Down with the Poor! by Shumona Sinha is a powerful and disturbing novel that highlights how, over time, we can become exactly what we believe ourselves not to be, and the role the society we live in plays a part in that transformation.

There are many books I suggest reading a slower, or at least taking breaks to let the ideas percolate a bit before moving on. Normally, this is exactly the type of book where I make such a suggestion. The writing is poetic but dense, with detailed descriptions and mental wrestling, but is a short book that can make for a quick read. I'm hesitant, however, to suggest spreading it out, mainly because I think the density and the constant rationalization of ugly behavior makes it one that needs to be read in one sitting. The reader needs, I think, to feel the full weight of what has happened, both the physical attack and the gradual deterioration of a person's humanity. That isn't to say this is a comfortable experience, it isn't, especially if you also reflect about how you have changed over time, and not always for the better.

I would recommend, however, taking the time to reread it at a more measured pace, giving yourself time every couple of chapters to relate the actions and thoughts in the novel to the world we live in, both the personal and public spheres. After experiencing the novel as a gut punch the first time, rereading with more reflective thought helps to give the reader more, and more impactful, takeaways. At least, it did for me.

I know that some readers absolutely hate to read things that upset them, and for them this will likely be a DNF. If, however, you're a reader who likes at least some books to be more than simply entertainment, you will find yourself carrying some of the ideas here with you after you put it down.

I know I am oversimplifying with my next assessment, but I do think it is a way to grasp the big picture. Namely, the things that are normalized in society, positive or negative, become internalized by the individuals in that society. That general statement includes the topics touched on in this book but is also applicable to any issue. The normalization might be because of the way judgements become institutionalized as facts, or simply because some ways of thinking have been given unwarranted placement in the world. We can even, as is evident in so many areas, become self-loathing without even being fully aware of it.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss. ( )