A review by sha66areads
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

challenging emotional funny sad medium-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

3.75

I had no idea what to expect going into this book but so glad it was the book club’s pick for January. It was so different from the usual books I read. Much more dense and emotionally expressive in a deeeep, real human, way. 

I had some trouble with the writing. Certain words being joined into one and I was also not used to reading a denser book. But! Overall I really enjoyed (maybe not the right word) this. Love the way Arundhati Roy tied things back together and how realistic the twins’ perspective was. All of them were so human with their flaws; no one was perfect. 

Some favourite quotes: 

“Chacko laid his ear against it and listened with wonder at the rumblings from within. Messages being sent from here to there. New organs getting used to each other. A new government setting up its systems. Organizing the division of labor, deciding who would do what”

“The twins were too young to know that these were only history’s henchmen. Sent to square the books and collect the dues from those who broke its laws. Impelled by feelings that were primal yet paradoxically wholly impersonal. Feelings of contempt born of inchoate, unacknowledged fear-civilization’s fear of nature, men’s fear of women, power’s fear of powerlessness.
Man’s subliminal urge to destroy what he could neither subdue nor deify.
Men’s Needs.”
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