A People's History of Heaven

By: Mathangi Subramanian

Narrated by: Jeed Saddy

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Welcome to Heaven, a 30-year-old slum hidden between brand-new high-rise apartment buildings and technology incubators in contemporary Bangalore, one of India's fastest-growing cities. In Heaven, you will come to know a community of people living hand-to-mouth and constantly struggling against the city government who wants to bulldoze their homes and build yet more glass high-rises. These families, men and women, young and old, gladly support one another, sharing whatever they can.

A People's History of Heaven centers on five best friends, girls who go to school together, a diverse group who love and accept one another unconditionally, pulling one another through crises and providing emotional, physical, and financial support. Together they wage war on the bulldozers that would bury their homes, and, ultimately, on the city that does not care what happens to them.

This is a story about geography, history, and strength, about love and friendship, about fighting for the people and places we love - even if no one else knows they exist. Elegant, poetic, bursting with color, Mathangi Subramanian's novel is a moving and celebratory story of girls on the cusp of adulthood who find joy just in the basic act of living.

©2019 Mathangi Subramanian (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“The power of these fierce young women shines in spite of their circumstances, and they prove just how beautiful and influential a strong, unconditionally accepting community is. Subramanian is a remarkable writer whose vibrant words carry a lot of heart. This inspiring novel is sure to draw in readers with its lyrical prose and endearing characters.” (Booklist)

A heart-livening listen

I really enjoyed both the narration and the story itself. The story winds through decades and snapshots of the lives of the main group of girls and their loved ones, reminding us throughout the listen that we can create community, and home, wherever we area, and ultimately saying- it's up to us to create the life we lead, so fill it with love. I thought the themes here of family, community, resilience, and that daring breathless act of stepping into unfamiliar territory (literal or otherwise) were so lovingly conveyed, and beautifully pictured. It's just such a beautiful ode to girlhood, and womanhood (and personhood).

Rich Tapestry

Really, I should have taken notes while I listened. The author wrote so many poignant sentences and ideas that really struck me. This story was beautiful, and so well-written. If you're looking for the classic book structure where there is a big dramatic climax and then everything ties up neatly, this book isn't it. A People's History of Heaven is more like a rich tapestry of people and their surroundings, as ongoing as time itself. As the novel ended, I felt as though I'd left the room, but all the characters were carrying on with their lives, and I had just been an honored fly on the wall. This book is truly worth your listen.