Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize. The richly exotic story of the childhood the twins Esthappen and Rahel craft for themselves amongst India's vats of banana jam and mountains of peppercorns. Repackaged as part of the 2008 Perennial fiction promotion. More magical than Mistry, more of a rollicking good read than Rushdie, more nerve-tinglingly imagined than Naipaul, here, perhaps, is the greatest Indian novel by a woman. Arundhati Roy has written an astonishingly rich, fertile novel, teeming with life, colour, heart-stopping ...
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Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize. The richly exotic story of the childhood the twins Esthappen and Rahel craft for themselves amongst India's vats of banana jam and mountains of peppercorns. Repackaged as part of the 2008 Perennial fiction promotion. More magical than Mistry, more of a rollicking good read than Rushdie, more nerve-tinglingly imagined than Naipaul, here, perhaps, is the greatest Indian novel by a woman. Arundhati Roy has written an astonishingly rich, fertile novel, teeming with life, colour, heart-stopping language, wry comedy and a hint of magical realism. Set against a background of political turbulence in Kerala, Southern India, 'The God of Small Things' tells the story of twins Esthappen and Rahel. Among the vats of banana jam and heaps of peppercorns in their grandmother's factory, they try to craft a childhood for themselves amidst what constitutes their family -- their lonely, lovely mother, their beloved Uncle Chacko (pickle-baron, radical Marxist and bottom-pincher) and their avowed enemy; Baby Kochamma (ex-nun and incumbent grand-aunt).
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Considering all the prizes this book received, I thought it would be worth reading. I found it so overwritten and the plot so overwrought. The endless similes really started me annoy me. I've heard Ms. Roy speaking out about issues and I admire her courage, but I found this almost unreadable.
kroff
May 24, 2007
Brilliant
Arundhati Roy is one of the most talented writers to emerge yet. Her unpretentious, sensually euphoric style makes this novel a "must read".
snaglepuss
Apr 3, 2007
The best...
This was the only book I could not put down. Yes, a fascinating look at another time and place. Yes, crafted as though you are living and breathing and worried about the chutneys. I loved it because it taught me how to be an engaged reader and mostly why we need to trust gifted writers. My vote for all time best book ever.
