Reviews of Slumdog Millionaire Where it Matters Most

In my review of the movie I did not exactly predict that the reception of Slumdog Millionaire in India would be mixed and problematic, though I had wondered since writing it what the reception in India, indeed, would be.

This article from the BBC informs me that the movie is only just opening in India, and that, yes, the reaction is mixed. I am interested to see how the film fares. One aspect of my review does seem borne out, though, and that is the relative shallowness of the story of love and riches in comparison to the depth of human suffering in Mumbai and India at large, which the movie, to its credit, does touch upon in fairly artful and sensitive ways.

Also, in sharp contrast to the film, the two youngest versions of the protagonists in the film still live in a slum! On some levels this should not be shocking–perhaps it would be false to pluck them out of their lives with a new house, etc. simply for being in the film–and yet if there lives have not been bettered in some way (and they may have been in ways that this article does not allude to), their use does seem a touch exploitive, especially seeing the film has turned out to be such a blockbuster.

Thoughts? For a sample of some more articles, search articles from the Times of India.

Oh to be a Donkey Librarian!

Of course, taking care of a donkey and getting it to go, I am sure, is rather difficult work, even if I have always rather had a fondness for the beasts, especially Puzzle of Narnia. And baby donkeys? Well, I cannot begin to describe their cuteness.

However, I digress. This story is really quite cool, though, and more so for its non-donkey aspects. The eagerness with which children wait to read and then read the books made a particular impression upon me. In truth, it rather brings me up short as I sit typing this in my room, with books strewn on the floor near the head of my bed, books still in boxes from my recent move, books in thrift stores around the city which I can take hours to broswe and buy at a pittance, which itself is only a pittance because I make such a handsome wage, books at the library which pays my handsome wage on shelves and shelves and shelves, with numerous computers that can access the Internet and, yes, millions more books throughout the state of Missouri, and books, used and new, at Amazon which I can buy for rather more than a pittance, but still at amazing prices.

Now, I am not saying it is a bad thing to have access to so many books. It is wonderful, and this story highlights just how much of a privilege it, indeed, is, one that is not only good to reflect upon, but one that I, especially as a librarian, should be seeking to extend to others.

Another intersting aspect of the story was how the donkey library is also striving to have people treat donkeys with more care and respect, which is very cool. Don’t care for donkeys? Perhaps you might consider the Kenyan camel library.