The other week I finished reading George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London which I absolutely loved and recommend it highly to you (yes, I know most people have read it, where have I been? I dunno)- its a brilliant and smart account of his time of being penniless and hungry, both in Paris and in London: but as its Orwell of course thats not all it is. It is a non-damning commentary on society, the way we treat the homeless and the poor: i say non damning because he doesn't preach really, its his recollections, his memoirs. But he is sharp and has strong opinions about how we as a society ought to support people (in a non preachy way!) - he always struck me as common sense sorta chap. Supporting people to support themselves where possible - and just support people because they really need our support. not our damning of them.
Its fairly embarrassing that in 2009 we haven't moved on so much in London - ok so we don't have 'spikes' in the same sense as they did in the 1930's but we still have homeless people who are hungry and cold and alone. In London. In 2009. Not that I expect everything in the 21st century world to be fixed or anything (yup, am waiting for Obama to sort that bit out), but we all know that deprivation and poverty in the city of such wealth is just rubbish. In my cynical moods I really wonder if the bankers and city folks have just lost all perspective in relation to the value of money and how much impact such small amounts for food, water and shelter can make- given the sums of money they deal with, the value(s) of their homes, the capital in their cars, the amount they have invested, the amount of credit they have (or had) access to. The big bucks have really skewed the way that people (often people who have the power, money and influence to really change things) have the big bucks skewed their ability to see the difference they can make? But we all know its not only rich people who can make a difference (although perhaps this recent downturn and recession might impact on the way those financial folks view those less well off then themselves?).
There have always been rich people and poor people. There has always been philanthropy, to varying degrees. But there hasn't always been such an expansive welfare state as we have now in the UK, and I believe in it - but its not fully functioning because too many people fall through the net. Too many people get lost in the bureaucracy, too many people aren't eligible or able to access support. Its complicated, and I don't profess to know that much about it - but what are we doing wrong? and why exactly aren't we investing in more social housing? why did anyone ever think it was such a great idea to encourage people to buy up social housing - was that really going to eradicate or help the housing problem? This book has challenged so many assumptions that its easy to make about homelessness and poverty in a really human way - even though its based in the 1930's its relevant.
Another book I just finished is one my friend gave Chris gave me for my birthday, Tom Holt's The Portable Door - I absolutely loved it. I don't think it will be to everyones taste - you need to be into the slightly fantastical and weird to like this book, its brilliant and I look forward to reading more about J W Wells and Co. Goblins and craziness, twists and turns, imp reflecting surfaces and more. really great escapism. I really like getting book and author recommendations - so thank you Chris! A whole new world of Tom Holt for me to discover!!
As an aside, i think its worth noting here that mum has a such a key role in all things literary for the Vyas sisters. So many of the books, authors and genres I love are down to my mum and the choices of book she has given to me and my sisters over the years, which have shaped our own buying and reading habits - always unique to suit each of us and our preferences and interests. I love her so much for that.
