Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Behind the Beautiful Forevers is captivating series of tales following the residents of Annawadi, one of Mumbai’s many slums. Katherine Boo spent years researching these tales (when I discovered I was reading non-fiction I was shocked) and has managed to capture a different shade of humanity in each character in the novel.
Her ability to describe the different outlooks on various facets of slum life is evident, especially in the chapters following Abdul, the trash sorting boy, and Asha, the slum’s most ambitious social climber. While there’s a full cast of characters in this novel, Abdul and Asha were the most fully realized individuals. Abdul struggles against deep set corruption in India via the justice system, while Asha tries to ‘play the game’ and use corruption to her benefit. Abdul is resigned to his fate in the slums, whereas Asha is constantly scheming to escape it. Boo does an incredible job exploring their mindsets in the face of surmounting circumstances.
She does this for all of Annawadi, sharing perspectives as varied as the one legged adultress to the glue sniffing scavenger boy. Somehow, she manages to empathize with each of their situations and shed insight into their actions.
Hearing these perspectives is important for privileged readers. Reading about the challenges they face makes you reflect on the benefits that you have, and the opportunities that you take for granted. It reminds you that each person living in places like Annawadi have their own thoughts, struggles, and triumphs. It reminds you that as different as their lives are, they’re people.