Book Review: Shoes of the Dead by Kota Neelima
Book: Shoes of the Dead Author: Kota Neelima No. of Pages: 285 Genre: Fiction / Political Publisher: Rupa Publications Kota Neelima introduces you to the grim world of farmers and their plight leading to suicidal tendencies with the influence, local and state politics has on it besides the direct impact of the local moneylenders and other powerful people have. Kota grabs your attention right from the first few pages giving you a perspective of the farmer suicides that you probably never had – that of normal deaths being labeled as farmer 'debt-related' suicides in a bid to get compensation which the government offers to their families. As the story moves forward, you are introduced to a host of characters. A reporter trying to figure out the truth behind the farmer suicides, a politician trying to save his skin reeling under his father's reputation as a seasoned politician, a lady social worker whose husband has vested interests in the village where fa...