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jess_mango's review
4.0
A tragic story of 2 Indian women, Poornima and Savitha, who meet in their small Indian village and quickly become friends. But, after an incident their paths diverge. Each woman faces her share of tragedies but the memory of their friendship and love for each other stays in each of their minds and hearts.
The writing in this book was beautiful. The story itself was brutal but never got too explicit. The 2 main characters in this book undergo a lot of mistreatment from the men the encounter. This includes rape, human trafficking, being attacked with hot oil, and elective surgery. The author does portray the hardships that impoverished women can experience.
The writing in this book was beautiful. The story itself was brutal but never got too explicit. The 2 main characters in this book undergo a lot of mistreatment from the men the encounter. This includes rape, human trafficking, being attacked with hot oil, and elective surgery. The author does portray the hardships that impoverished women can experience.
emmalemonnz's review
5.0
I couldn't stop reading this book. Every time I had to put it down, I just kept thinking about it.
proofofruin's review against another edition
3.0
this book not being genre’d as LGBT is a hate crime
three stars because i think it lost its footing ~275 pages in, but i will absolutely pick up more from this author.
three stars because i think it lost its footing ~275 pages in, but i will absolutely pick up more from this author.
daisyrichards7's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
tishywishy's review
4.0
Girls Burn Brighter is a book on fire.
Savitha begins working for Poornima's family to help feed herself and take the pressure off her family to find resources for her. Poornima begins to bond with Savitha, replacing the hurt and anguish Poornima felt after the loss of her mother. A devastating attack forces Savitha to flee to keep her freedom while Poornima is forced into an arranged marriage but doesn't stop thinking about Savitha and ways to find her.
This books is violent and I don't mean in just a descriptive way. It's vividly racked with the trials each girl must navigate in an effort to attain their freedom. Both are tenacious, both are trying to attain something akin to a better, if less painful, life. It was gripping and in some areas a bit over the top but it's like no book I have ever read. Towards the final chapters, the weariness that enveloped the characters almost took over me too. I didn't know if I could keep going and then the end happened and I hoped that it was what I thought it was.
Savitha begins working for Poornima's family to help feed herself and take the pressure off her family to find resources for her. Poornima begins to bond with Savitha, replacing the hurt and anguish Poornima felt after the loss of her mother. A devastating attack forces Savitha to flee to keep her freedom while Poornima is forced into an arranged marriage but doesn't stop thinking about Savitha and ways to find her.
This books is violent and I don't mean in just a descriptive way. It's vividly racked with the trials each girl must navigate in an effort to attain their freedom. Both are tenacious, both are trying to attain something akin to a better, if less painful, life. It was gripping and in some areas a bit over the top but it's like no book I have ever read. Towards the final chapters, the weariness that enveloped the characters almost took over me too. I didn't know if I could keep going and then the end happened and I hoped that it was what I thought it was.
spaces_and_solaces's review
4.0
I naturally gravitate towards Literary Fiction, it’s probably my most favorite genre to read but at the same time, I really need breaks in between.
This book is a powerful and haunting tale of 2 impoverished young girls, Savitha and Poornima. The story begins with the two girls forming a strong bond despite their different backgrounds – Poornima comes from a family of weavers who are barely making ends meet & Savitha is even more impoverished than her. One day, Savitha comes looking for a job as a weaver and while working for Poornima’s father they both form a strong, unshakeable bond. It’s like there’s magic in them, that’s only visible to them. Together they find the strength to overcome their problems.
However, their lives take a turn for the worse when Savitha is brutally raped and forced to flee the village, and Poornima is forced into an abusive marriage. Savitha, who is penniless, falls into a prostitution racket and is abused beyond humanity, eventually being sold to work as a slave in the USA.
Despite the odds stacked against them, both girls maintain hope and inner grit, which burns brighter than the abuse they have faced. Poornima, who is uneducated and poor, moves heaven and earth to find Savitha, proving that love and determination can overcome even the most difficult of obstacles.
The author, Shobha Rao, portrays the harsh realities of life for women in India and the struggles they face. She does not shy away from portraying the violence and abuse that women are subjected to, and her writing is both raw and haunting. The novel is a commentary on the plight of women who are marginalized and abandoned by society.
Some of the themes are so poignantly explored such as illegal immigration, domestic abuse, prostitution, abandonment, and neglect – that you fear they will take over the story, but the author so gently weaves the story to highlight the girls – more than what happens to them.
In conclusion, Girls Burn Brighter is a heart-wrenching novel that will stay with readers long after they finish reading it. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of hope and determination in the face of adversity. If you wish to explore the complexities of human experience, this book is for you.
This book is a powerful and haunting tale of 2 impoverished young girls, Savitha and Poornima. The story begins with the two girls forming a strong bond despite their different backgrounds – Poornima comes from a family of weavers who are barely making ends meet & Savitha is even more impoverished than her. One day, Savitha comes looking for a job as a weaver and while working for Poornima’s father they both form a strong, unshakeable bond. It’s like there’s magic in them, that’s only visible to them. Together they find the strength to overcome their problems.
However, their lives take a turn for the worse when Savitha is brutally raped and forced to flee the village, and Poornima is forced into an abusive marriage. Savitha, who is penniless, falls into a prostitution racket and is abused beyond humanity, eventually being sold to work as a slave in the USA.
Despite the odds stacked against them, both girls maintain hope and inner grit, which burns brighter than the abuse they have faced. Poornima, who is uneducated and poor, moves heaven and earth to find Savitha, proving that love and determination can overcome even the most difficult of obstacles.
The author, Shobha Rao, portrays the harsh realities of life for women in India and the struggles they face. She does not shy away from portraying the violence and abuse that women are subjected to, and her writing is both raw and haunting. The novel is a commentary on the plight of women who are marginalized and abandoned by society.
Some of the themes are so poignantly explored such as illegal immigration, domestic abuse, prostitution, abandonment, and neglect – that you fear they will take over the story, but the author so gently weaves the story to highlight the girls – more than what happens to them.
In conclusion, Girls Burn Brighter is a heart-wrenching novel that will stay with readers long after they finish reading it. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of hope and determination in the face of adversity. If you wish to explore the complexities of human experience, this book is for you.
bloodthrstbooks's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
robynedexter's review against another edition
4.0
This book made my heart ache so much. But I loved it.