behind the beautiful forevers

         
         Katherine Boo's "behind the beautiful forevers" elicited mixed emotions from me but admittedly the emotions were on the shallow end of the pool. However do not disregard the book because it did not create a deep emotional connection with me. "behind the beautiful forevers" captures people living lives where they have tremendous cultural and economic burdens infringing on any decisions or choices in their lives. The invisible hand limits their opportunities. It is way more extreme in a Mumbai slum but everybody can relate in some fashion to outside forces being part of  decision making. There is an interesting component of caste and religion and how it affects decision making/life but Boo downplays it and it was difficult for me to discern the degree that they play in making decisions. Maybe the author's intent was to let the reader draw their own conclusions but I wanted a bit more information to evaluate. Oddly as I read the book the question at the forefront of my mind that I wanted answered was how Katherine Boo embedded herself in the community.
         And now for a semi-brief synopsis: The book generally follows 2 families, with a closer look at 1 member of each family, and their lives over a couple years while living in Annawadi. Annawadi is a slum under the constant threat of being bulldozed for new developments. The community is mixed caste, mixed religion and mixed survivors. Cultural conflict is a constant as individuals and families navigate life while the goal is a constantly shifting target, economically as well as culturally.  The question that circulates throughout the novel is - what does living mean and what is it worth? Some choose suicide, others self medicate, all make sacrifices that are almost incomprehensible. Abdul and Asha, the two individuals followed the closest, are represented as moral opposites. Abdul holds onto his integrity as if it is his lifeblood while Asha will forfeit hers without question if it means she will increase her stature. The book follows Abdul and his family through a criminal trail and Asha through her attempts to gain stature.
BTW - one more message from the book: the indignity of economic imbalance is a lesson every community can heed.
       In a classroom I can see great value in this book, not because of the message(s) but because of the style it is written with. I see this book as a gateway book to more difficult non-fiction literature. The book is written as a novel and I can envision students reading it and then getting interested in one of the aspects addressed and furthering their research in that area. Will I include it in mine? That is yet to be determined and as "they" say the proof is in the pudding, so we will see. Over and out.  S