The Blue Notebook, by James A. Levine is Highly Recommended.
Batuk is a fifteen-year-old girl living in a brothel on Common Street in Mumbai, India. The bright points in her life are her best friend, Puneet, a male prostitute living a few “nests” down from her in the same brothel, and a notebook which she keeps hidden away in a slit in her thin mattress. Her vivid imagination and knack for storytelling lead her to paint a world of cheerful descriptions of the ragged and decrepit room that she describes as an elaborately painted and decorated nest or cage and the sexual acts that she is forced to endure is misleadingly called making sweet cakes. Over the course of the novel Batuk tells the story of how she was sold by her father into prostitution as a nine-year-old to pay off unspecified family debts.
The proprietor of the brothel, Mamaki Briilla, drops a pencil and instead of returning it Batuk steals and hides it so that she can recount her early life, and the last day that she saw the family and the father she still misses after six years. Batuk is an emerging beauty and after one of her “customers” noticing this suggest her for a position outside the brothel walls, but is she better off facing a new situation or staying with the horror that she already knows?
James Levine does an amazing job getting us into the head of Batuk. Though she has grown up with a family and has had to face the betrayal of those closest to her she tries to make the best of it and always see the beauty in the life despite her horrific circumstances. Batuk weaves a world of beauty and exquisite stories out of the every day tragedy that is her life. She creates a world that you want to believe in for her sake though it makes the crushing reality that she faces that much more difficult and painful to witness. The subject matter is dark and movingly in contrast to the light and engaging way that Batuk presents her narrative. It’s short at a mere 200 pages but stunningly rendered. There’s really not much to be said other than, “Read this book.”
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After so many great reviews of this book, how can i not add it to my TBR? Thanks for the review!
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..Persuasion =-.
Thank you for your great review! This is one I really want to read. It sounds like such a haunting story.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Pitstop at the USAF Academy (Part 6) =-.
Wow, I’ve read so many compelling reviews of this book. I really need to read it; I’m just waiting for a really happy day when I don’t have anything else depressing to compound it!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Lock and Key ~ Sarah Dessen =-.
I know this book is disturbing, but I also know I need to read it. I hope to get to it soon.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
James Levine is an author whom I heard praised, but have never read. The story of the 9 years old is stunning, although poignant. It’s another tale of a child who fulfills filial obligation. I’m adding this to my reading list!
I just finished this one today….it broke my heart.
.-= Staci´s last blog ..Library Loot and Waiting on Wednesday =-.
This book has some really good reviews
I am glad you liked it
It goes straight to my TBR pile.
I bought this book simply because I heard the proceeds from the sale are going to help the people fighting this problem. I still haven’t read it. I’m saving for when I really need to cry.
.-= Margot´s last blog ..An Interview with Nancy Thayer =-.
Great review! I have the book, and I’ll be reading it soon.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..ANNIE’S GHOSTS by Steve Luxenberg =-.
Huh. I’m not sure why so many people I usually agree with about books are liking–or at least recommending–this one. I hated it. But I’m way in the minority.
.-= Jeanne´s last blog ..Vote! =-.
I totally agree with your contrast comment there at the end. A disturbing book for sure but an important one at that.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Review: The Blue Notebook =-.
This book was such an eye-opener for me. Just – WOW!
Great review.Am adding it to my tbr list.
.-= Yvette Kelly´s last blog ..Happy Birthday to my two greatest men on earth! =-.
I really liked this book a lot. Painful subject, but so well done. Great post.
.-= Diane´s last blog ..Tuesday Teasers =-.
I’ve got to agree with you that this one is stunning, yet disturbing. I thought it was very well written and I still think about Batuk months after finishing the book.
.-= Lisamm´s last blog ..Blog Neglect and Reviews =-.