The Blue Notebook

A Novel

By: James Levine M.D.

Narrated by: Meera Simhan

Dear Listener:

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 15-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 - a message that is so important to hold on to, especially in difficult times.

Batuk’s story can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Celina Spiegel - Publisher

©2009 Spiegel & Grau (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

" 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)

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.

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.

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.

profound - moving - unstoppable

hard hitting fiction from a blisteringly strong minded writer.

A must read

This story had me pinned from the very beginning. A harrowing story told with raw detail and inspiring strength from the eyes of the main character. Beautifully written

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.

wish i would have been warned

This really is a well written book but I must say that no matter how sad the reality of the story was and how the truth of this matter should always be told I cant help but wish I was warned how graphic this audiobook is. To someone who dislikes graphic sex scenes BEWARE this is from one "page" to another nothing but graphic violent sexual abuse with children. so I wouldnt have bought it if I would have known.