete out a subsistence existence. The book is an eye-opener to the people who have never faced the adversities of life. The author has done a brilliant job in portraying the poor with compassion and empathy. A true masterpiece..."
for more information click here
reviews
:
page 1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
,
7
products you might be interested in
recommendations
Fiction of Development: Literary Representation & the Developing World
Books I read last year, and recommend
Some of my all time favorites
Best Books I've Ever Read!
Books on India
city
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair ...
Bridge of Sighs: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
Lush Life: A Novel
Love Letters Great Men
The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember)
joy
The Joy Luck Club
The Praxis Series Official Guide (Official Guide to the Praxis)
Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006
A Grief Observed
Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage ...
search for books
city of joy
,
city
,
joy
toavi.com
web
randomly chosen
book:
Publishers' International ISBN Directory: 34th Edition (Publishers' ...