Product Description

A heart-rending diary, travelogue, and social commentary from Adrian and Bridget Plass's visit to Shanaj Begum in Bangladesh.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #652587 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-25
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Three statistics leap from the page of Adrian and Bridget Plass's Colours of Survival: the world spends $780 billion a year on the military--just $8 billion would help its people to feed themselves and $9 Billion would provide clean drinking water. Shocking, isn't it? Of course, the Plass's book is more than an exercise in stark statistics. Written to raise funds for the Christian international development and humanitarian agency World Vision, it is a funny, frank and sympathetic account of their trip to Bangladesh to visit 11-year-old Shahnaj, the little girl from the Dhaka slums they have sponsored through the charity for the last five years. The Plasses take it in turn to write and poignantly depict the appalling pollution and poverty they encounter as they tour World Vision's many projects in Bangladesh's sprawling cities and villages. An all--female savings club in Tuital, a day centre for street girls in Dhaka and the training of traditional birth attendants in Chittagong are amongst its success stories. Bridget movingly describes meeting Shahnaj for the first time. All her reserve and Western awkwardness is expelled when Shahnaj hands her a rose then takes her by the hand to lead her back to the six-foot-square shanty dwelling she shares with her brother, sisters and parents. Thanks to constant flooding, Bangladesh may well be the fifth poorest country in the world, yet the people Adrian and Bridget Plass encounter are welcoming, generous and seem genuinely to be hope filled, especially Shahnaj and her family. --Amanda Cameron

From the Back Cover
A heart-rending diary, travelogue, and social commentary from Adrian and Bridget Plass's visit to Shanaj Begum in Bangladesh. Adrian and Bridget sponsor Shanaj Begum through World Vision - one of the world's largest relief and development agencies. In this book to celebrate World Vision's fiftieth anniversary, they record their observations and emotions in a diary that is accompanied by photographs, illustrations and even poetry. In it we will see glimpses of a life far removed from the one with which we are familiar. Adrian's characteristic wit and honesty combine with Bridget's clear and profound observations in this work that is fully supported by World Vision. As we travel along with the Plasses to the world's most crowded country, we will undoubtedly be moved and challenged by the journey.

About the Author
Adrian Plass is one of the most significant and successful Christian authors in the UK today and has written over twenty books. Known for his ability to evoke both tears and laughter for a purpose, he has been reaching the hearts of thousands for over fifteen years. He lives in Sussex, England, with his wife, Bridget, and continues to be a cricket fanatic.

Customer Reviews

Excellent read with real insight
I thought it would be give to world vision, they need your money, and yet it was funny, insightful, thought provoking and made me feel like I was there. Plass and Mrs Plass go to visit their sponsored child, and in doing so learn a lot about the country and people there, their work and play. How the money donated is spent. Excellent reading.

thought-provoking
written with a mix of plass's usual wit, and true sensitivity to the subject matter, this book was very moving. i particularly liked an episode where adrian had decided to take the little girl to a dance recital, and suddenly realised it might be a mistake to let her see his hotel room as he had to stop in there on the way. the child was living in poverty, whilst a few miles away, adrian and his wife were in a luxurious hotel. a book to make you think about the amazing work that Christian missions abroad do.

Funny, touching account of life in Bangladesh
Having just returned from 3 months' teaching in Dhaka, I find it very difficult to describe to my friends and family what life there was like. Luckily Adrian Plass and his wife Bridget have hit the nail right on the head with this hugely entertaining yet heart-rending book. Especially in the brilliant poem describing the kids rapping at the car window and the guilt you feel that comes from the feeling of helplessness of not being able to give to every grubby child or cripple that begs for money - it's exactly how I felt every day of being there. I find many Christian writers a bit heavy-going but the great thing about Plass is that you can really identify with everything he says. This book paints a wonderfully accurate picture of Bangladesh - I'd recommend Christians and non-believers alike to read it to gain an insight into this beautiful-in-places hideous-in-others and sadly under-reported country.