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Summary: correction of the summary
Review: I thought it was necessary to add a little correction to Bill Minor's otherwise thoughtful critique. Chacko is Mammachi's son, not his wife, divorced or otherwise. Mammachi is the widow of Pappachi, the wife-beater and moth discoverer. That's all.
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Summary: It is a little different...
Review: The style of writing is diferent from the ordinary but does cause some confusion in the readers mind. The timelines overlap too much. though realistic, the story has a pessimistic touch.
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Summary: disfunction junction
Review: Against the backdrop of a small town in India, Roy deftly and powerfully portrays intricately woven, dreamlike descriptions of the reality and effects of modern Indian life as gripping as any blanket-bound child in her mother's arms on a stormy night. The reader is drawn to an understanding of a place where each character is either bound or destroyed by the pressures integral to the clashing remnants of English colonial India and modern India. The most compelling element of the story is the fact that the conflict takes place at levels that are universal, and not limited by time or place - society vs. individual(s), class vs. class, ethnicity vs. ethnicity - all are detailed within the scope of "God of small things".Following are some examples that quickly summarize the main theme; which simply is - enjoy life, make the most of your life, because you will die, sooner or later, and that is it. Roy shows us "good" people that are not alive and "bad" people that are, and are destroyed for it. Chacko presents the man who will never be English and cannot be Indian. In this position of limbo - unable to assimilate into either Indian or English society, his marriage to Margaret Kochama, an Englishwoman, ends broken. Due to his ethnicity and despite his intellect, he is unable to retain a worthwhile position in England, settles in ,and settles for, India. His marriage to Mammachi is a farce, more a marriage of convenience than anything, as evidenced by the socially acceptable fulfillment of his "manly needs". Chacko, we can only assume, finds peace after her death and his eventual move to Canada (interestingly another English colonial possession). Mammachi can only accept her social position, divorce being socially disdained. Her (and Ayemmenum's) acceptance of Chacko's "manly needs" -- to the extent that he has an entrance for his nightly visitors - results in frustrations that are twisted and projected onto Ammu (for her love and its impropriety). Baby Kochama, who's obsessive love for Father Mulligan is indicated by her nightly journal entries of "I love you, I love you," ad nauseum, further exemplifies individuals' willingness to submit their desires to be bound by social propriety. Her love for him will always be unrequited because of his departure from "acceptable" Syrian Christianity to become a Vishnite. Her frustrations are also projected onto Ammu for the same reasons. The final example is Comrade Pillai, a pillar of society, amounting, in reality, to no more than a lecherous pedant (wanting to touch his wife's breast and finishing his dinner, while a madman(Velutha) begging for help stands in the rain). These people don't seem to have a life or positive emotion beyond their careers and their pride in being amongst the higher echelon of proper Indian society. The ongoing conflict inherent of social stratification at various levels (English vs. Indian, Touchable vs. Untouchable, Emotive vs. Social) creates "bad" people that live life and experience emotion from an inward, introspective and individual versus "good" people that move through life, looking outward and gauging their success by the others' opinions of their work, position and special abilities (Baby Cochama's violin playing, Pillai as the head of the Marxist party, etc.). Those that refuse to bow to social propriety are destroyed by it. Velutha, the god of small things, loving Ammu and Rahel and Estha (red varnish under his fingertips), is swallowed by madness and destroyed physically and maliciously by the enforcers of the law. Ammu is forced to leave for loving an untouchable, forced to split her children, and dies alone. And Rahel and Estha form an unusual coda to this story, a dysfunctional product formulated by the events they've lived (particularly the lemondrink man, sophie mol's death, velutha's destruction, and the anger, frustration and dearth of positive emotion from their relatives). Their shared "hideous grief" is as beautiful as it is disturbing. The God of Small Things is sad; it is compelling; it is understandable; and, unfortunately, it happens. I thank God for my life and the God of small things for my life.
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Summary: The most touching and original book I have ever read.
Review: The writing in this book is extraordinary. The author absolutely captured the thought processes and language of children. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. I've read thousands of books in my life, but it is this book alone that actually made me cry with its beauty, sadness and loneliness. Because I'm not familiar with India's history, I think that I probably missed some important points and nuances. Also, because the names were unusual (to me), I had to read slowly and deliberatley in order to keep the characters straight. The time line was woven wonderfully, but it did make me have to concentrate to stay on course. This is not a book to be read in a hurry or distractedly, the descriptions and dialogue must be savored. Absolutely Beautiful.
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Summary: audio book is confusing
Review: too many names introduced, too much criss-crossing of timelines with no pausing or explanation...not to mention dull. Abridged version (6 hours) needs to be further abridged to 3 hours.
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Summary: Definitely worth reading.
Review: Funny how one small life choice can have such an effect on the rest of your life. Desperation forces us to make choices we normally wouldn't consider worthy. I could see myself in this book, wishing later in life that things would have turned out better, if not differently. Like Ammu, I could have made one that one choice that would have made all the difference.
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Summary: Not enough respect given to maoris
Review: Except for a fleeting reference to 'Ooshton Hauston Bergasson' the story lacks detail of the Maori migration to Dargaville and Kaitaia. Joe Hawke is referred to in a very disrepectful way as a mongrel - which may or may not be true.
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Summary: Woah!
Review: This was just amazing! Absolutely amazing! The poetry of her words is so powerful. I took the time to hold each word in my hand, such precious gems are not found often. Woah! You'll want to read it again, and again, and again.
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Summary: I'm mixed on this one...
Review: I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. I know I didn't hate it, but it was way too poetic for my taste. It became so metaphorical and dream-like that I was confused and had to read paragraphs twice or three times to try to get somewhat of an understanding. However, Ms. Roy is a brilliant writer and the storyline (well, the parts that I comprehended!) was very good. Her descriptions are very vivid and the characters are adequately fleshed-out. The last chapter was soooo worth it. A very different read. But take your time or you'll get lost!
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Summary: A book you will not be able to put down
Review: I found this book incredible, it was recomended by a friend and I have since then recomended it to anyone who will listen. Ms. Roy has an icredible way of bringing the reader into her world. I really could not put the book down and I will for ever have a little girl living in my mind wearing yellow sunlasses with red lenses who makes you pay attention to all the small things in life.
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