The God of Small Things: A Novel

A book with 'small' in its title tackled some big subjects at its core. The book's narrative is not chronologically smooth some even can say it's disjointed and confusing but for me, it was near perfect although I a few times got confused on the timeline It didn't make any impact on my experience cause the events and memories that Roy has written are most memorable not only for the individual characters but the way they're presented in, I would say it becomes somewhat memorable to the reader too. The prose was excellent, I just loved the metaphors she used and her humour. for me, the prose is a big thing for a book and this book has the perfect pH level for that. Neither too descriptive like some of the old classics nor too simple and bare-boned. Roy addressed so many sociological, cultural, and religious aspects here, sometimes the negative part. Even with All of this, her book didn't feel too saturated to the point of being careless and it didn't feel like somebody read a bunch of articles of societal and religious hypocrisy and dumped them at the same place.
I accept that some of the middle portions seemed rather mundane to the whole story that's why it doesn't become a 4.25 star read.
some might say that I enjoyed it more cause I'm pretty familiar with the political and social structure of that time, of Indian society but I think anyone who has a little knowledge about the political situation of that time along with keen observation and introspective thinking would be easily able to understand it pretty clearly.
so parts can be pretty triggering to some, but it was;t too gory in my opinion do check the trigger warnings before that. Otherwise, I am pretty sure I will recommend it pretty much to anyone who is looking for a realistic literary fiction book. It took me only 4 days even though I was only reading it on my breaks.
p.s- Now I understand why the hype and why it became a booker winner

I did not end up finishing the book. The writing style was practically poetic, but it was simply hard for me to follow along and maintain my attention

I liked how everything was telling the story, everything small and mundane. Fleeting yet overwhelmingly present that it is left unseen or casually printed in the background of life. On the other hand I felt sorry for all these little things, which I consider as refuge from a world saturated with long accumulated meaning. I wanted a small passing gesture of a child to remain floating without symbolic burdens. I liked the orchestrated oblivion towards the climax of the story, and the writers way of telling us to receive the story’s events as if they are happening by chance, but you also sense the irony when you see the careful montage of the course of events. As if she is saying that history is a construct and we are living its consequence, regardless of political and social change — a story as old as time. But also saying that pain can travel and we might end up suffering the consequence of another person’s circumstances. Guilt is a moth traveling like a ghost or like doubt; mysteriously comes and goes. I never pictured guilt in that way. I liked how she described Christianity seeping into the Indian region like tea in a tea pot. I loved the scene when Ammu and her children sat listening to the song from the radio and the one followed that when Ammu was looking at herself in the mirror; the contemplation that oscillated between her body and her future. I also enjoyed very much the parallels the writer makes in the building of an important scene, like the events inside and outside the police officer’s window. Or when Chako was telling a joke while Margaret was watching the way he arranged his food, and how they both laughed at the same time for completely different reasons, but these reasons are too close in proximity for anyone to ever notice.

Favourite favourite favourite so far! 🤩 also loved the special guest!

Never read this when it first came out. So glad I have now. Absolutely beautiful imagery, rich and sensitive. Superb.