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The Autobiography of a Sex Worker
Fiery, outspoken and often wickedly funny, this candid account of one woman's life as a sex worker in Kerala, India became a bestseller when it was first published in Malayalam. Nalini Jameela, who takes her name from both Hindu and Muslim traditions, worked as a child in the clay mines. She has been a wife,mother successful businesswoman and social activist-as well as a s
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143 pages
Published
January 1st 2007
by Westland Books PVT Ltd.
(first published 2005)
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This is one of those books I had to drop in-between. I read the revised version (in Malayalam), not the original which had created such a controversy-and found it as dull as ditch-water. I was interested in knowing the trials and tribulations of a woman forced into selling her body, and the inner workings of the sex trade racket in Kerala. What I got was a sort of journal detailing the author's relationships with various customers, recited in a monotonous drone. Maybe it gets interesting further
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A simple and good read. Nalini reflects the world of a sex worker as it is without any added masala or drama. Strictly referring to her work as sex work and calling herself and her peers sex workers and not other terms like prostitute or whore. After a few pages, you can see from her tone that her aim of writing is not to garner sympathy or pity for sex workers but just to bring to light what the life is like. A must read.
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Very poorly written. But then again, how much can you really expect from a sex worker in Kerala?
I do believe a lot of this autobiography has been lost in translation. Nalini has written a lot about herself - a bit of where she began from, where her work took her, etc. We learn a lot about Nalini, and yet once we're done reading, we don't learn who Nalini is. There's a difference between "knowing about a person" and "knowing a person". Perhaps, this is how she intended it.
There is a way which Nalini glorifies her profession with her words, at the same time talking about how humiliating par ...more
There is a way which Nalini glorifies her profession with her words, at the same time talking about how humiliating par ...more
First of all i read the original book not the translated one. This is the Life of a sex worker told by the sex worker.. A different point of view about sex work, the version the author. I think somd serious think exercise is needed for some points. May because of the different opinion I liked this book.
Nalini Jameela explains how cruel life can be.
>> Starting is a little boring
>> As it continues it becomes quite interesting, also the way of writing becomes better here.. telling how & what a sex worker have to face in different situations of life. And how unpredictable life can be, now earning quite good after some days may have to face starvation then things change again.
>> Then the author becomes an activist in an NGO working for sex workers >> At the end some hard & unpleasant questioning to our society ...more
>> As it continues it becomes quite interesting, also the way of writing becomes better here.. telling how & what a sex worker have to face in different situations of life. And how unpredictable life can be, now earning quite good after some days may have to face starvation then things change again.
>> Then the author becomes an activist in an NGO working for sex workers >> At the end some hard & unpleasant questioning to our society ...more
The authors voice is satirical, funny and honest. She doesn't draw attention to herself by portraying herself as a helpless woman. That was the best part about the book.
Nalini is independent, confident, single-mindedly focused and proud of who she is. Read this book to know about this multi faceted lady. The title is as intriguing as the book. Go for it.
Nalini is independent, confident, single-mindedly focused and proud of who she is. Read this book to know about this multi faceted lady. The title is as intriguing as the book. Go for it.
Reading about women's oppression and subjugation is always difficult. I champion the subject of this true account for her ability to rise above her incredibly difficult and debilitating situation. Also for her honesty and bravado in telling her story in the face of death threats.
Nalinis writing helped to bring forfornt the story of sex workers which were under wraped and unfamiliar to main stream.
I had read the translation of this book in Marathi. The story seems genuine but very morbid. Could not handle it after a while. Read the book just to get insights into all that people have to do to survive. Shocking!
I had read the translation of this book in Telugu. The story seems genuine. Could not handle it after a while. Read the book just to get insights into all that people have to do to survive.
I thought it would be an interesting read, but some how felt that it was not probably translated well. May be the original in malayalam may have been interesting
I AM NOT A FAN OF AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
SIMPLY CAUSE I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE BORING
BUT THIS BOOK , IT CAPTIVATED ME , GOT MY ATTENTION FROM COVER TO COVER ,
I love it.
SIMPLY CAUSE I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE BORING
BUT THIS BOOK , IT CAPTIVATED ME , GOT MY ATTENTION FROM COVER TO COVER ,
I love it.
The essence of the book was lost in the translation. It must be a good book in original language
Oct 28, 2013
Shwetha
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