The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine (2009)
A very raw book, I almost put it down a couple of times not wanting or daring to continue, but I did - I got to the end.
Batuk is 9 years old when her father takes her from the family home to crowded and busy Mumbai, where she is sold to a series of brutal men/owners. Sold to the highest bidder for her virginity, she ends up in a cage in the streets where she has sex with up to 10 men a day, every day.
In a notebook, she writes down her memories about home and her past, as well as the disturbing reality of her life. The violence is pretty graphic, and the abuse is vividly described. I think though the most horrific thing for me, is the realisation that this is a very real reality for thousands of girls worldwide.
At 15, she has spent 6 years being a prostitute, with no means of escape and no money to pay her way out. At 15, I was busy watching Prince and Madonna on tv, and worring about if we would get into the R16 movie or not, music lessons, homework and weekends out with friends.
3/5
1 comment:
no i wouldn't be able to read this, i feel quite disturbed just by reading about it. it is horrific. beyond horrific really... every little complaint one has seems very petty compared...
Post a Comment