Book Review: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
With sensuous exposition, an illusory style imbued with amazingly delightful pictures and sharp understanding of human instinct, the debut novel by Arundhati Roy outlines a new area in the class of mystical, kaleidoscopic writing.
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About the Author – Arundhati Roy
Born on 24th November 1961, Suzanna Arundhati Roy is an Indian author best known for her novel The God of Small Things in 1997. Her novel won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997 and became the best-selling book by a non-expatriate Indian author. She is also a political activist involved in human rights and environmental causes.
The book in review – The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The book starts with, Ammukutty Kochamma. A regarded entomologist and old-style violin player, who wanted education rather than an arranged marriage. Her family belongs to a touchable caste and acceptable to others. They wanted their girl wedded somebody from a family like theirs. Ammu met a Bengali and wedded for love. He ended up being a heavy drinker and they separated in two years. With fraternal twins Esthappen (Estha) a kid, and Rahel a girl. Ammu falls back with her children to the family bequest, destined to carry on with a hopeless life as an outcast.
Observations on social issues
The thirty-one-year-old Rahel returns to her childhood house in Ayemenem, to visit her brother Estha. She recalls the events that happened just before and after her cousin Sophie Mol’s arrival in India.
Moreover, the story has strong references to the communist movement in the region. Arundhati Roy makes a powerful observation on the issues of discrimination, gender inequality, caste issues, colonialism, politics, and religion.
Furthermore, the character in the story are just finding life purpose and standing in their community. The book also surfaces the forgotten region of India, which the characters once called home and now there’s poverty like a constant season.
The readers also truly get an overall image that the novel doesn’t focus on only one primary character. In that manner, we become more acquainted with the character of Chacko, the twins’ uncle. And his relationship with his ex Margaret. The tale of Baby Kochamma, the twins’ terrific auntie, and her initial love disenchantments, just as the narrative of Pappachi, the twins’ granddad.
In conclusion, the book defines how small things in life can change someone’s perspective. And how there is always a ray of hope for everyone by almighty. This book is a beautiful narration from a third-person perspective. It is eloquent, enticing, full of emotions, and amazingly written!