Monday, June 10, 2013

'Foreign Body' by Robin Cook

I finished reading the book.

Being a Mumbaiyya, I have got used to seeing filth all around the city. There'd be vegetable remains acting as  slimy carpet in the crowded marketplace, human excreta and plastic bags full of waste thrown across railway tracks; all this was regular sight in my daily life. It's normal for a Mumbaiite.

But such a sight, I have understood from the words used in the book, must've been a sore to Robin Cook's eyes when he came to do his little tour of India while writing his book 'Foreign Body'. He has described the overcrowded buses and people traveling on the roofs, dirty, barefoot children running around on filth and begging in front of five-star hotels. He has also described the stink and dirt in the holy city of Varanasi.

Such a shame! He has tried to be as nice and respectful as possible during these descriptions. If it were me, I'd add a line that said, "How in the name of God did people manage to live in so much stink and muck!?"

Another book's on it's way!

3 comments:

Tall Guy said...

Guess India as a country can leave people surprised or in awe....

Vrijilesh Rai said...

I need to read the book.

Shruti said...

Tall Guy: right, and I suspect that a lot of tourists are just being nice by saying they like the place.

Vrij: u will like all of Robin Cook's works