Reviews with content warning for Racism - The God of Small Things

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

66 reviews

mehmehsloth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

You can't come up with words if youbwere to describe the emotions. It's hard to digest and yet somehow easy to ready. You might be aware of what is coming and hence you'll be scared to go ahead. But even through all the grotesque parts a perspective of child is not lost.

No praise is enough to convey what this book says. On surface it's a social themed book but it's a entertaining one. It makes you see it all through eyes of the kids. Hence it makes people feel like kids.

Every description of culture, people, architecture, food and even clothing is discovered and made to look differently. Immense description ranging from kathakali to communism in Kerala to pickle making and to what not. It is one of those pieces that you read once but will remember with incidents and progression.

Ending is what catches you off-guard.

Atleast the incestuous conclusion.

Irrespective of the ending conclusion because, there is no conclusion, the book is devastating story, wrapped in perfectly wrapped flowers of prose and poetry and luxurious descriptions.

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runningonwords415's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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quinn24's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

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talin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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heather_c_w's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Beautifully written. Hard to read at times with the subject matter. I found it tricky to follow and get the gist at points, as the narrative switches perspectives and time frames a lot. But things generally became a bit clearer towards the end as the timelines merged - and this actually reflects that clarity that comes to the characters in adulthood in comparison to their childhood understanding.

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meghancolbert's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Arundhati Roy’s writing is exquisite. She writes as if the plot is a block of marble that she is slowly chiseling away at. The story does not unfold in chronological order, and the narrative subtly switches between past and present (sometimes you have to pay attention to small details to know which decade you are in). Despite the constant shifting, I was never confused about what was happening or where the author was leading me. I could see the final masterpiece emerging from the block of marble bit by bit. Arundhati Roy paints an incredibly detailed and nuanced picture of generational trauma, family dysfunction, and the corrosive natures of jealousy, grief, and guilt. This is the story of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel, who have their childhood innocence violently stolen from them by the adults who were supposed to protect them. As adults, Estha and Rahel reunite and struggle to repair their once-inseparable bond. As they battle their demons, they make a remarkably destructive choice that endangers them both.
I appreciate that Roy refused to sugar coat the devastating effects of trauma on the human psyche, and resisted the common temptation to force happy endings on her characters. This book will disturb and sadden you, but at the same time will prompt you to reflect deeply on human nature, love, rebellion, and free will.

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