The God of Small Things

Rating:
Summary: a lucky writer!!! not a gifted one..
Review: i read this book like i am studying for some exam..it was hard to understand the real meaning if u do a light reading..i think this book is a best thing for literature students .. i like the way she describes things to its minutest details..like about the yellow coloured chips..abt the way..she repeats her words.. the story is not very new or different .. but the way she narrates through the eyes of the kids.. is truly amazing. i donot think she deserves the booker prize.. but she is lucky enough she got away with it..

Rating:
Summary: A story so disturbingly unforgettable.
Review: The poetic prose tells a disturbing and haunting story from the eyes of children in India. The ending so unbelievably terrifying, yet undeniably apppropriate.

Rating:
Summary: Death to the critics! I want my money back!
Review: I am appalled that a book this bad could have won the Booker National Award. It is undoubtedly one of the worst books I have read in years. Stilted language. No plot. Characters that are, beneath it all, quite trashy. A novel that goes nowhere and actually is offensive (the bathroom scene was the last straw). I tried to read through this book but it was so painful I put it down after 100 pages. Enough was enough. THis book has no redeeming qualities. And it really makes me question the judgement of the critics. (Are they on the publisher's payroll? What gives with all the hype?) To the critics: shame on you. This is no masterpiece. And it will be the last time I buy a book on your recommendations. If I had my way, you'd refund my money! With so many wonderful books out there, this is one big waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Rich in language...poor in plot....disjointed.
Review: Roy's use of language impressive, but obscure at times....Put it down to translation? Or the dichotomy of the English language spoken by an Indian.

Rating:
Summary: Dazzling word-play makes up for other minor deficiencies
Review: I was truly impressed by the spectacular word-craft displayed by this first-time author. This and the poignant underpinning concerning the twins more than make up for other deficiencies such as a superficial title, a cliched ending, and playing up to western fantasies of India! All said, hearty kudos for this ambitious author and I personally expect more good stuff from her.

Rating:
Summary: vivid images, complex personalities - today's Shakespeare
Review: A must read for the power, beauty and the horror of the human condition. The beginning events can only culminate one way. To have read the last chapter without reading all that comes before would have been a BIG mistake.

Rating:
Summary: Stupendous !!!
Review: A Great book by any standards.... Roy is at her best describing nature and nature is at its best in Kerala!!(south India)A must read for all Mallus !!!

Rating:
Summary: an exotic and thrilling narrative
Review: Roy's novel is a miraculous literary achievement. She is able to combine so many different elements from her environment into a plot that branches off into the wilderness. The atmosphere is vivid and surreal; the images that Roy evokes allow for the true story behind the novel to come alive. Her literary deftness along with her powerful and piercing imagination makes The God of Small Things an achievement of outstanding literary merit.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly new and clever!
Review: The is the most enjoyable book I have read in years! The story is interesting, tragic and very well told. However, it is the refreshingly new, clever and bold writing style that took my breath away. I gasped. I cried. I Laughed Heartily. I was amazed that anyone could be so clever with the playful and forceful use of words. I can't wait for more !

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant first book, but confusing in its conclusion
Review: The book lives up to its hype - it is entertaining, the characterizations are well-etched and captivating. Estha really tugs at your heart, and Rahel's mental torture is brilliant in its silence. The visual writing style was appealing in its uniqueness. I did have a couple of the proverbial bones to pick with the author - why did the twins have to end up the way they did ? I felt the twins' fate was thought up as a commercialisation, something twisted to attract readers. I felt it was wholly unnecessary. And the use of the word 'laterite' with such relentless and unnecesary frequency irritated me. Why 'laterite'???