The Blue Notebook

A Novel

By: James A. Levine

Narrated by: Meera Simhan

Dear Reader:

Every now and then, we come across a novel that moves us like no other, that seems like a miracle of the imagination, and that haunts us long after the book is closed. James Levine’s The Blue Notebook is that kind of book. It is the story of Batuk, an Indian girl who is taken to Mumbai from the countryside and sold into prostitution by her father; the blue notebook is her diary, in which she recalls her early childhood, records her life on the Common Street, and makes up beautiful and fantastic tales about a silver-eyed leopard and a poor boy who fells a giant with a single gold coin.

How did Levine, a British-born doctor at the Mayo Clinic, manage to conjure the voice of a fifteen-year-old female Indian prostitute? It all began, he told me, when, as part of his medical research, he was interviewing homeless children on a street in Mumbai known as the Street of Cages, where child prostitutes work. A young woman writing in a notebook outside her cage caught Levine’s attention. The powerful image of a young prostitute engaged in the act of writing haunted him, and he himself began to write.

The Blue Notebook brings us into the life of a young woman for whom stories are not just entertainment but a means of survival. Even as the novel humanizes and addresses the devastating global issue of child prostitution, it also delivers an inspiring message about the uplifting power of words and reading–a message that is so important to hold on to, especially in difficult times. Dr. Levine is donating all his U.S. proceeds from this book to help exploited children. Batuk’s story can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Celina Spiegel
Publisher©2009 Spiegel & Grau; (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

Praise for The Blue Notebook

“The Blue Notebook is a deeply moving story and a searing reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. It is a tribute to how writing can give meaning and help one transcend even the most harrowing circumstances. The voice of Batuk, the unforgettable child prostitute heroine, will stay with the reader a long, long time.”—Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns

“James A. Levine's The Blue Notebook tugged at my heart and opened my eyes. Levine's fictional protagonist, Batuk, stands shoulder to shoulder with the iconic Anne Frank, another brave young girl whose innocence was annihilated but whose spirit prevailed and whose gift to the world was the written testimony she left behind. To read The Blue Notebook is to bear witness, something we must do if we are to create a world that rejects the exploitation of children and creates a world where they can be safe.” —Wally Lamb, author of The Hour I First Believed

Thank you for opening my eyes...

I just finished this and then sobbed for an hour. Thank you for reminding me that not every child grows up in a nurturing enviroment. I am empowered to do something for others, thank you.

truth is so painful.......

Like they say....it is not safe in this world to be a young girl. This story of a young Indian girl sold into prostitution is repeated several times daily in every country. This is raw painful truth. Difficult to listen to at times, yet the story is told so incredibly well, as a matter of fact. Highly recommended.

very well done

This book was really well done -- the narrator was just perfect. The story is quite gripping and Batuk is a great character to know. From her mother she learns to live inside herself and this is how she survives.

profound - moving - unstoppable

hard hitting fiction from a blisteringly strong minded writer.

Worst audio reading I've heard

Some of the voices for the characters is absolutely terrible. It's hard to take the book seriously even though it's such a serious topic. I've read thE actual book and the audio narration doesn't do justice.