Scan barcode
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
mnasr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism
annatan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Colonisation
lcamp2780's review against another edition
dark
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
amjone12's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Police brutality
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Classism
johnatetheapple's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
This book is black magic, its dark spell distills humanity into mere mortal words in a way that leaves you feeling speechless, uncomfortable, and utterly amazed.
This book weaves a complex story of intertwined narratives which feed off each other. The disorganised way in which the story is revealed to us serves to put us in the same mental haze the characters no doubt live through, suspended between the past and the present, their demons haunting them around every corner.
This book genuinely changed something inside of me, and it has rightfully earned the spot amongst the most remarkable book I’ve ever read in my life.
The book has a slow-pace, with the events unfolding leisurely. The author pulls you into many worlds and many perspectives in quick succession, and I was fascinated with the journey. I followed her through these numerous portals with the utmost pleasure. But fair warning that it may at times be disorienting, and at others completely overwhelming, so I don’t recommend reading this book all at once or very quickly. Pace yourself.
I feel like I was genuinely pulled into the world of Ayemenem, with its grief and love and laughter. Speaking of, this books was surprisingly funny, which is not something I’ve noticed any reviews I read mention. Yes, it is poignant and life-changing and harrowing, but it’s also hilarious at times, which caught me unawares.
I feel like I know these people intimately, and if I could only have one complaint it’s that I wish we saw more of Velutha especially, and more of adult Rahel and Estha, because I feel like I was starving for more of them but was left mostly hungry.
All in all, this book should be read by everyone and taught in schools, studied in universities. I am ready to write a 70-page dissertation on it.
I am genuinely tempted to bulk order copies of this book and simply begin handing them out to everyone I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
cliorr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pedophilia, Vomit, and Police brutality
ctmy04's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
amazing message and spectacular portrayal of a deeply generationally traumatized family in malayam, india. tackles very hard topics and strong emotions, not for the weak-hearted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, and Infidelity