A People's History of Heaven | 
The tagged book was sitting out in a library display for something, I don‘t even remember what. And the gorgeous colors immediately drew me in. And it just looked so peaceful.
And I ended up getting a delightful and charming story of young girls coming together and standing up for themselves and their entire community.
I bought a copy as soon as I returned it to the library.
#SundayFunday Hope you all have a beautiful Sunday!
pickThis is more of a character driven novel than one that‘s full of plot. I enjoyed getting to know the girls in this book, and I thought the author did a good job of making their stories all a little special. My favorite was Deepa, I think, but I also loved the part where Padma tries to respond to lost letters (this will make sense if you read it). I could‘ve read a whole book about that part.
pickWhat a surprising delight this turned out to be! I loved the relationships among the girls & their mothers & aunts, and the toughness they showed even when their society has always assumed them to be weak. I also thought the first person plural narration worked well here. The time jumps could be a bit confusing, and I wish the author told the trans girl‘s history w/o dead-naming. But overall this was both fun & poignant w/beautiful writing. 4/5 ⭐️
But Leela‘s prayers are anything but pure. They snarl with poisonous plants, with sharpened blades. Writhe with lizards dropped into pots of chai, snakes hidden between bedsheets. Squirm with cinema-inspired visions of villains falling off of cliffs and out of planes. Of bad men vanishing and fading into the ending credits of a pure, black screen.
The books. Oh, the books. Not the battered old textbooks they hand out at government schools or the overly polite textbooks they hand out at private ones. These books had dense covers and woven bindings. Smelled like secrets and wisdom and ink. In Janaki Ma‘am‘s hands, they felt heavy and sturdy as promises—the kept kind, not the broken kind.
Then again, they are poor. They have always been poor. Which means that they are used to pain. With so many ways to suffer, she thinks, might as well choose the way that hurts the body more than the heart.
It‘s funny, being a girl. That thing that‘s supposed to push you down, defeat you, shove you back, back, and farther back still? Turn it the right way, and it‘ll push you forward instead.
My final read of 2019! I‘d had this one my master TBR for a little while but it wasn‘t on my immediate radar. But then I came across a glowing review from @rincey and that bumped it right to the top. I mean, read this synopsis. Yes, please, thank you! #nowreading
pickFive young women and their families (mostly mothers) live in a slum called Heaven. The mothers have been discarded by society mainly because they haven't born sons. The girls are second class citizens simply due to gender. The girls have one adult who believes in them - the headmistress of their government school who makes them believe in themselves. Together, they overcome hardship. Excellent book that addresses diversity.
Introvert Charging Period at 42%
Probability of complete charge before family Easter party of 35+ people: Not Likely 😂
pickOh my gosh, this book! These young women and their mothers are so inspirational and empowering. I've teared up so many times! Definitely going on the favorites shelf!
