The Blue Notebook

The Blue Notebook

James Levine

5 out of 5

The subject matter of this book is so abhorrent that I want to believe that Levine made it all up, that there are no little girls in this world that have to live the life of Batuk; that it is just the sick mind of an author. But, unfortunately, this could be a very real, very true story.

The book tells the story of Batuk a very feisty and real little girl that was sold into into prostitution at the age of nine. I'm still not sure if her father knew exactly what he was doing, but when you are poor in rural India, there are very few options. As Batuk grows into a young woman of 15, this is now her life is, the Common Street in Mumbai where children are kept in cages until there is a paying customer.

Having spent some time in a hospital with Tuberculosis, Batik has learned to read and write and therefore able to write her story when she can find paper and a pencil, and quite a story it is. An unbelievable tale of hope and heartache that leaves a character and a circumstance with you for a very long time.