Introduction
ISBN # 978-0-670-08414-2
Genre: Non-Fiction
Price: Rs. 399/-
Publishers: Penguin Books
India
No. of pages : 226
The first
thing that attracted me to this book was its title. I was at a stage in life
where this was the ultimate truth for me – Nobody can love you more than
yourself! The moment I pulled it out
from the rack the cover page caught my attention, such a beauty , rare and yet
alluring. That very moment I knew I had to read this one.
Behind
the Book
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| Source: Google Images |
Sensitive,
melancholic and sharply observant – William Dalrymple
About
the Author
Author
of four alternative guidebooks to Delhi, Mayank Austen Soofi spends his time in
bookshops and bylanes, observing every corner in the city. Once a hotel
steward, he is best known for his website and blog The Delhi Walla, in which he
details Delhi’s lives and loves.
'Me'
Thinks
I am sure if
you would have read my blogs till now you would have found out that I have a
special liking towards books which are women centric. This book is written on
the red light area of Delhi and the women who live there. Needless to say this
is one of my favourites purely for its theme.
The author
had reached that area when he was called to give tuitions to the children
living there. Though the tuitions stopped long back the author continues to
visit them as by then he has become and integral part of their lives.
Slowly and
gradually they began to open up to him and narrate the stories of their lives
from somewhere to here. The most beautiful thing in this book is that the
author never wrote it like a book. He just noted down all that was being told
and all that came to his mind and the result is a spectacular book like this!
Apart from
the story the book also has photographs taken by the author which add to the mystic
touch already surrounding it. The story narrated could be of every sex worker
for no one becomes that out of choice. But the way it was presented the
characters haunt you long after you have finished reading it for you wonder
what happened to them.
You feel
sad, you feel emphatic but at the same time you feel emotional towards these
women as you wonder what they have done to their own lives, but then we need to
remember they were left with no choice.
The narration is so fluid that you feel you yourself are a part of this conversation and you just don't want it to end, as if a friend is narrating it to you.And this author definately has a knack of describing Delhi. I just fell in love with his writing style. It seems as if he is holding your hand and taking you to all those places. His description is so beautiful that you feel you are already walking down those streets of Delhi, almost hearing the honking and noise around too.
Not recommended for people who enjoy light reads, but recommended for people who love reading such real life stories of grit and determination for a tough fight to existence. People who love reading on such topics will surely appreciate the book and love it!
Foodie verdict
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| Source: Google Images |
This book is like yummy Dahi bhalle - Soft, delicious, mouth watering, tangy, sweet, salty and tempting!