Dear Editor,
Do not be fooled by a book’s cover, or its title, as in the case of “Shitty People.” This is Dhanpaul Narine’s first novel, although he has been writing non-fiction for over two decades. In the first few pages of “Shitty People” the reader will understand why the title was chosen, and how apt it is given the situation “back in the days” in his hometown, in Stelling Road, Guyana. Dhanpaul writes of his childhood with nostalgia and reopens several aspects of his life, as is seen through the eyes of a young man. His descriptions of life in the sixties are exquisite and powerful. The conditions of living in Stelling Road, and Sookoo Yard, is a microcosm of the struggles of the poor in Third World societies. This makes “Shitty People” superior to much of what is written on the sociology of poverty.
There is a Ma in all of us. Dhanpaul takes us on a journey in which he becomes the reflection of Ma as she dispenses words of wisdom for us to live by. The book has lived up to the title and the hype. It captivates the reader. It touches on poverty, history, discrimination, classism, exploitation, honor, humility, hope, and much more. The combination of the messy and putrid, with the remarkably stoic human perseverance, do not waver in this poignant and beautiful story of human survival. I heartily recommend “Shitty People” to all. You turn the first page and you are in another world.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lear Matthews
Professor (Emeritus)
State University of New York
