The Blue Notebook by Dr. James A. Levine – 224 pages
Book Blurb:
An unforgettable, deeply affecting debut novel, The Blue Notebook tells the story of Batuk, a precocious fifteen-year-old girl from rural India who is sold into sexual slavery by her father. As she navigates the grim realities of Mumbaiโs Common Street, Batuk manages to put pen to paper, recording her private thoughts and writing fantastic tales that help her transcend her daily existence. Beautifully crafted, surprisingly hopeful, and filled with both tragedy and humor, The Blue Notebook shows how even in the most difficult situations, people use storytelling to make sense of and give meaning to their lives.
My Review: 4.5 stars
A short, phenomenally well written book by a doctor who wrote this story after visiting Mumbai. It is extremely dark as we live in this young girl’s head, but her spirit and tenacity to find solace with pen and paper keeps us cheering her on. I really enjoyed this book as depressing as it was.
I highly recommend if you can handle the subject matter. All US proceeds of the book go to help exploited children.
Quotes I liked:
You can never fully straighten bent metal; you can only make it less bent.โ
I could not put this book down! The subject matter was difficult but handled well. I was so glad to see that the proceeds of the book go to help exploited children – Thanks for the recommendation. Laurie d.
Review:The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar is another excellent example of creating a novel with richly layered characters while comparing Indian and American lifestyles. In this story, Remy returns to Bombay, which he has dubbed the museum of failures, as he sees his native country through the lens of his American life. Heโs there to meet his friendโs niece with the hopes of adopting her baby, as he and his wife are unable to conceive. This innocuous trip turns into a much more complex time as Remy is hit with roadblocks time and time again.Itโs the story about Remy and his mother that really got to me. He lived a life of never measuring up and feeling quite unloved by her. Through their time together in Bombay, he learns critical information that allows him to see her in a more thoughtful and understanding way. This time away has brought whatโs left of his shattered family back together.His trip extends much longer than anticipated and he realizes the value of being home. His American wife Kathy seemed too good to be true, but I did like their relationship, born of trust and equality. Remyโs life as a poet was buried away, but through his visit in India, he realizes the importance of doing work you love, not just working for a higher paycheck.Overall, this was a satisfying read and one that fans of Umrigar will appreciate. Her last book, Honor, along with The Space Between Us, are my two favorites of hers. I havenโt met an Umrigar book I didnโt enjoy!@thrity_umrigar @algonquinbooks ๐: Do you dress up for Halloween? If yes, what's your costume of choice? If not, what's a scary book you've read? ... See MoreSee Less
I could not put this book down! The subject matter was difficult but handled well. I was so glad to see that the proceeds of the book go to help exploited children – Thanks for the recommendation. Laurie d.