This is a book about an Indian dysfunctional family (to a point) whose generations of kin have all broken 'laid down laws of who should be loved and how'; ranging from Baby Kochamma, grand-aunt, minded to scatter her bitterness from early disappointments in love to the inseparable twins, Estha and Rahel, children of Ammu who loved the 'Untouchable' carpenter, Velutha. It's intense and complicated by so cleverly woven.

Those who read cultural and emotional fiction will love this. The God of Small Things is about love, death, politics and culture. There's so much to get from it.

the great use of language. Roy has spun so many different issues, emotions, themes and storylines together to make a really mind-blowing novel.
She has this great way of showing a child's perspective by capitalising the phrases that the children re-use after hearing an adult use them. For example "like a Noise Umbrella" and "Very Disappointing".

Also there were many thoughtful, yet humourous metaphors and similes that stay in my mind. While reading, you pick up on this part of the author's creativity, and the sensory images the figurative language creates, really help the story unfold in front of you. You can practically see, hear, feel, smell and taste everything the characters experience. When Velutha is beaten, the description is gory and painful to read, but that's the point. The book is so alive with action and senses. An essence that I'm sure most writers try to capture.

This isn't really a criticism, but the book isn't written chronologically. You really have to concentrate. I read this twice to fully assimilate everything.

read more of Arundhati Roy's writing.

I'm not sure. This book is full of so many kinds of emotions and feelings that you are left pretty blown away. You feel everything and certainly empathy for all of the characters. They are so human.

Is excellent. Radical in her writing I would say. Although I'm not as well read as I would like to be, I know that she is a very talented person. Arundhati Roy trained as an architect, but has worked as a production designer and written screenplays for two films.
Following her novel, she has campaigned for justice, making considerable impacts. I really admire her writing and its truth, together with her achievements in campaigning.

It's educative of life and culture. You are bound to be moved greatly. Plus you'll enjoy the humour and be totally captivated by the storytelling.

It's maybe a bit too scary (emotion-wise) and profound for some people, especially if you're young. However, it is extremely insightful if you do read and understand it.

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Created Jan 03, 2004 at 10:32am • Submit your own review...