Chrissie's Books

This book leaves you feeling devastated. Yes, I am glad I listened to it. I listened to the audiobook narrated perfectly by Sunil Malhorta. The shrill women voices are really spot on! The author herself narrates the Afterwards which explains the author's methodology. Friends recommended that I listen to that first, which I did, but I listened to it again after completing the book. Reading this part twice is what I advise. The first time allows you to listen to the details of the individuals and judge their validity. The second time, having completed the book, you can better judge the author's conclusions. It is here that I wanted a bit more from the book. I wanted concrete suggestions from the author. What does she suggest be done to improve the situation? I want a further discussion of her ideas. I was left hanging and this was extremely unsatisfying. Half of the work is done.....

I did not find it difficult to follow the numerous individuals even when listening. The individuals became identities, each one reacting a bit differently. First I thought there were too many to follow in depth. Isn't it better to understand a few in depth rather than many only on the surface? I believe Boo wanted to show how different people will behave differently, but she also wanted to study which behavior would lead to improvement/success. It is pretty darn hard to define what success is! Is it more money, getting a house, or simply keeping alive? Is it reasonable to demand of these people high moral standards too?

I compare this book to the one I have just completed, also about the homeless and the poor: This Side of Brightness by Colum McCann. The setting is different. One is fiction and one is not. I think they complement each other. I actually got closer to the souls of the fictional characters in McCann's book than I did to the real ones in Boo's! I don't mean this as a criticism, only as a statement of fact.

I can also recommend Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation by Jonathan Kozol. What happens to the honesty so characteristic of small children? Boo asks this question. She points to the honesty of children, and what happens to it as we get older.

I do recommend this book, and I feel that the acclaim given it is justly awarded.