I have mixed feelings about this book. I was expecting great things before I began reading. It won a Booker Prize, after all. And I’ve read a ton of great reviews and praise. But, unfortunately, I’m not getting it.

Yes; there are moments of the most incredible beauty. The descriptions are still fresh today. You can smell the bananas and the rotting fruit. The description of the Ayemenem House in its present-day sucks you in. The way it is rotting from all the secrets it holds is cleverly written. It’s a nice metaphor.

The river features heavily, almost as though it is a separate person. You can smell, hear, see it. It is the gateway to Ammu’s illicit affair, to the one person who truly loves her. It is the gateway to Estha’s safe place. It is the murderer of Sophie Mol; it is the end of everything.

The moth that grips its furry claws into Rahel’s heart, at times, grips the reader’s, too. This metaphor is beautifully used through the whole novel. You can almost feel it gripping your heart. We all know how that feeling of unease, of fear, a feeling that something bad is about to happen, grips our insides and twists and wrings us out.

The theme of love is another presence through this book. The love of the two-egg twins, Estha and Rahel, is at the centre of the book. I love their connection. However, the incestuous part of their love at the end of the book felt wrong to me. I mean, it’s incest. It’s wrong. But I didn’t feel it was necessary. It didn’t add any greater depth to the story. I bought into them being twins, so being super close. The only true and pure love in this book is that of Velutha and Ammu. What happens to Velutha at the end is shocking. It had me flinching and barely able to continue reading. I felt so bad for him and Ammu and so angry at the caste system that dictated their fate.

Social status plays a huge part in this book. It makes no sense to me. But then, how could it? I have never experienced it. This is the reason Ammu and Velutha cannot have their happy ending. It is the reason Ammu goes mad with grief. It is the reason Baby Kochamma gets to spread her poison and remain in a house where everybody despises her. I despised her, also. What a mean, evil, poisonous woman. A higher social status does not make for a better person. That’s for sure.

The part with Estha in the police station is heartbreaking. I actually cried at this. I felt so sorry for this poor little boy. He should never have had to bear witness to Velutha and sentence him to death.

While writing this review, I’ve realised I enjoyed this book more than I initially gave it credit for. I think that it was hard work, partly because of the Indian names and words, and partly because there is so much description. However, I still don’t understand what the really big deal is about the book. There are parts of it where the language is just plain crass, and I cannot see why. I don’t feel it adds anything to the story. It also felt a little like I was wading through a swamp sometimes. And the plot … in some ways, it covers a lot. But, in other ways, it felt like it took a 100 mile detour in a straightforward ten mile journey. Yes; it is literary fiction. So there isn’t going to be a fast-paced plot with lots of action. But, personally, I would have liked some action. I think, probably, I should try to avoid literary fiction.

So, in summary. I liked this book. I didn’t love it.

People who like literary fiction. Anyone who appreciates beautiful descriptions. Someone with a lot of patience.

Velutha. He was pure and good, and his affair with Ammu was lovely to read.

All the description. The lack of action. Baby Kockamma. What a nasty, spiteful, evil person.

Read something from a genre I enjoy.

Irritated at certain things (like the incest). Heartbroken for Estha.

I probably wouldn't recommend this book unless you love literary fiction and have a lot of time on your hands.

It was a struggle to stick with it at times.

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Created Mar 22, 2021 at 5:08am • Submit your own review...