Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - El dios de las pequeñas cosas

God of small things definitely deserves the attention it has gotten. Set in Ayenmen, Kerala, the narration takes a deep dive into the casteism, taboos around love and the different standards held for men and women (often held up by other women) when it comes to love and sex.
Despite being heavy, the writing style was still quite enjoyable. The descriptions were strange yet vivid and accurate. Many descriptions definitely unsettled me but that only increased the quality of the narration. This novel is supposed to be unsettling and the descriptions build that aura most aptly. Due to the thick and heavy writing style it did take me a while to get through it.
In my opinion it is primarily a socio-political commentary presented as a narration and might require the right head space for some to enjoy.

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quinn24's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

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thomasdj's review against another edition

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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

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tinny's review against another edition

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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.

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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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