Now You See Us

Author : Balli Kaur Jaswal

Publisher : HarperCollins

Format : Paperback

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Take

Although we claim to be in a modern era, somewhere deep inside there are some  authoritative employers in the society who leave no stone unturned to humiliate the helpers. Now You See Us  is a book that based on the employer  worker relationship.  It is a story that revolves around Corazon, Angel and Donita working in Singapore as domestic help to make a living. Cora with a secret hidden deep inside her works for a wealthy employer, while Angel had to face harassment  from her employer’s son, Donita had to undergo torture from her abusive employer.  One day a murder of a female employer by her domestic help leaves the entire place shocked. Why did she do it? What happens next forms the story.

The plot is set in Singapore, and the author’s description,  paints a vivid picture of the scenic beauty of the place, food, culture, language etc in the reader’s mind. The narrative in multiple POVs gives one a clarity on what is happening throughout the plot. The clash of traditional values vs modernity, racism,  division of class,  the cold treatment meted out to the domestic workers and various other issues y hat are lesser known to the outside world has been discussed.

The book also sheds light on the helplessness of the maids in following the societal norms set by the rich and powerful employers giving us insights on the work environment,  and the inhuman treatment they undergo in their workplace. Also the discussion about the Philippines war on drugs, was shocking for me. The author has included some humor along with some snippets from the FB page created by the workers was quite enjoyable to read . The mystery element  was planned well but the execution could have been better I feel as it turned out to be predictable.

This medium paced novel has everything that one can ask for, good writing style, intriguing premise, and an interesting plot that spills the actual reality of the Filipino maids with supporting well developed characters .

My Verdict

An insightful action packed book, that reflects the unjustifiable treatment meted out on the immigrant workers….

The book can be brought Here

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