Rating: 
Summary: donated to the library upon finishing
Review: This book was very upsetting, left me with a feeling of hopelessness about whether anyone can really care about anyone else. Ram Karan, the main character, is a petty civil servant who repeatedly raped his now-grown daughter Anita when she was 12. His wife dies the same year that Anita's husband dies, and so Anita and granddaughter Asha move in with him because they have no other options. Ram tries to build a real decent relationship with Asha, but his carnal impulses overtake him one night and he touches her with his penis, which Anita, the daughter, sees.What is even more disturbing is when Anita finally "outs" her father by telling her many relatives, they all say they already knew. Anita also has a brother and sister who never tried to help her. It seems to me that everyone abandoned Anita when they could see how badly she needed them to help, and it just made me despondent about families. Ram is also sick and needed help so the damage could stop. But instead it keeps spiraling downwards till there is almost no hope for anyone left. This is a very hard book to read, perhaps because it is very realistic and there are no guaranteed happy endings.
Rating: 
Summary: A Brave and Different Story About India
Review: This is a book which I see from other reviews has stirred a lot of controversy. In this case, I think it is a good thing. It means people will discuss the book and ultimately will argue, agree or disagree about what it says about modern day India. As an outsider, I cannot comment on the truth of the story. I understand that it has offended many Indian readers. Most of the characters are unsavory. Many are deranged or criminal. The main character is a corrupt petty government official who takes bribes for first one political party, then later another. His family is split apart, dysfunctional, and despicable. However, the author manages to make them believable and characters we want to understand. The story moves rapidly, occasionally gets confusing, but always gets back on track. There is a wicked humorous tone that intrudes even in the darkest and most outrageous moments, which helps give the story life, and maybe is a warning not to take it all literally. Whether you love or hate these characters, I think the structure and impact of family life also on the larger society which is unique to India is rendered faithfully. I think any good fictional story has elements of truth which each reader can accept or reject to bring home the larger message.
Rating:
Summary: budget Naipaul
Review: This is not the Great American Novel; it is not the Great Indian Novel; it is probably not even the best novel published in 2000. But it is a lot better than the 1 star reviews would suggest, some apparently motivated by Sharma's unflattering portrayal of India. Prospective readers should think of this as sort of low rent Naipaul: a bleak landscape populated by characters unable to exert much control over either the historical forces that shape their environments, or even their own urges. From a storytelling standpoint, Sharma has trouble bring the narrative to a conclusion, and the novel falters in its final quarter, but the ending, at least, rings true.
Rating:
Summary: a challenging, thoughtful read
Review: this material clearly isn't for everyone, but most of those who responded above did not read the book critically. from the illogic of their comments, one suspects jhumpa lahiri's "interpreter of maladies" would be too overwhelming for them as well, even though its subject matter is far less disturbing. "an obedient father" is a rewarding read for anyone who reads critically, and an exceptional debut that was nominated for some of the most prestigious awards in american literature. give it a try and form your own opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing but a good story
Review: Well, there are more disturbing books out there, but... To be honest, it's hard for me to get into stories with too much male political stuff, it gets boring. And the Indian locale made for a lot of unfamiliar references that also kept the story a little distant from me. Still, I forced myself through it until it got interesting enough to carry itself without too much effort because David Sedaris recommended the heck out of it. He couldn't say enough good stuff about it. I'm not sure why he thought it was funny, though. Anyway, I'm more interested in relationship and scandalous stuff, so there was some of that in this book and it was kinda interesting, but I think I was determined to finish because of the Sedaris thing. I would only recommend it if you can handle the disturbing themes, are interested in Indian life (in India), and politics doesn't bore you.
Rating: 
Summary: beautiful ugliness
Review: Yes, there is something of "freeway carnage" to the story told here, but even that painted by George de La Tour would be worthy of study. I also agree that this was the most "Russian" novel that I have read in a long long time. What an incredible mixture!
Rating:
Summary: beautiful ugliness
Review: Yes, there is something of "freeway carnage" to the story told here, but even that painted by George de La Tour would be worthy of study. I also agree that this was the most "Russian" novel that I have read in a long long time. What an incredible mixture!
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