Nobody can love you more by Mayank Austen Soofi

I have been following Mayank on twitter for a few weeks. He writes about Delhi on his blog The Delhiwala. I picked up this book while browsing at The Full Circle bookstore at Khan Market (one of the best bookstores in Delhi).

Soofi spent 3 years at G B road talking to the prostitutes and kothe malik there and this book chronicles their life. It is written practically without a emotional touch. We are not asked to sympathise with them and neither is there disgust.

Their lives have a touch of humanity along with cruelty. Like any of us. I like how Soofi juxtaposes his life against theirs. Like, how he escapes from the dirt and filth of G B road to a high class party in South Delhi. He has to overcome his disgust to earn their trust. Because if he can't share their food, how can he expect them to share their lives.
The writing is very honest. It is rare to come across writers who are aware about their privilege and pretension.

I recommend this book highly. It has an underlying nostalgia that only books about Delhi can evoke.

Comments

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