"Shantaram"

I have been reading this book called Shantaram written by Gregory David Roberts....
Though the first look of the book doesn't really tempt you to read it, ('coz the cover page looks very old and the number of pages are some 937:))))))) its really a good book.....
Moreover its a true story!!!!!!
The protagonist escapes from a prison in Australia and comes to Bombay......
There he encounters many people and starts living in the slum where he later opens his own 'First Aid' clinic to the slum people......
In the meantime he falls in love, goes to jail (without any complaint against him!!!which is usual in the Indian scenario) and luckily comes out with a Mafia support....
Later ofcourse he joins the mafia because he has to repay his debt to the master who released him from the jail.....
N later he joins him in Mujahideen war against the Russians......
There are lot of stories but its thrilling and at the same time there is a tinge of philosophical touch to the whole story...
And that makes it all more interesting.....
There is one point where in he says about "suffering" which goes like: "Is it not true that some of our strenght comes from suffering? That suffering hardship makes us stronger? That those of us who have never known a real hardship and true suffering cannot have the same strength as others, who have suffered much? And if that is true, does that not mean that our argument is the same thing as saying that we have to be weak to suffer and we have to suffer to be strong, so we have to be weak to be strong".
Though complicated its a good one.....
In another situation he says: "One of the reasons why we crave love and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness and shame and sorrow.
But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again. Some truth about yourself are so painful that only shame can help you live with them.
And some things are just so sad that only your soul can do the crying for you."