Final Response

The most important thing I think that I learned from Behind The Beautiful Forevers is just knowledge of Indian culture itself. I tend to pride myself in knowing a good amount about most cultures. Before we started reading the book, it occurred to me that I didn’t know much about Indian culture at all. I learned a lot about the economy in India, and what kind of jobs the citizens obtain. I found it really interesting to see how jobs that a typical teenager would have in America were so different from India. However, the Indian teenagers didn’t seem to mind all that much, while American teenagers always complain about their jobs. I also had no idea what the surroundings would look like. I found it interesting that Annawadi was in the middle of luxury. Katherine Boo writes a quote from Mirchi in the prologue, "Everything around us is roses, and we're the shit in between."
(Prologue, p. xii).

In terms of the style the book was written, I think I learned a lot too. I learned how to take a non-fiction story and write in a way that is captivating for the reader. Katherine Boo takes facts, and arranges them to make a really gripping novel for the reader. Also, I learned to take myself out of the story. Boo writes strictly from the facts, and keeps her opinions isolated from the novel. There are times where she slips some of her own ideas in, but for the most part the story is unbiased. That is something I definitely struggle with as a writer, so I gained some great knowledge from Katherine Boo’s techniques.

Honestly, I feel that there was not much I would change about the book. I enjoyed the whole novel as well as the technique and style she wrote in. I am sure there are many people out there who have negative things to say about it, but I am not one of them. 

Jordyn