Girls Burn Brighter, my first completed read of 2020, was equal parts devastating and horrifying. The story follows two Indian women, Poornima and Savitha, who form a friendship in the village of Indravalli. The narration alternates between their two stories as they both flee from horrifying situations and, independently from one another, end up in the United States.
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This was not an easy read. CW: rape, sexual exploitation, assault, human trafficking, etc. This book made me angry and created a sense of dread, but mostly it fostered helplessness since the harsh reality is that what happens to these women in the book is happening to women in the world.
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I don’t think I would have read this if it hadn’t been selected by my book club. However, I am glad I did because it was beautifully written and, let’s face it, there is nothing like a book about human trafficking to make you appreciate the life you have.