Scan barcode
marlireads's review against another edition
3.5
The story about the deaths of Padma and Lalli (not their real names) is harrowing, especially when you get into how the living handled it. From family that didn't cooperate because of fear of dishonour to the underfunded and unwilling authorities, it's not what these girls deserved. It's not what anyone deserves. The book also gives a peak into Hindu culture: Faleiro touches on castes, what it means to live in poor rural India and what it means to be a woman. I felt like it gave a very ful and real picture of what happened around this case and around these issues in general. It was very eye-opening.
The chapters were short, which I appreciate in a non fiction book. The story explains different issues and shows the different perspectives almost, as the search for justice continues. Was there a kidnapping? Was there a rape? Was it Pappu? Was the police involved? Was it caste violence? Did the parents have anything to do with it? Stories changed, opinions and interpretations shifted, politics got involved, evidence got tamptered with: it was all a mess! This entire case just had me shaking my head in dismay.
I learned a lot, and not just about the case. Unfortunately, there's no conclusion to this case (not for me and many others at least). The girls' deaths were eventually ruled to be a suicide, but I don't believe that, looking at how botched this entire investigation was. I really appreciate the author's attempt to find out what happened and, especially how she sheds light on all of the related issues the country is dealing with. I feel like, if you want to read more about crimes against women and girls, this book is a good example, but it's not for the faint-hearted (obviously, like many crimes against women and girls aren't). I'm happy I finally got to it.
Graphic: Misogyny, Body horror, Sexism, Racism, Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Blood
mandkips's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
slowsho's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
manasvini's review against another edition
5.0
The story was of course harrowing and nightmarish. Gender, caste and class interact in ways that are unfathomable, creating misery and violence on an unimaginable scale. If your justice doesn't heal, but instead reproduces violence, can we call that justice?
I am so incredibly impressed by Faleiro's dedication and hardwork in writing this book. Not only does she manage to provide a detailed and thorough account of the events, but she does so while maintaining an ease in her language, that makes the reading accessible. Juggling a million characters, and timelines, and adding relevant facts and case studies while still maintaining readability is a herculean task that Faleiro has somehow accomplished.
The precise and concise writing brings the horror of the story to the forefront, which is exactly why this is an impactful read.
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Child death, Classism, Gore, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Excrement, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Violence, Hate crime, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Cursing, Colonisation, Confinement, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Torture, Suicide attempt, Stalking, and Trafficking
Minor: Cancer and Self harm
santreads's review
4.25
In the summer of 2014, in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, just a few hours away from the nation’s capital, two girls were reported missing. In the morning, their bodies were found hanging from a tree. The image of the two young girls hanging from a tree is seared into a lot of people’s memories. We may not remember it as often, but it is hard to forget.
Two young girls - renamed Padma and Lalli, 16 and 14 years of age, had gone to defecate in the fields and never returned. A search party was sent out and it was said that a young boy by the name of Pappu had kidnapped them. However, as day broke, the two bodies of the girls were found hanging from a tree in an orchard.
The book itself reads like an actual crime thriller with it chronologically telling us the story with a lot of reveals and twists in the tale. And trust me there were A LOT! With the shoddy job by the police, the unreliable and contrasting witness statements, there was just a lot happening in this case. (in a good way for us readers, in a not so good way for the people dealing with it)
I also really appreciated how this book not only told us just about the crime but also about cases relevant to the ongoing procedures of the crime and more. It also gave you an insight to society - especially the way things work in rural Uttar Pradesh and their thoughts in terms of women, politics, etc. So in the end, you learnt not only about the case itself but of so many other things that shape our nation.
I found the book to be super educational and informative. I also found it to be fast paced and extremely well written - the writing was simple and it kept you hooked. Definitely recommend it.✨
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher.
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Sexism