Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity
5 journalers for this copy...
This book was placed in my own Little Free Library #7220 today by a woman who recommended it highly.
I’m releasing this book today to my friend from Catonsville, Maryland, who has already travelled to Mumbai.
This book came back to me. My friend found this an engaging read as she herself had seen some of the areas described in this book.
Journal Entry 4 by SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Sunday, September 29, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (9/29/2013 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Happy reading!
I picked this book up at the LIttle Free Library of Twinbrook. (Hi SqueakyChu!). My book club has this on our list of possible reads.
I'll send it back to Maryland, thanks.
Got this back from Reader7079 in time to read for book club. It was interesting but depressing. It made for an interesting book club discussion. I will probably return this to the Little Free Library of Twinbrook when I get a chance.
Journal Entry 8 by mom-oyster at Birdie's Cafe - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA on Sunday, November 2, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (11/2/2014 UTC) at Birdie's Cafe - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I borrowed this from the Little Free LIbrary of Twinbrook to read for my book club. Now it's time to pass it on for someone else to read.
Hello! So glad you found this book. If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! I hope you'll leave a journal entry. You can remain anonymous or join BookCrossing (it's free!).
Hello! So glad you found this book. If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! I hope you'll leave a journal entry. You can remain anonymous or join BookCrossing (it's free!).
I took a photo of this book's BCID because I read another copy and wanted to follows this book's journey from reader to reader in the future. I believe authorauthor finally went home with this particular copy. Hope it's enjoyed!
Here were my thoughts when I read this book in June 2014:
I put this book on hold at the library and read it in time for the Vlogbrother's summer book club. John Green (who recommends The Great Gatsby, a book I dislike) chose this book for the book club. I started reading it, knowing nothing else about it. In fact, it wasn't until I was completely done with the book that I realized it was nonfiction and the whole thing was true. Which made my head explode.
This was one of the most depressing books I'd ever earread. Every time I got into my car, I felt a weight settle on me when I had to listen to this book. Yes, there was a bit of hope in this book, sure. But everything that could go wrong did go wrong. People were terrible to each other. People took advantage of systems. People had miserable jobs and terrible tasks to keep themselves and their families alive.
Through it all, though, was a strong sense of survival, of dedication to their paths, of an understanding of how their lives and deeds would change not only their lives but people around them. And, yes, there were beautiful moments. But those were few and far between. Mostly, it was sad and depressing but definitely illuminating. I was glad to get this look into another world, another culture so very different from my own. I admire the author even more, knowing now that it was nonfiction, for being able to reveal the truths so well in a beautifully written way.
There was so much corruption, so much selfishness, bribery, spitefulness, harshness, unfairness. In contrast to the luxury hotels and pristine airport are the slums of Annawadi with its one-legged prostitute, garbage sorters, and fake schools. Yes, there were also people trying to better themselves, people using their wits and hard work to get themselves out of trouble. There were instances of people looking after each other. But it mostly just made my heart sad for these people. There were far more instances of the poor exploiting the poorer.
I am glad to have read it, and I know it's important for my eyes to be open to this sort of thing. I simply came away with such a low (and honest) opinion of humanity on every level. I feel terrible that the stories in this book are a reality. I definitely didn't come out with any hope.
Here were my thoughts when I read this book in June 2014:
I put this book on hold at the library and read it in time for the Vlogbrother's summer book club. John Green (who recommends The Great Gatsby, a book I dislike) chose this book for the book club. I started reading it, knowing nothing else about it. In fact, it wasn't until I was completely done with the book that I realized it was nonfiction and the whole thing was true. Which made my head explode.
This was one of the most depressing books I'd ever earread. Every time I got into my car, I felt a weight settle on me when I had to listen to this book. Yes, there was a bit of hope in this book, sure. But everything that could go wrong did go wrong. People were terrible to each other. People took advantage of systems. People had miserable jobs and terrible tasks to keep themselves and their families alive.
Through it all, though, was a strong sense of survival, of dedication to their paths, of an understanding of how their lives and deeds would change not only their lives but people around them. And, yes, there were beautiful moments. But those were few and far between. Mostly, it was sad and depressing but definitely illuminating. I was glad to get this look into another world, another culture so very different from my own. I admire the author even more, knowing now that it was nonfiction, for being able to reveal the truths so well in a beautifully written way.
There was so much corruption, so much selfishness, bribery, spitefulness, harshness, unfairness. In contrast to the luxury hotels and pristine airport are the slums of Annawadi with its one-legged prostitute, garbage sorters, and fake schools. Yes, there were also people trying to better themselves, people using their wits and hard work to get themselves out of trouble. There were instances of people looking after each other. But it mostly just made my heart sad for these people. There were far more instances of the poor exploiting the poorer.
I am glad to have read it, and I know it's important for my eyes to be open to this sort of thing. I simply came away with such a low (and honest) opinion of humanity on every level. I feel terrible that the stories in this book are a reality. I definitely didn't come out with any hope.
I chose this one from the book buffet at the meetup at Birdie's Cafe.
I forgot I had this one, and just bought a new copy to read for my book club this month. And then, naturally, I found this BC-registered one. I don't need two, so I'm bringing this one to the BC holiday party to see who else would like to read it. (I'm halfway through, and so far it's wonderful!!!)
Journal Entry 12 by authorauthor at BC-DC Meetup in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, etc, Virginia USA on Monday, December 5, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (12/11/2016 UTC) at BC-DC Meetup in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, etc, Virginia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm bringing this one to find a new reader at the BC-DC holiday party.
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I hope you enjoy the book. Happy reading!
********************************
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Making a journal entry here lets me know the book has been found and is safe in your hands. The book is yours now! Read it, give it to a friend, pass it on, or keep it forever--it's your choice.
If you pass it on to someone or leave it "in the wild" for someone else to find, please make another journal entry or release notes here to explain that it's traveling to find another home.
You can remain anonymous on the website or join BookCrossing. Joining is free, safe, and spam-free and you'll get an e-mail every time a new person finds this book and logs in on the site to say so. You'll be able to watch it move around and find out where it's been and what other readers thought of it.
I hope you enjoy the book. Happy reading!
I got this book back (!) during the FIRST LINE GAME at the BookCrossing holiday party at authorauthor's house today.
Thank you for being such a gracious hostess, authorauthor!
The first line of this book is:
Midnight was closing in, the one-legged woman was grievously burned, and the Mumbai police were coming for Abdul and his father.
Thank you for this book. I know it will be a depressing read, but several copies of this book have already made their way through my own Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720). This book has been highly recommended to me. I'll see if I can find the time to read it.
Thank you for being such a gracious hostess, authorauthor!
The first line of this book is:
Midnight was closing in, the one-legged woman was grievously burned, and the Mumbai police were coming for Abdul and his father.
Thank you for this book. I know it will be a depressing read, but several copies of this book have already made their way through my own Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720). This book has been highly recommended to me. I'll see if I can find the time to read it.
My husband is reading this book now. He says it reminds him of growing up in poverty in El Salvador. He says that, no matter how poor one is, there are always different social classes that develop - even among the poverty-stricken.
My husband read about two thirds of this book and then stopped because he got tired of reading it. I'm saving it to read myself.