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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
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
priyastoric's review against another edition
3.75
It is not easy to read this book, but perhaps necessary to understand the silences and deflections where the victims and who they were and how they died just simply disappears into the wind.
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence