Sunday, September 5, 2010

The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine



This is one of those books that you know will tug at your heartstrings before you have even read the first page.
James A. Levine recites the story of a young girl in India, Batuk, who is sold into sexual slavery by her parents at an early age, and who tells her story through her young eyes and the stories she writes into her notebook. Despite the many euphemisms Batuk uses to lessen the horror of her daily existence, you read right through the lines, and just want to run off to India and save her and any other child who is living her life. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Not for the faint of heart and those who don't give a shit about anyone around them (because you may be shocked into actually thinking outside of your own selfish being) - but it should be a must-read for everyone.

Child prostitution is a very important issue to me, and making it less of a taboo means that one day there may be enough of us around to actually wipe it out for good. Or enough of us to stamp out the fuckers who think having sex with children is normal.

Some links for those interested in actually doing something to help:
United Nations - Children's Rights
Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women
Karmayog
Plan USA Sponsor a Child

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