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Summary: Hard read But FUNNY
Review: Although, difficult to follow at times, it was an interesting book. The use of language is unusual, it wasn't romantisized to sound like alot of the books these days. there was alot of time travel back and forth that made the stories seem disjointed at times. If you are looking for something different and some good laughs, this is it. A lot of characters but what the heck. It also gave an insight into the different social classes in that part of the world and how they affect our lives. So try it.
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Summary: What's the big deal with this book ?
Review: I must say, I can't understand the hype about this book. Boy, Was I disappointed. Big time. The book just never did hook me into wanting to finish it. I couldn't care less about the characters.
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Summary: Unique poetic narrative
Review: What a strange and wonderful book this is! It is written in a style that is diarming at first, yet captivates the heart. The characters are believable and yet have a haze of mytique about them all that is the stuff of legends. Roy narrates a story that is packed with sadness and tragedy. The love between a brother and sister that is broken by so much pain is aching in its intensity and power. As the story of abuse unfolds in its frank and shocking way, one can only sit back and scream at the inhumanity of those who harm little children. There is no question that the narrative style of Roy's writing is difficult at first, but it has a rhythm, a cadence that you have to slide into and become part of. Then the story becomes a part of you.
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Summary: Poetic, beautiful, but lacking something
Review: Language beatiful and poetic but can't understand why it won a literary prize. Not particularly well written, in my opinion. The novel contains many very interesting images and the social history content is, in my mind, gripping. I do find the time-travel tiresome though, and was not crafted in any way to keep my attention. However, this is a very beautiful book, even although it is difficult to love any of the characters involved, we can identify with some of them.
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Summary: very compelling read
Review: I agree with the reader who says that this book needs to be read asecond time in order to fully understand it. The first read usually leaves you a little confused and wondering what the entire thing was about. The story is a little disjointed and only a second pass helped me to associate the flash backs and flash forwards. But I'm glad I did. This definitely is a lot more substance than I've read in a while. People who have given up on it should definitely give it a second try.
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Summary: One of the best books I've read...innovative language
Review: What is the God of Small Things? Small things are what we talk about when the big things are too difficult and too overwhelming. This book is the story of the childhood of non-fraternal twins, Rahel & Estha - a girl and a boy, family, forbidden lovers, politics, and tradition. Ammu is the twins' mother; a woman of a priviledged family who married, then divorced her twins' alcoholic father. Baby Kochamma is their manipulative spinster aunt who pines for a priest she met as a young girl. Sophie Mol is a visting Indian/English cousin who meets her end soon after arriving. The story progresses, in a backwards and forwards manner, telling the tale(s) that ended their childhoods. The children, utimately become pawns in the cruel "history" being played out by the adults around them. We often see the result of the action, before we know what occurred; a complex puzzle unfolding. This story encorporates issues of human relationships, the complicated emotions and repurcussions of the caste system, brutality, and the ability to survive. Holding together the microcosms of the many "small" stories within this story is Roy's use of language. The silly rhymes of the children, their imaginative nicknames for adults, and their view of the love and cruelty of adults, and the interpretation of the world on their terms, creates a framework for this story. The use of "non-standard" English is widely used, which some reviews seem to believe is unintentional. For instance, verbs are sometimes capitalized in order to emphasize the inevitability, the concrete-ness, of the action. Sentances are often framented in order to express a thought, especially a child's thought. (I certainly don't think in complete, grammatical sentances myself). It's really quite beautifully written. It takes a few pages to get to the heart of the story, but once there you will be enthralled. If you are open to an innovative use of language and story telling, along with complex, emotional narrative, you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: well, it's better than Rushdie
Review: I'm deeply ambivalent about this one. First off, I think Ms Roy has very nearly struck the perfect balance between the traditional English that Indians, raised on Dickens and Trollope and company, had imposed on them and the sing song pidgin rhythms of India, which Rushdie has rendered so annoyingly. At times the repetitions and sentence fragments and other affectations become more of a hindrance than a benefit, but it seems that some Indian writers feel compelled to write in this sort of native style, and if it is inevitable, then better Roy's fairly controlled method than Rushdie's incomprehensible over-the-top method. And I did enjoy the book to a degree. The story of two twins who are separated for some mysterious reason at an early age, with one of them falling completely silent, is handled almost like a mystery. The story has a real narrative drive as the history of and reasons for these events unfolds. But I've got to admit, whatever the controversial politics of the novel are, they went right over my head. I'm sure it has to do with Imperialism, Marxism, Socialism, Christianity, Hinduism, etc., because they are all mentioned a lot. But I truthfully couldn't discern the deeper political messages of the novelist. Perhaps they are too parochial? And when the book's mysteries are finally revealed, I just didn't think that the dark secrets at the heart of the novel were of sufficient import to justify the portentous build up that they were given. Then again, I'm a chauvinist, xenophobic, insensitive jerk, so I'm willing to assume that part of the blame is mine. I certainly look forward to Ms Roy's subsequent efforts. Grade: C+
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Summary: A SLEEPING PILL
Review: Having purchased the book in 97, I could only end it this month. Says something about the interest factor in the writing. Ms Roy has written a book which is by all means autobiographical. In parts it gets disjointed and shaky; at other parts the book goes haywire. Suddenly it shoots into a unknown terrain which has no link with the main story. The result CONFUSION CONFOUNDED! Damn it, this must be definitely art. It certainly is no real world story. But modern art's appeal lies in the hype surrounding the artist. SO the publishers have unleashed a campaign to tell us that if we cannot appreciate this, we must be uncouth!!! The story is set in Kerala and is supposed to be the world as seen thru the eyes of a child. This much is okay. But what really got onto my nerves was showy phrases and corny digressions. The first page definitely is similar to Alan Paton's " Cry the beloved country." Yet there is no passage which is really memorable or can make u emotional. The author has had a sad and disjointed life for sure. But this alone does not make for good literature. Anyway having gone to sleep at least a hundred times while trying to read this, I surely rate it as the best sleeping pill!
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Summary: help!
Review: hi, im miranda, 16 and in london. i read this book and i gotta do a revies in front of the class about it, and it cant just be read our boringly, its gotta be different. so anyhone got any ideas 4 me> PLEEEEEEEZE!
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Summary: Poignant, Stunning
Review: I can usually tell by the first paragraph if I want to keep reading. I put this book back on the shelf after the first few lines. Later, I checked out the audio from the library and listened on the way to work. I was mesmerized. A very good exploration into primal needs and human victimization. Poetic and astounding. I am going to read the book!
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