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Mar 17, 2018rogebc_0 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I read this entire book believing that it was a novel and found at the end that it was a piece of journalism. The author visited the slums of Annawadi daily for four years and writes of the lives of the people. Their lives do not progress. There is not character development in the novel sense of the word. They are just there, responding to the needs of life and the harsh environment left for them. They are by the airport of a prosperous corner of India, but theirs is a dumping ground on which they have erected informal shacks. They work hard and the system offers them opportunity through corruption and graft. It is an indictment on social inequity. Katherine Boo spoke at Pen and Podium. She does not pity or sympathize with the people. She just tries to know and understand them , respect the choices they make daily, bring some resources and relief.