Crack in the Wall: The Life and Death of Kowloon Walled City

by Jackie Pullinger

This is a photographic account of Jackie Pullinger's work in Hong Kong which through interviews provides a gripping portrait of the drug addicts, prostitutes, Triad gang members and society's outcasts who live in the Walled City. It describes some of the most incredible stories of people she helped through the Holy Spirit. Today, the drug addicts who came off heroin painlessly are ministering to others. They go out from Hang Fook camp, "Camp of the Blessing", to families, street sleepers and back to the Walled City where those on drugs come to find Jesus. The author has been in Hong Kong for 21 years, working with the poor and drug addicts, and is the author of "Chasing The Dragon". Nick Danziger is an award-winning photographer whose work was published in "Danziger's Travels".

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

About the author

Jackie Pullinger is a British Protestant missionary to Hong Kong.
At the age of 22 she moved to Hong Kong and began to reach out to the people of the Walled City. Her ministry started with only a handful of people but has grown steadily over the last fifty years.
She founded the St. Stephen's Society, which is involved in drug rehabilitation in Hong Kong and the Philipines.

Reviews

[Charlie Ackerly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much Jesus, not enough Kowloon Walled City.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book about Kowloon Walled City I would recommend City of Darkness (revisited) by Ian Lambot and Greg Girard. There is very little in here about the Walled City and a lot of what is written seems faulty from what else i've read.

The book contains many many stories of people who have got over addiction and physical ailments through Jackie Pullinger's work and through God. It's hard to believe any of them when they all read so formulaically. "X person was addicted to X drug for 15 years, X person prayed with other believers, X person's physical ailments miraculously healed, X person felt at peace as they had never done before, X person cried tears of joy, X person now believed in Jesus."

I believe Jackie Pullinger did a lot of amazing work while in Hong Kong and clearly many of these people's lives were dire and that so many ended up in such awful situations is harrowing. I am not trying to tarnish her faith, but this book was bad.

[Andrew Kline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really interested in learning about Kowloon. This book is not about Kowloon. This book is written by a missionary and is about how heroin addicts were healed by God. Besides rolling my eyes at a user of 17 years getting clean in a half hour because he prayed, what I read was very poorly written. Also, about half way through, it seemed to switch to a completely different location (I just skimmed and looked at pictures after page 40). If you're interested in faith healing and missionary work, I guess this would be an interesting read, but I didn't read anything worth recommending.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is mistitled.
Only about the first third really has *anything* to do with Kowloon Walled City - but is focused on Christian mumbo-jumbo.
The author is apparently a truly fanatical Christian, which means all information in the book is unreliable. I doubt the tales of people having done heroin for 14 years, then stopping overnight with *no* withdrawal symptoms.
I don't doubt Jackie Pullinger helped a lot of people and that's good, this book however, isn't.

Did not finish: at page 99, after the whole narrative had moved entirely away from Kowloon Walled City, I couldn't take any more.

[Sebastian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bought this book because I thought it was about the Kowloon Walled City. It is actually about a woman that went there to heal drug addicts with religion. As much as her actions are commendable (and reading the book she was very successful), as an atheist I couldn't make much of this book.

[CK Yau · Rating 5 out of 5]

p.40

"So, you think you have nothing to give me? Give me your pain, give me your suffering, give me your fear and I will give you life."

[Sophia Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kowloon Walled City is endlessly fascinating. This book has many precious images of the innermost corners of the city. Even more remarkable are the stories of how lives of triad members and drug addicts are changed forever because the power of the almighty God. Anyone who got this book in search of the city of darkness will find themselves face to face with the Master of light.

[Catherine Smalley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Others have already written about how they came to this book, expecting something different from what it actually focuses on (as I myself did). Nonetheless, I did find it interesting to hear about some of the inner workings of the walled city from this perspective, as well as the personal backgrounds of the numerous people who found themselves involved with Jackie. It wouldn't be my go to book about Kowloon, and colour me skeptical about some of the claims made within it, but I don't regret picking it up.

[Cleopatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Countless stories of people coming off of drugs, being healed and finding hope in life- turning away from a gang life & worshipping idols and deities because they found Jesus.
Makes me want to grow my faith even more ✨🪽

[Nicholas Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a big impact on me when I read it

[Yoyoyo Smith]

bushitting!

[Hiu Yan Chelsia Choi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive! Thank you God for placing this book in my life.

[Lauren Noel Ottwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

good companion to chasing the dragon

[Aude Lising · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you take all the Jesus/God malarkey out of it, this is still a good insight into the lives of the people of the Walled City.

[Chas Bayfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful stories of junkie lives turned around in 80s Kowloon. Pullinger is a force of nature!

[Hannah Moger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Not hugely necessary read alongside chasing the dragon.