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A People's History of Heaven
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
A Lit Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2019 A politically driven graffiti artist. A transgender Christian convert. A blind girl who loves to dance. A queer daughter of a hijabi union leader. These are some of the young women who live in a Bangalore slum known as Heaven, young women whom readers will come to love in the moving, atmospheric, and deeply inspiring debut, A People's History of Heaven. Welcome to Heaven, a thirty-year-old slum hidden between brand-new high-rise apartment buildings and technology incubators in contemporary Bangalore, one of India's fastest-growing cities. In Heaven, you will come to know a community of people living hand-to-mouth and constantly struggling against the city government who wants to bulldoze their homes and build yet more glass high-rises. These families, men and women, young and old, gladly support one another, sharing whatever they can. A People's History of Heaven centers on five best friends, girls who go to school together, a diverse group who love and accept one another unconditionally, pulling one another through crises and providing emotional, physical, and financial support. Together they wage war on the bulldozers that would bury their homes, and, ultimately, on the city that does not care what happens to them. This is a story about geography, history, and strength, about love and friendship, about fighting for the people and places we love--even if no one else knows they exist. Elegant, poetic, bursting with color, Mathangi Subramanian's novel is a moving and celebratory story of girls on the cusp of adulthood who find joy just in the basic act of living.
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BookmarkTavern
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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The tagged book was sitting out in a library display for something, I don‘t even remember what. And the gorgeous colors immediately drew me in. And it just looked so peaceful.

And I ended up getting a delightful and charming story of young girls coming together and standing up for themselves and their entire community.

I bought a copy as soon as I returned it to the library.

#SundayFunday Hope you all have a beautiful Sunday!

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MallenNC
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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Pickpick

This is more of a character driven novel than one that‘s full of plot. I enjoyed getting to know the girls in this book, and I thought the author did a good job of making their stories all a little special. My favorite was Deepa, I think, but I also loved the part where Padma tries to respond to lost letters (this will make sense if you read it). I could‘ve read a whole book about that part.

32 likes1 stack add
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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
Pickpick

What a surprising delight this turned out to be! I loved the relationships among the girls & their mothers & aunts, and the toughness they showed even when their society has always assumed them to be weak. I also thought the first person plural narration worked well here. The time jumps could be a bit confusing, and I wish the author told the trans girl‘s history w/o dead-naming. But overall this was both fun & poignant w/beautiful writing. 4/5 ⭐️

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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian

But Leela‘s prayers are anything but pure. They snarl with poisonous plants, with sharpened blades. Writhe with lizards dropped into pots of chai, snakes hidden between bedsheets. Squirm with cinema-inspired visions of villains falling off of cliffs and out of planes. Of bad men vanishing and fading into the ending credits of a pure, black screen.

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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian

The books. Oh, the books. Not the battered old textbooks they hand out at government schools or the overly polite textbooks they hand out at private ones. These books had dense covers and woven bindings. Smelled like secrets and wisdom and ink. In Janaki Ma‘am‘s hands, they felt heavy and sturdy as promises—the kept kind, not the broken kind.

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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian

Then again, they are poor. They have always been poor. Which means that they are used to pain. With so many ways to suffer, she thinks, might as well choose the way that hurts the body more than the heart.

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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian

It‘s funny, being a girl. That thing that‘s supposed to push you down, defeat you, shove you back, back, and farther back still? Turn it the right way, and it‘ll push you forward instead.

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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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alisonrose
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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My final read of 2019! I‘d had this one my master TBR for a little while but it wasn‘t on my immediate radar. But then I came across a glowing review from @rincey and that bumped it right to the top. I mean, read this synopsis. Yes, please, thank you! #nowreading

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NovelNancyM
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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Pickpick

Five young women and their families (mostly mothers) live in a slum called Heaven. The mothers have been discarded by society mainly because they haven't born sons. The girls are second class citizens simply due to gender. The girls have one adult who believes in them - the headmistress of their government school who makes them believe in themselves. Together, they overcome hardship. Excellent book that addresses diversity.

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BookmarkTavern
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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Introvert Charging Period at 42%

Probability of complete charge before family Easter party of 35+ people: Not Likely 😂

Crazeedi Just endure!😏 5y
Suet624 😂😂😂 💕💕 5y
26 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookishGamer87
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
Pickpick

Oh my gosh, this book! These young women and their mothers are so inspirational and empowering. I've teared up so many times! Definitely going on the favorites shelf!

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BookishGamer87
A People's History of Heaven | Mathangi Subramanian
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Just started this last night and I love it already! Women supporting women! I teared up twice within the first 40 pages just from how inspirational and empowering it is. ❤