God of Small Things

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written, original, yet disturbing
Review: This is a great book! It is poetic but not at all pretentious or literary. The story itself is unlike any other I've read and is ultimately extremely tragic, but it is beautifully told. There are some very, very funny scenes which are brilliantly used, not as a distraction from the sadness of the tale, but as counterpoint to it. Ms. Roy's voice is a fresh and captivating one, and I look forward to her next work.

Rating:
Summary: Overall a good read
Review: Comparable to "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The God of Small Things" exposes the reader to inner life of a family in Kerala, where jealousy, and discrimination in the adult world coexist with the humor and adventure in the child world. Ms.Roy may have lost acceptance in some readers because of her inclusion of several "taboo" plotlines, but I think her work should be praised for its enjoyable plot, which weaves the politics of Kerala, the relationships within a family, and the nature of human spirit into a tapestry that will entertain, educate, and shock the reader.

Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: This is the most amazing novel I have ever read. It's wonderful. I lived inside of it and doled myself out only one chapter a day so that it wouldn't end.

Rating:
Summary: Magical !
Review: This book is magical and yet so reel. A fantastic insight of India and yet so universal. Mrs Roy is talented. I also enjoy a lot her little book about the nuclear bomb( "The end of imagination").It should be teached in all the schools of the world.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece Congratulations Mrs. Roy! An extraordinary drama
Review: This is a simply classic book in which Mrs. Roy has actually given an example of the life of a Christian in India. It sounds very true and it is very touching. The pathos in the story builds up as the story continues. We remorse at the pathetic plight of Ammu, Estha and Rahel. Only an Indian could understand the story since it is not a story but a sort of a reality for him. Indians are under sufference of poverty. In this story it is the real life drama of a family. They meet with so many misfotunes. It is a mind blower by Mrs. Roy. This book is a part of my curriculum. But on reading it I understood its value, its essence.

Rating:
Summary: HORRIBLE CONTENT!!!
Review: I can not believe that a brilliant individual would write such a nauseating, heart wrenching, terrible book. Our book club chose this book-only two of us suffered enough to finish it. After which we all put the book in the trash, where it belongs. It would be nice to read something that Ms. Roy wrote that wasn't filled with all the horrible things of this world-all which happen to be in the same book. USE YOUR BRILLIANT MIND TO WRITE SOMETHING WORTH READING Ms. Roy!

Rating:
Summary: Give us a break ..
Review: The hype surrounding this book abounds with much the same overuse of metaphor as does the writing of the book. Knee deep, no, thigh deep, in metaphor may work for some, but this is a case of the writer sacrifycing story for style. Poetry? No way. A tapestry of overdone style.

Rating:
Summary: This book read like poetry
Review: Not only was this author creative with her story, she was artistic with her words. It's not often one finds such raw talent. The pictures she painted vividly with her words are not easily forgotten. I read this book and immediately re-read it. I would highly recommend it to anyone searching for true literature.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to get into, harder to get out of
Review: I resisted this book from the start, but finally fell headlong into Roy's lush atmosphere. Too atmospheric, for my normal reading preferance, but the thick air, the stench of rot, the stomach-churning violence you know is waiting for you as you continue turning page after page...all of it compels you to keep going. One critic said (s)he immediately began to re-read "Small Things" as soon as it was finished. I can understand that reaction. As horrible as Roy described that world, you are in it, and it's impossible to leave.

Rating:
Summary: Well-conceived and well-written
Review: I strongly recommend this book for anyone with a love of the English language who can recognize a master-craftswoman both in language and storytelling. The rhythms of this story make it a musical read. Ms. Roy is very talented, and I look forward to her next effort.