Katherine Boo has given voice to real people that most people won’t ever get a chance to hear. She takes you to Annawadi, a place you may not have heard of, and brings Abdul, Asha, Manju and a host of other residents to life. And once you have made their acquaintance, you will want to know what happens to them.
It’s a gripping, fascinating read, as engaging as any novel, maybe more so. But unlike a novel, you won’t find everything tied up with a pretty bow at the end. It’s real life Boo writes about. The poor people don’t unite to rise up and find justice. And you’ll know a bit more about why this doesn’t happen in modern India.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity