The writer of this book, Alan Parker, is a film maker and
this was his first book. I must say that reading the book seems like reading
the script of a picture as there is lot
of visual scenes are there which are described quite well frame by frame.
The story line is simple, there is a pickpocket Tommy, his
adventure and a love story weaved around almost all US at the earlier part of
20th century when the Prohibition was in place and the economy was
taking a nosedive.
The book is quite racy in narrative and full of twists and
turns as we can expect from a movie. But the main part which was written quite
skillfully was the current situation of the country, common outlook towards the
economy where the author gives the signs of development can be measured by how
much a pickpocket is getting out of a common laborer.
There are some comic moments as well specially Tommy’s
encounter with the Blind Sisters and their rendezvous. On the serious note his relationship
with his sisters and search for his younger sister were quite a touching moments.
It actually comes out that even when he is unburdening a lot
of people (habitually or professionally) he ends up being a good guy but may be
that was not enough to have everything he wanted in life.
Life never comes to us the way we want it to. In fact most
of the time it will come out from the long forgotten cupboards in the backyard
and take you by surprise to the unknown lanes.
Book is a light read and definitely can be taken up.
