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A review by raineachreads
A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I absolutely loved this book. It was poetical yet realistic, beautiful yet heart wrenching. The characters were completely believable and I found myself rooting for each one.
‘The People’s History of Heaven’ is set in a fictional slum in Bangalore (known as Heaven) that is about to be demolished. Growing up there, is a group of girls who protest against the demolition. The slum clearance in some ways is just the background to the story (though the slum itself is arguably the main character). We are given the history of each of their girls and get to know them individually and as a group; their hopes, dreams, troubles and daily realities.
This book in many ways could have made multiple different books focusing on each character in more depth with more information about what happened to each one next. At first on finishing this I wished this had been the case as I wanted to learn more and felt that at least an afterward was needed. However on reflection I think the author got it right. What she did was show how in a place that could be overlooked there were so many stories weaving away. How every person you meet has fears, hopes, troubles and happiness too. That no one story is more important than enough and that all of them joined together is what creates a place, it’s history and the future of that place. The title could not be more perfect.
I can’t wait to read what Mathangi Subramaniam will write next!
‘The People’s History of Heaven’ is set in a fictional slum in Bangalore (known as Heaven) that is about to be demolished. Growing up there, is a group of girls who protest against the demolition. The slum clearance in some ways is just the background to the story (though the slum itself is arguably the main character). We are given the history of each of their girls and get to know them individually and as a group; their hopes, dreams, troubles and daily realities.
This book in many ways could have made multiple different books focusing on each character in more depth with more information about what happened to each one next. At first on finishing this I wished this had been the case as I wanted to learn more and felt that at least an afterward was needed. However on reflection I think the author got it right. What she did was show how in a place that could be overlooked there were so many stories weaving away. How every person you meet has fears, hopes, troubles and happiness too. That no one story is more important than enough and that all of them joined together is what creates a place, it’s history and the future of that place. The title could not be more perfect.
I can’t wait to read what Mathangi Subramaniam will write next!