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The God of Small Things [Paperback]

Arundhati Roy
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (212 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Perennial; New Ed edition (5 May 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0006550681
  • ISBN-13: 978-0006550686
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (212 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Arundhati Roy
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

In her first novel, award-winning Indian screenwriter Arundhati Roy conjures a whoosh of wordplay that rises from the pages like a brilliant jazz improvisation. The God of Small Things is nominally the story of young twins Rahel and Estha and the rest of their family, but the book feels like a million stories spinning out indefinitely; it is the product of a genius child-mind that takes everything in and transforms it in an alchemy of poetry. The God of Small Things is at once exotic and familiar to the Western reader, written in an English that's completely new and invigorated by the Asian Indian influences of culture and language.

Review

‘Richly deserving the rapturous praise it has received on both sides of the Atlantic…”The God of Small Things” achieves a genuine tragic resonance. It is, indeed, a masterpiece.’ Observer

‘A masterpiece, utterly exceptional in every way.’ William Dalrymple, Harpers and Queen.

‘Roy is truly gifted, not just in her ability to make words playful and meaning mischievous, but to use this to create a language texture that bowls you along, gathering momentum like the narrative itself…Witty and vivid, full of rich, memorable images…a verbal stream of steady beauty.’ Ali Smith

‘A compelling story which somehow marries the deepest, smallest personal emotions with an epic narrative.’ Meera Syal, Daily Express

‘It is rare to find a book that so effectively cuts through the clothes of nationality, caste and religion to reveal the bare bones of humanity. A sensational novel.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Makes the remarkable Arundhati Roy a fitting standard-bearer for the immensely rich literature of India today.’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent

‘A quite astonishing novel by any standards – broad in its historical sweep, emotionally profound and marvellously acute and delicate.’ Economist

‘Quite brilliant…One can only strongly recommend this extremely funny and enchanting and pretty much genius piece of debut fiction.’ Spectator


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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fable of modern india played out through the lives of the central family - an india that is crippled by outer, inner and secret burdens: caste/social control, duty/tradition, and the essential heartbreaking element of this novel: taboo. The plot is impossible to delineate and is executed so adroitly and delicately that rather than just being told the story directly, you realise or suspect by degrees what is going on - much as it is when we might suspect our lovers are having an affair and we build up evidence not only from the present but even the distant past! And yet we remain unsure.

In order to accomplish this novel, Roy has had to pass the english language through a prism and bend it round corners, producing some of the most celestial prose I've ever read and some of the most haunting metaphors.

Within the family, issues of sexual abuse, bereavement and true love are hemmed in by taboo: they remain, as the title goes 'small things' with heartbreaking results, while all around the characters, there exists an india that is luscious and fragrant and well ordered by tradition.

However the sheer beauty of the prose carried me through to the end of the novel - leaving me not only genuinely grieving for this family, but also committed to trying to be more compassionate and understanding in my own life.
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45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Having read the reviews of others - I simply had to write to protest to comments like 'dull' and 'boring', 'couldn't finish it', 'maybe if I'd travelled in India' bla blah blah. Come on! I love nothing more than a good book - and this, I have to say folks, is one of the most beautifully executed books I have ever read. So much so that I can't think of anyone I know I haven't bought it for or lent it to. I think this author deserves full credit for her efforts and every writing prize there is going. I couldn't even begin thinking about how to write like that. She has a unique talent which I think so many others lack. If I were a writer - I would have wanted to be Roy and written this very book. Don't be put off by the negative reviews on this book - give it a chance. I stumbled on this book by chance - no-one had recommended it to me and I really am glad I picked it up. I don't think that this book is 'hyped' at all. It doesn't get its due credit - I've never read a book that has made me feel so strongly before. In terms of writing talent, it surpasses another of my favourite books - Memoirs of a Geisha - and thats saying something.
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51 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Having read and heard lots of fairly negative reviews, I began this book rather apprehensively. And, seemingly like many other people, found it quite difficult to get into, and very nearly gave up after the first few chapters. I'm really not a fan of flowery language just for the sake of it, especially when it makes it difficult to understand what's going on properly! And I thought it was going to be one of those types of books. But then about halfway through, I started really getting into it.

The story jumps about a lot, with twins Estha and Rahel as children in parts and adults in other parts. But each chapter gives you a little clue at the beginning as to which era it is talking about. The twins as children have all sorts of little childish phrases, songs and thoughts that not only portray their playful innocence but also lend the reader a hint as to which period the chapter is currently in. Some reviewers have said that the jumping about in time made the story unnecessarily difficult to follow, and was done just for artistic prize-winning purposes, but I have to disagree. Had the story been told chronologically, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as atmospheric. There were parts of the book where the most important point to get across was the sheer sadness and melancholy. To have had a full prior knowledge of why the sadness was there would have jaded the scene with the reader's own reaction or interpretation of the preceding events. In real life when you meet people with a story or a history behind them, you meet the person and get to know their character first, and then the full story unfolds later on in bits and bobs, just like in this book. Also, that is the way it was for the twins - they didn't really understand the full horror and meaning of what had happened until they grew up. It was a way of showing how the events shaped the twins' lives gradually as they grew to see the significance of each event, without the writer having to spell it out.

It is true that a good story makes a great read, and there are times when over-descriptiveness and too many metaphors can spoil a book and make it boring. But in this case, for me at least, the metaphors combined with the repetitiveness of silly childish chants and phrases made the atmosphere and ambience of the book just right. It also succeeded in bringing me right into the feeling of childhood, with Bar Nowls and Lay Ter (dum dum).

I have to agree with the more positive critics, that this book IS beautifully written. It definitely left me thinking about it for ages afterwards, with each little scene left swimming about in my head for me to daydream away to! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am now feeling a bit lost until I get stuck into another good book.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Agree with other reviews
I agree with all the good reviews here.The story is fascinatingly deep and beautiful, it is multilayered and complicated but this is not a bad thing given that we are clever... Read more
Published 7 days ago by EL EMMO
EXCELLENT book! Just INCREDIBLY written! Pure POETRY-PROSE! ;-)
Honestly, I really can't recall where I first came across reading this book, if it was either down at my local library/or else, through having gone and checked out an Amazon online... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. M. Ramnora
A very impressive story
This is the first book I have read by this author and I am glad that it is his debut book. The story is lovely and convinced me that Arundhati Roy is a great storyteller. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sancho
A wonderful read
This has to be the best book I have ever read. It captured the essence of the characters in the book and made their home and surroundings very real. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mois Mak
The God of small things
Arrived in time and is a good read would definitely recommend to read it and read it and read itThe God of Small Things
Published 2 months ago by Bongi
Intense and poetic
The God of Small Things reads like an elaborate poem. It's a confluence of poetic prose and vivid imagery set against the backdrop of a destitute Indian village. Read more
Published 3 months ago by anaana
Gripping and beautiful
It took me quite a while to read this book, but I couldn't leave it unfinished, because it was haunting and gripping, describing taboos in the Indian culture (and other cultures... Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. M. Fifield
YAWN
After 3 attempts at reading this book ( the 1st 100 pages ), I have finally admitted defeat ...... I just kept hoping it would get better ....... it doesn't !! BORING BORING BORING
Published 3 months ago by B. Edwards
Ready to Read Roy?
Roy has impressed me beyond words! When I read the book, I virtually live in the green land of Kerala! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Sagar Karandikar
Stunning .
Simply put, this is a stunning story. I have just finished reading it and I have to admit this is one of the best books I have ever read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Doherty
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