
This week’s review is of a title in audiobook form. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo is a narrative nonfiction. That is, everything in the book is true but it is told like a novel, with several storylines. Annawadi is a poverty stricken settlement just outside the Mumbai airport in India. Before 2012 all India was in a cycle of prosperity as was most of the globe. Although he is a garbage picker, Abdul sees a fortune to be made by going through and sorting the recyclables the rich throw away. Asha came from rural poverty and her road to middle class security lies in her beautiful and successful daughter, soon to graduate from college and hopefully marry a rich politician. And even the poorest citizens of Annawadi, like Kalu the scrap metal thief, have hope they can aspire to a better life. But then Abdul the garbage picker is accused of a crime, global recession hits, and suppressed tensions over caste classes, power, religion, and more spill into hopes and dreams of a better life. Author Boo paints a beautiful and relatable picture of the modern global age and the most individual of hopes and dreams in little Annawadi. This title is available in the audiobook version now available, or in our large print nonfiction section.
You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
ISBN: 9780307934055, 7 sound discs (8 1/2 hours)
Adult Audiobooks Non-Fiction