Reading 1001 discussion

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
4 stars

I had a difficult time understanding this book as I was reading it but when I was finished and able to think about the story and put it all in order I decided that I really enjoyed it. The book was beautifully written. The words just conveyed such powerful visions even though there were a few scenes that I wished I couldn't imagine. I've always imagined that Indian families are rather loud and boisterous and close to one another and this book just re-enforced that feeling. The story is told in a rather layered fashion but not everything overlaps in a linear way. We learn about the twins, Estha and Rahel, and their cousin Sophie who comes to visit. The twin's mother falls in love with an "untouchable" and the reader learns about the attitudes and ramifications of this type of a relationship. There is also a strong political story line that runs throughout, my least favorite. But, as I said, once I had the entire story, it finally all came together for me. I am anxious to attend my book discussion group for this book. I always come away with an even better understanding when I listen to everyone else's comments.

My review: This book is a decent reminder that the US South is not the only place with serious, embedded racism. In this novel, a young widowed woman falls in love with an untouchable man, and through an unfortunate chain of circumstances her love leads to the deaths of several people and the ruination of several childhoods. The story is told from the children's perspective, so it is steeped in the bewilderment of young children being punished for things they didn't do, and for things they cannot understand, while the adults around them seem bent on cruelty and unfairness, twisted into sharp focus by the tragic death of their young cousin.
This was an excellent novel, heavy but well written, and brings out some interesting perspectives on life in rural India.
I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Read 2006 Read 2006: I liked the author's use of words, she was very creative. The story was dark and sad as Booker Prize books often are. The setting is 1969 in the southernmost tip of India. Two-egg twins Rahel and Esthappen are two innocent children that will be severely affected by the adults in their lives. "Things can change in a day" is one of the many statements made by the author that creates foreboding as the reader nears the end.

5 stars. Read in 2016

What a fascinating book, such intricate details to weave a story. Every word, every sentence, every paragraph carefully chosen. I have never read anything like it before.

The story, set in rural India, is of fraternal twins Rahel and Esthappen. It is a complicated family saga about love and loss. The caste system is alive and well in this novel. I loved that the story was not linear, we were for told of things to come so knowing the outcome was not the point of the story but the journey itself. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished.

5 stars Read in 2020

What a fantastic book, but hard to keep track of what is going on. On the same page, the reader can experience today and 20 years ago.

But at least one reviewer says:
'Arundhati Roy does wonders with the style of non-sequential narrative, and tells dozens of stories, with multiple characters in such a scattered way, symbolizing the disheveled lives of the characters themselves."

The story is part historical fiction/part family saga. The story takes place in India in 1969. Its main protagonists are Rahel and Esthappen (Estha) who are 'two-egg twins'. 'Dizygotic' doctors called them. They have a huge extended family. There is their great aunt- Baby Kochama. She was Rahel’s baby grandaunt, her grandfather’s younger sister. Her name was really Navomi, Navomi Ipe, but everybody called her Baby. She became Baby Kochamma when she was old enough to be an aunt. There is Chacko, their Uncle, Margaret Kochamma, his ex-wife and Sophie Mol, their cousin. Margaret and Sophie come from London for a visit.

We learn early on that Sophie Mol drowns. We just do not know how.

The story and characters are captivating. I highly recommend this book. Winner of the Man Booker in 1997.

Pre-2016 review:

****

Another little gem of contemporary Indian literature. Two-egg twins, Rahel and Esthappen reunite in the village of their childhood after a long separation caused by tragic events which happened in the late sixties. We slowly understand, piece by piece, what led to these tragedies and what impact it had on the remaining characters. The familiar Indian themes of caste, family and men vs women are again explored, but under a new light. I quite enjoyed the playfulness of Roy's writing, especially when it came to describe how clever/inventive/curious the twins were in their childhood.