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duskx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy unfurls like a melancholic hymn, weaving the fragility of human emotions with the relentless weight of societal expectations. Set in the verdant heart of Kerala, India, the novel traces the invisible tremors of small, fleeting moments—moments that ripple through time, shattering lives and leaving deep scars. Through this tapestry of love, loss, and caste-bound constraints, Roy paints a portrait of a family fractured by the quiet cruelty of the world around them, haunted by their own unspoken pain.
Rather than diving into the plot, I’d argue the true brilliance of this novel lies in Roy’s prose. Her writing is both lyrical and evocative, almost poetic, a fusion that captures the fragility and quiet despair of the world she constructs. Her imagery is unforgettable: crisp dead insects littering the floor, the wilted arum lilies atop the child’s coffin, the aroma of red fish curry cooked with black tamarind, the stench of old urine lingering in the air. It’s a symphony of senses, combining both beauty and decay, woven together with such precision that each line feels like an incantation.
In Roy’s hands, small moments become monumental. The sound of innocent laugh basking in sunlight, and then, almost imperceptibly, bitter lies ignite like kindling, swelling into devastating fires. A weak protest, dismissed at first, is shattered beyond repair. The narrative reverberates with gut-wrenching sobs, hollow laughter, deafening curses, and late apologies drenched in vertiginous guilt. It is a cacophony of regret that buzzes, swelling with a delirious intensity.
Slapping. Cursing. Spitting. Kicking. Stomping.
Each revelation carves deeper, unraveling the delicate threads of hope. What begins with an air of innocence and optimism spirals into a chasm—vast, dark, and unrelenting—until every flicker of light is consumed. The tension tightens gradually, each moment more harrowing than the last.
The characters are just as intricately crafted—vivid, multi-dimensional, and tethered to the weight of societal and familial expectations. Forbidden love, caste oppression, and dysfunctional familial bonds pulse through the narrative, adding complexity without sacrificing the nuanced portrayal of human emotion and interaction.
I almost put this book down at the (child) sexual assault scene, but since Rosh recommended it to me, I mustered the grit and determination to keep going. I’m glad I did because this is a must-read for anyone who appreciates literary fiction that is as beautifully written as it is socially relevant. While its fragmented structure and constant shifts in time can be disorienting, and the prose, at times, quite dense, the novel remains an essential read.
Rather than diving into the plot, I’d argue the true brilliance of this novel lies in Roy’s prose. Her writing is both lyrical and evocative, almost poetic, a fusion that captures the fragility and quiet despair of the world she constructs. Her imagery is unforgettable: crisp dead insects littering the floor, the wilted arum lilies atop the child’s coffin, the aroma of red fish curry cooked with black tamarind, the stench of old urine lingering in the air. It’s a symphony of senses, combining both beauty and decay, woven together with such precision that each line feels like an incantation.
In Roy’s hands, small moments become monumental. The sound of innocent laugh basking in sunlight, and then, almost imperceptibly, bitter lies ignite like kindling, swelling into devastating fires. A weak protest, dismissed at first, is shattered beyond repair. The narrative reverberates with gut-wrenching sobs, hollow laughter, deafening curses, and late apologies drenched in vertiginous guilt. It is a cacophony of regret that buzzes, swelling with a delirious intensity.
Slapping. Cursing. Spitting. Kicking. Stomping.
Each revelation carves deeper, unraveling the delicate threads of hope. What begins with an air of innocence and optimism spirals into a chasm—vast, dark, and unrelenting—until every flicker of light is consumed. The tension tightens gradually, each moment more harrowing than the last.
The characters are just as intricately crafted—vivid, multi-dimensional, and tethered to the weight of societal and familial expectations. Forbidden love, caste oppression, and dysfunctional familial bonds pulse through the narrative, adding complexity without sacrificing the nuanced portrayal of human emotion and interaction.
I almost put this book down at the (child) sexual assault scene, but since Rosh recommended it to me, I mustered the grit and determination to keep going. I’m glad I did because this is a must-read for anyone who appreciates literary fiction that is as beautifully written as it is socially relevant. While its fragmented structure and constant shifts in time can be disorienting, and the prose, at times, quite dense, the novel remains an essential read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
agnela's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First and foremost, this is full of fat phobia. If a character is violent, angry or despicable, you can bet they'll be overweight. The prose is stunning, gorgeous, maybe sometime a bit too much, where you wanted the story to go faster, but this added more poetry feels to it. Without all of it, it's just a family drama. I will remember how this made me feel, but I don't know if there's much left to think about after. Well see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
awoodward1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This attempts to be an epic tale of India's class struggle, castle system and family and sexual politics. I didn't feel it was quite pulled off. In the early stages, too much effort is spent teasing the action to come in the final act, and as a result for at least the first half I just felt anxious about what was to come. The balance is also off between literary descriptions of the setting vs. genuine character development - particularly of the star crossed lovers. This makes the first two thirds a slog, although the final third is pacey and action packed. There are some uncomfortable moments involving the twins too which I would rather not have read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
serenspace's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Incest, Sexual content, Grief, and Classism
avuavu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
pranati_pathak05's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
quinn24's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
thomasdj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Incest, and Pedophilia
Minor: Sexual content
tinny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
Stunning. Not a single word misplaced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse
mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was very heavy and the events were difficult to read. I have found myself thinking of this almost daily since finishing. So much of it was through the lens of children which made it both devastating and incredibly interesting. Reading afterward that there was a lawsuit against the author in her home state (now dropped) with charges of obscenity is not entirely surprising - more, it solidifies the whole point of the story that needed to be told, and the stories in real life that have been silenced.
It's hard to rate this for enjoyment...it was profoundly depressing. But it is solid in its execution and deserves a 4 at least.
The imagery was 10/10...I annotated so much but these are some of my favorites.
"So small god laughed a hollow laugh and skipped away cheerfully. Like a rich boy in shorts. He whistled, kicked stones. The source of his brittle elation was the relative smallness of his misfortune. He climbed into people's eyes and became an exasperating expression."
"Liquid ache spread under her skin, and she walked out of the world like a witch, to a better, happier place."
"Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away."
"War has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves."
"Ammu flew through her dream on heavy, shuddering wings, and stopped to rest just under the skin of it."
"If you're happy in a dream Ammu, does it count?
It's hard to rate this for enjoyment...it was profoundly depressing. But it is solid in its execution and deserves a 4 at least.
The imagery was 10/10...I annotated so much but these are some of my favorites.
"So small god laughed a hollow laugh and skipped away cheerfully. Like a rich boy in shorts. He whistled, kicked stones. The source of his brittle elation was the relative smallness of his misfortune. He climbed into people's eyes and became an exasperating expression."
"Liquid ache spread under her skin, and she walked out of the world like a witch, to a better, happier place."
"Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away."
"War has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves."
"Ammu flew through her dream on heavy, shuddering wings, and stopped to rest just under the skin of it."
"If you're happy in a dream Ammu, does it count?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Colonisation