Book info

• Title The God of Small Things
• Author Arundhati Roy
• Year 1997
• Genre Historical

This is the story of Rahel and Estha, twins growing up among the banana jam vats and peppercorns of their blind grandmother’s factory, and amid scenes of political turbulence in Kerala. Armed only with the innocence of youth, they fashion a childhood in the shade of the wreck that is their family: their lonely, lovely mother, their beloved Uncle Chacko (pickle baron, radical Marxist, bottom-pincher) and their sworn enemy, Baby Kochamma (ex-nun, incumbent grand-aunt).

Thoughts

I wouldn’t have picked this one up if it hadn’t been on the Big Read reading list that I’m working through, but I’m glad I got the chance to read it. It’s an evocative story, hard work to get straight in your head, and an intensely depressing tale, but a good one.

I did find it difficult with the flashbacks and flashforwards, but for the most part the story is set when a pair of twins are seven years old in India, and a few bad things happen to and around them, so that they are separated.

It’s hard to relate to a lot of it, the bond that twins have, the prejudice that affects this family, and some of the odd beliefs that they have (not religious but just in how one should act), but even so, it’s fascinating to read about a whole other life, and how tragedy and sadness can affect every person in different ways.

Rating: 3 / 5