A Burning: A Read with Jenna Pick

This book was addicting and I finished it in two days. Short chapters make for quick reading. The story was well thought out and also felt like it could be a true story, sad but also the carried the truth of indifference- the easiest path taken so to speak. Overall I liked it and would recommend it.

I hate injustice. And if there's ever been a modern novel that that made me writhe against injustice, it would be "The Burning." The downward spiral of the unjustly accused protagonist against the rising fame and fortune of even her most loyal friends proves that anyone with enough encouragement is able to turn traitor. Though it would be more comfortable to think that government corruption on this scale could only happen in countries like India, I'm reminded by the Apostle Paul that "there is none righteous, not even one."

The synopsis describes this book as part thriller - a young woman, Jivan, thanks to a careless Facebook comment, is accused of a terrorist attack at a train station near her home, which kills 100+. A neighbor, Lovely, whom she is teaching English, could prove to be her alibi, but to do so will cost her everything. And there’s a third character, PT Sir, who finds himself heavily involved in a right-wing political party once taught Jivan.I found this book difficult to read (writing style) so I chose to listen to it and that helped. The story alternates between the three characters and is interspersed with short interludes (random side characters or events). It is very heavily focused on the political system of India and, as a result, I was often confused and unsure of what was going on. Thriller it is not. The only story I was invested in was Jivan’s, and the entanglement of the three characters lives that we are promised never happened in a big way like I was expecting.A Burning does, however, deliver on being a story of class, obstacles, choices, and corruption. Majumdar’s writing is actually quite good, and for that, I give it 2 stars, but ultimately it fell flat for me.

I was a little slow in catching onto the rhythm of this book, but once I did I began to appreciate the story. There is nothing redemptive about this tale. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book and how the author delves into and develops each player. I am glad I persevered!

A wonderful read, but I found I had to take it slow, because it was desperately depressing. Almost in the paradigm of "a star is born", as some people rise others must fall.  Such is the case of Jivan, Lovely, and PT Sir. Jivan lives in a slum, attends school on a scholarship where PT Sir is a Phys Ed teacher, and tutors Lovely, a hijra, in English.  After witnessing a terror attack, Jivan becomes a catalyst for PT Sir and Lovely to seek change in their own lives.One tenant that is only addressed through subtext rather than context is ethics, morals, and corruption, which seem to be rampantly changing in everyday life for these individuals. They seek justice through the law but live their lives on a daily sheet of cheats and barters...Wagering each action and consequence against some sort of individual tally of life. This can be hard to reconcile with, specifically coming from a Western mentality of right and wrong.