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The God Of Small Things Paperback – 1 January 2002
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- Print length356 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin India
- Publication date1 January 2002
- Dimensions2.14 x 13.5 x 21.6 cm
- ISBN-10014302857X
- ISBN-13978-9794614020
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Product details
- Publisher : Penguin India; 2002nd edition (1 January 2002)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 356 pages
- ISBN-10 : 014302857X
- ISBN-13 : 978-9794614020
- Item Weight : 280 g
- Dimensions : 2.14 x 13.5 x 21.6 cm
- Country of Origin : India
- Net Quantity : 1.00 count
- Best Sellers Rank: #434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Arundhati Roy is the author of a number of books, including The God of Small Things, which won the Booker Prize in 1997 and has been translated into more than forty languages. She was born in 1959 in Shillong, India, and studied architecture in Delhi, where she now lives. She has also written several non-fiction books, including Field Notes on Democracy, Walking with the Comrades, Capitalism: A Ghost Story, The End of Imagination, and most recently Things That Can and Cannot Be Said, co-authored with John Cusack. Roy is the recipient of the 2002 Lannan Foundation Cultural Freedom Prize, the 2011 Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing, and the 2015 Ambedkar Sudar award.
Customer reviews
Customers say
Customers find this book to be a staggering masterpiece with wonderful writing that brims with literariness and an exquisitely narrated plot that is heart touching. Moreover, they appreciate its cultural depth, with one review noting how it familiarizes readers with the region's culture, while another highlights its vivid imagery and devastating beauty. The book has a profound impact, with one customer noting how it opens up their mind, and another mentioning its powerful exploration of themes. However, the story pace receives mixed reactions, with some finding it an extraordinary journey while others say it takes time to get into. Additionally, some customers find the book boring.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a staggering masterpiece that is worth every minute of reading.
"...Book Quality: The quality of this book is outstanding. It arrived in perfect condition, with a sturdy cover and crisp, clean pages...." Read more
"...physical intmacy don't appear needed. Still , it's a great book to read ." Read more
"...only weaves a story of small things beautifully, but also craftily with utmost care bringing her architect training to it's full power...." Read more
"Good quality and no damages.Satisfied!" Read more
Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting that the language brims with literariness and the story is narrated exquisitely, with one customer highlighting how the author meticulously considers and delineates every small detail.
"...Roy’s prose is both lyrical and precise, painting vivid pictures of the socio-political landscape while delving deep into the emotional and..." Read more
"...to pay heed to the essential protection of vulnerable and precious childhood of offspring ...." Read more
"...of the impending doom, each time you get lost in it's eerie yet highly descriptive and beautiful world of prose about other things, big and small...." Read more
"Heart breaking. Beautiful. Morbid. It’s not a feel good book for sure. It’s nothing like any other book I’ve read till now." Read more
Customers find the book's story heartwrenching and poignant, with one customer describing it as a deeply moving inner journey of a life.
"...From the moment I picked up this book, I was captivated by Roy's intricate storytelling and the profound depth of her characters...." Read more
"The story is flowing and engaging throughout the book . The descriptions of nature , events and of characters are truly brilliant ...." Read more
"...Author Arundhati Roy not only weaves a story of small things beautifully, but also craftily with utmost care bringing her architect training to it's..." Read more
"Heart breaking. Beautiful. Morbid. It’s not a feel good book for sure. It’s nothing like any other book I’ve read till now." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of Indian culture, with one review highlighting its exploration of themes like caste, while another notes its layered storytelling approach.
"...follow doesn't come out as a surprise or shock but a nuanced continuum with a perfect rationale of why they did for what they did...." Read more
"...The book is set in Kerala, ingrained in its language; the dichotomy of a culture, of lives that were born too soon..." Read more
"...The story weaves between past and present, exploring themes of caste, forbidden love, and the impact of colonialism...." Read more
"...It is a tragedy with humour and history, but there is also a - je ne sais quoi - 'mahaul' as each page turns there is a sense of foreboding which..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's imagination, with its vivid imagery and devastatingly beautiful prose, and one customer notes how the themes are presented in a smooth manner.
"...It arrived in perfect condition, with a sturdy cover and crisp, clean pages...." Read more
"The story is flowing and engaging throughout the book . The descriptions of nature , events and of characters are truly brilliant ...." Read more
"...Arundhati Roy's writing is lush, poetic, and brimming with vivid imagery that captures the essence of the Indian landscape and culture...." Read more
"...quite predictable, but the author has written it in a beautiful & enigmatic way!..." Read more
Customers find the book impactful, with one mentioning its awe-inspiring analogies to everyday things and another noting how it opens up their mind.
"...It's a powerful exploration of how the smallest actions and decisions can have far-reaching consequences...." Read more
"...Every single observation,every single personification asks to be marvelled at...." Read more
"...book is filled with simple and sometimes dark, yet awe-inspiring analogies to everyday things...." Read more
"Made a deep impact. Speechless. Out of words and not sure what inspired Roy to write this. Must read for all good book lovers...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it an extraordinary journey that unfolds like a puzzle, while others mention it takes time to get into and can be difficult to follow.
"...Her way of writing completely captivated my attention. The story moves like a slow, melancholic song with hilarious bits spread here and there...." Read more
"...One , the story 's time frames suddenly keep switching back and forth , without specifications ...." Read more
"You go on a sometimes relatable and sometimes extraordinary journey through the small world of Aymenem while actually traversing through the..." Read more
"...Well the book is beautifully written by the author. Well , not beginners friendly...." Read more
Customers find the book boring.
"...and the metaphors which were thought-provoking feel misplaced and bore you out. And neither do I like the way how the plot ends." Read more
"The book is leanthy starting was little boring but other areas of books are really good." Read more
"The story is flowing and engaging throughout the book . The descriptions of nature , events and of characters are truly brilliant ...." Read more
"Story jumps back and forth and thus confuse a lot. Some chapter are really boring and not connected to each other" Read more
Reviews with images

A Rare and Gripping Masterpiece - Excellent Quality and Fast Delivery
Top reviews from India
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- Reviewed in India on 21 June 2024Verified PurchaseArundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" is a literary masterpiece that is as rare as it is gripping. From the moment I picked up this book, I was captivated by Roy's intricate storytelling and the profound depth of her characters. It's no wonder this novel won the Booker Prize, and my journey through the works of Indian Booker Prize winners feels especially rewarding with this gem in my collection.
Book Quality:
The quality of this book is outstanding. It arrived in perfect condition, with a sturdy cover and crisp, clean pages. The print is clear and easy to read, making for a comfortable reading experience. Additionally, the book came with a transparency scanner to check its authenticity, giving me peace of mind that I had received an original copy. This attention to detail in ensuring the authenticity of the book is much appreciated.
Timely Delivery:
I was incredibly impressed with the delivery speed. I received the book within just 4 hours of placing my order. This prompt service is commendable and added to my overall satisfaction with the purchase. Knowing I could start reading this highly anticipated novel almost immediately was a delightful surprise.
Story and Writing:
Set in the lush landscape of Kerala, India, the novel delicately weaves together the lives of its characters with a narrative that oscillates between the past and the present. Roy’s prose is both lyrical and precise, painting vivid pictures of the socio-political landscape while delving deep into the emotional and psychological realms of the protagonists. The story of Estha and Rahel, the tragic events of their childhood, and the enduring effects on their lives are depicted with a poignancy that is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its attention to the “small things” – the seemingly insignificant moments and details that cumulatively shape the lives of the characters. Roy’s ability to highlight these nuances makes the narrative incredibly rich and textured. Her exploration of themes such as forbidden love, family secrets, and societal norms is handled with such finesse that it leaves a lasting impression.
The structure of the novel, with its non-linear timeline and shifts in perspective, might be challenging for some readers, but it is precisely this complexity that makes the book so engaging. Each chapter adds a new layer to the story, gradually revealing the full picture in a way that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.
In conclusion, "The God of Small Things" is a book that demands to be read and re-read, each time offering new insights and emotions. It is a rare work of fiction that combines a compelling narrative with exquisite writing. If you are on a journey to explore works by Indian Booker Prize winners, this novel is an absolute must-read. Arundhati Roy has crafted a masterpiece in the truest sense, and it’s a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended!
Overall Experience:
My overall experience with this purchase has been excellent. From the superb quality of the book to the incredibly fast delivery, I couldn't be happier. This level of service and product quality makes me confident in continuing my literary journey with similar purchases in the future.
5.0 out of 5 starsArundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" is a literary masterpiece that is as rare as it is gripping. From the moment I picked up this book, I was captivated by Roy's intricate storytelling and the profound depth of her characters. It's no wonder this novel won the Booker Prize, and my journey through the works of Indian Booker Prize winners feels especially rewarding with this gem in my collection.A Rare and Gripping Masterpiece - Excellent Quality and Fast Delivery
Reviewed in India on 21 June 2024
Book Quality:
The quality of this book is outstanding. It arrived in perfect condition, with a sturdy cover and crisp, clean pages. The print is clear and easy to read, making for a comfortable reading experience. Additionally, the book came with a transparency scanner to check its authenticity, giving me peace of mind that I had received an original copy. This attention to detail in ensuring the authenticity of the book is much appreciated.
Timely Delivery:
I was incredibly impressed with the delivery speed. I received the book within just 4 hours of placing my order. This prompt service is commendable and added to my overall satisfaction with the purchase. Knowing I could start reading this highly anticipated novel almost immediately was a delightful surprise.
Story and Writing:
Set in the lush landscape of Kerala, India, the novel delicately weaves together the lives of its characters with a narrative that oscillates between the past and the present. Roy’s prose is both lyrical and precise, painting vivid pictures of the socio-political landscape while delving deep into the emotional and psychological realms of the protagonists. The story of Estha and Rahel, the tragic events of their childhood, and the enduring effects on their lives are depicted with a poignancy that is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its attention to the “small things” – the seemingly insignificant moments and details that cumulatively shape the lives of the characters. Roy’s ability to highlight these nuances makes the narrative incredibly rich and textured. Her exploration of themes such as forbidden love, family secrets, and societal norms is handled with such finesse that it leaves a lasting impression.
The structure of the novel, with its non-linear timeline and shifts in perspective, might be challenging for some readers, but it is precisely this complexity that makes the book so engaging. Each chapter adds a new layer to the story, gradually revealing the full picture in a way that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.
In conclusion, "The God of Small Things" is a book that demands to be read and re-read, each time offering new insights and emotions. It is a rare work of fiction that combines a compelling narrative with exquisite writing. If you are on a journey to explore works by Indian Booker Prize winners, this novel is an absolute must-read. Arundhati Roy has crafted a masterpiece in the truest sense, and it’s a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended!
Overall Experience:
My overall experience with this purchase has been excellent. From the superb quality of the book to the incredibly fast delivery, I couldn't be happier. This level of service and product quality makes me confident in continuing my literary journey with similar purchases in the future.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in India on 12 June 2024Verified PurchaseThe story is flowing and engaging throughout the book . The descriptions of nature , events and of characters are truly brilliant . The main themes revolve around the issues of untouchability, and of the need to pay heed to the essential protection of vulnerable and precious childhood of offspring . Adult selfish gains should not be achieved at the cost of a child's innocent childhood.
There are two negative points . One , the story 's time frames suddenly keep switching back and forth , without specifications . Secondly , except for the middle of chapter 4 , excessive detailing of the scenes describing physical intmacy don't appear needed.
Still , it's a great book to read .
- Reviewed in India on 30 June 2020Verified PurchaseThe God of small things: A reading experience.
So, why should you care to read or consider picking up a 340-something paged book published in 1997 which is about a tragedy that veils over a perfectly functioning dysfunctional family over three generations full of either divorces, deaths, or oppressions like a dark cloud. Nothing new. A family full of scholars, educated men and women, with degrees from Oxford, ex-nuns, blessed religious men with a lineage that is highly reputed and looked up on in their tiny village in Kerala, who are busy beating their wives leaving physical and emotional scars behind, planning on how to inflict pain to one another but are concerned only to correct their children to say 'thank you' instead of 'thangyou'. Simply following laws laid down by society on who should be loved, who should be privileged, who should be spared, who should not be touched. Nothing new. Politicians being politicians; small or big. Children being children, naive and unable to foresee the consequences for the actions they took. And adults, who used them as pawns to get what they deeply desired. Nothing new. Caste-based, gender based discrimination. Nothing new. Sex and death. Nothing new. An inventive art of human hatred, that no beast can ever match. Nothing new.
But, what's new is (or was) the incredible structure it is mounted up on. Author Arundhati Roy not only weaves a story of small things beautifully, but also craftily with utmost care bringing her architect training to it's full power. A terror that happened over one night, the cost it paid in two lives dead and other lives living dead thereafter. Scattered rather carefully and skillfully the cues of the impending doom, each time you get lost in it's eerie yet highly descriptive and beautiful world of prose about other things, big and small. Each time only to unveil a little more. To keep you hooked, giving one detail at a time. Glittered with happiness and innocence, here and there; only to be stolen. Inevitable, perhaps. The narration jumps swiftly from present to past to somewhere in between assuming it's reader's higher mental functioning to be as good as the derailed family's. 'Thank you', it is. And in the end, when the dust settles down you get to sit back, not relaxed but perplexed and connecting all the dots in the story scattered over timeline, reframing and reorganazing as it must have originally took place, event after event. Thought after thought. Character after character, dissecting each detail only to realise that it's a story you've already known. You already heard. But, only then we start to appreciate the sheer brilliance of writing, and it's master Arundhati Roy. It's a completely rewarding process. Complex, layered is it's story telling and it's characters; not bad, not good but somewhere in between, human. The events that follow doesn't come out as a surprise or shock but a nuanced continuum with a perfect rationale of why they did for what they did. Thanks to an amazing character and story build up.
An eye opening saga that mandates you to think of what's fair, what's not. What's human, what's not. Of whom should be loved, and how. And how much. Who are them to lay down laws? And Should you abide to them? It allows reader to form an opinion, completely unbiased, and free which is a rare achievement in itself in an era of preaching and judgemental men, books, and media. In other's hands, this would be as dead as a fish picked out of water; lifeless, but in the hopeful hands of Arundhati Roy who breathed a life into this fish, dead as we know it to be. But, the attempt is what counts, and an outstanding achievement in the world of literature is what counts.
A true masterpiece! - Dr. Jeshu Adhikam
The God of small things: A reading experience.
So, why should you care to read or consider picking up a 340-something paged book published in 1997 which is about a tragedy that veils over a perfectly functioning dysfunctional family over three generations full of either divorces, deaths, or oppressions like a dark cloud. Nothing new. A family full of scholars, educated men and women, with degrees from Oxford, ex-nuns, blessed religious men with a lineage that is highly reputed and looked up on in their tiny village in Kerala, who are busy beating their wives leaving physical and emotional scars behind, planning on how to inflict pain to one another but are concerned only to correct their children to say 'thank you' instead of 'thangyou'. Simply following laws laid down by society on who should be loved, who should be privileged, who should be spared, who should not be touched. Nothing new. Politicians being politicians; small or big. Children being children, naive and unable to foresee the consequences for the actions they took. And adults, who used them as pawns to get what they deeply desired. Nothing new. Caste-based, gender based discrimination. Nothing new. Sex and death. Nothing new. An inventive art of human hatred, that no beast can ever match. Nothing new.
But, what's new is (or was) the incredible structure it is mounted up on. Author Arundhati Roy not only weaves a story of small things beautifully, but also craftily with utmost care bringing her architect training to it's full power. A terror that happened over one night, the cost it paid in two lives dead and other lives living dead thereafter. Scattered rather carefully and skillfully the cues of the impending doom, each time you get lost in it's eerie yet highly descriptive and beautiful world of prose about other things, big and small. Each time only to unveil a little more. To keep you hooked, giving one detail at a time. Glittered with happiness and innocence, here and there; only to be stolen. Inevitable, perhaps. The narration jumps swiftly from present to past to somewhere in between assuming it's reader's higher mental functioning to be as good as the derailed family's. 'Thank you', it is. And in the end, when the dust settles down you get to sit back, not relaxed but perplexed and connecting all the dots in the story scattered over timeline, reframing and reorganazing as it must have originally took place, event after event. Thought after thought. Character after character, dissecting each detail only to realise that it's a story you've already known. You already heard. But, only then we start to appreciate the sheer brilliance of writing, and it's master Arundhati Roy. It's a completely rewarding process. Complex, layered is it's story telling and it's characters; not bad, not good but somewhere in between, human. The events that follow doesn't come out as a surprise or shock but a nuanced continuum with a perfect rationale of why they did for what they did. Thanks to an amazing character and story build up.
An eye opening saga that mandates you to think of what's fair, what's not. What's human, what's not. Of whom should be loved, and how. And how much. Who are them to lay down laws? And Should you abide to them? It allows reader to form an opinion, completely unbiased, and free which is a rare achievement in itself in an era of preaching and judgemental men, books, and media. In other's hands, this would be as dead as a fish picked out of water; lifeless, but in the hopeful hands of Arundhati Roy who breathed a life into this fish, dead as we know it to be. But, the attempt is what counts, and an outstanding achievement in the world of literature is what counts.
A true masterpiece! - Dr. Jeshu Adhikam
Images in this review
- Reviewed in India on 26 March 2025Verified PurchaseGood quality and no damages.Satisfied!
Top reviews from other countries
- I know who I amReviewed in the United States on 22 May 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything out of the ordinary.
Verified PurchaseIt's ten-to-two.
It's ten-to-two on Rahel's painted watch.
It’s ten-to-two on Rahel’s painted watch which lies under the revolved earth of The History House in the Heart of the Darkness.
It’ll be always ten-to-two on the stillness of Roy’s book as the derailed freight train of her story slams into our hearts.
It’ll be always ten-to-two when Sorrow, Pain, Unrequited Love, Too Much Love, and Unbearable, yet Understandable, Truths of Life collapse from their wagons and bury us all under them;
It’ll be always ten-to-two as the train’s sharp wheels scar our souls as deep as the ugly scars on Mammachi’s head, her blind soul carefully hidden by the gray hair and they will be there forever, for us to carry.
Ours will be beautiful scars.
Scars… Healed scars. Scars healed by Unbearable Forbidden Necessary Cleaning Love, which will always be able to follow the Music escaping from a tangerine radio as it floats in the Air.
The Still Air of Life.
The Air of Roy’s story is filled with the haunting Truths of Life, so heavy to carry, they need to be shared, breathed by the twins, Esthappen, the boy-man, and Rahel, the girl-woman, as One. They are so horrible to be spoken of, that Rahel’s eyes becomes empty, empty with everything and Estha stops speaking, speaking with all. Inside.
But the Truths of Life leak as Mammachi’s Pickles’ bottles have leaked, impossible to be tamed into perfection, silent as a mute shriek of grief, imperceptible as a light cutting deep into darkness.
As History evolves and revolves as the round World we live in, the skyblue old Plymouth, with its painted rack falling apart, thunders the careening story of Life and Death.
Life and Death. Love and Hate. Angels and Demons. Humans and Beasts. Happiness and Rules. The Big Things and The Small Things, which in a reversal of their inherent nature belonged to the Small light God, who sweeps clean his steps as he walks backward, and the Big powerful God (god?), who stomps into the House with his dirty, muddied boots.
Roy leads us past glass of pickles and jellies of Paradise Pickles & Preserves, the factory; past The Sound of Music, the film; and past childhood, marriage, madness, pedophilia, poverty, violence, injustice and betrayal. And love, so much love.
With no mercy, she tows us past the lost, hidden beauties and still there horrors of India; past confused Indians, immersed in caste hierarchy and lost in the war between British Imperialism and Karl Marx Communism; forced Evangelism; past Elvis Presley, Oxford, Coca-Cola, American TV shows and London life; all preferred, favorites in spite of the unique, laid-to-waste-in-twenty-minutes Kathakali dance.
And she dresses us in saris of intolerance sewed carefully by single, married and widowed women and she gives us the painted masks of their unavailable, chauvinist kinsmen.
For us, she disrobes the once-one turned-lonely children and two couples of forbidden lovers - who had already been bared, robbed… Loved less… The four of them The Gods of Small Things.
And she makes us watch the Terror and the Love.
I read this in two seatings only because I had to get a couple of hours’ sleep. I was frozen in my armchair, fossilized in time by the unjustified justice of my few smiles and many tears; nerves uncapped, shaking, almost hiding, as I saw many of my thoughts being SHOUTED OUT LOUD at me, from me.
Will I read it again? Yes. Later. (Lay. Ter.)
Now, I need a moment. Of quiet emptiness.
To rage.
Et tu, English, Indians, Christians, Syrian Christians, Hindus, Pelaya, Pulaya, Paravan, Touchables and Untouchables, Lower Middle Upper Classes, No Classes, all-and-yet-never Comrades! Who saw and looked away!
Et tu, Sophie Mol! The unfortunate English child killed-killer of the simple happiness of Rahel's and Estha’s childhood, the two-egg twin that was only One.
Et tu, Pappachi, the Imperial Entomologist, domestic abuser, proud and full of cruel, ugly moths; Mammachi, the almost-blind beaten-wife and example of Christian beatitude; Vellya Paapen, the one with a mortgaged glass eye and the real blind one; Baby grand aunt Kochamma, the gullible girl turned bitter-sour, with her perfect Per-Nun-Ciation and unfair, hasty judgements and psychologic torture! Who played alone-along their parts, ignorantly not knowing life was no rehearsal!
Et tu, poor Rahel and Estha! Children so loved less, from the Beginning until the End, the only one, forever un-living-dead bearers’ of short sad lives and long alive deaths, who didn't know how to do otherwise.
Et tu, All-of-Us! Who are rehearsing the Play and making Black Holes in the Universe, while out-of-our-minds, we count our Keys, looking into the void-avoiding the smelly injustice being distributed!
What it worth it? The price to pay for a forbidden love?
Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.
I will need to read it again. Later.
Now, I need a moment. Of empty quietness.
To Praise.
To Love.
But no words of mine would do justice to Roy’s work of art, so leave me here, hurting and loving, stabbed in the back by my own hand with the Truths of my your our Life, accepting a bit more of myself you this world, and read this real, poetic, sad, grand, too-small-to-be-contained Book.
And the Kathakali dancers danced and their drummers drummed, to ask pardon of their Gods, as we also should do for the daily, unconscious murder of our Gods of Small Things.
While it’s ten-to-two.
Before it’s too late…
———————————————————————
In the light of my last review of another book, where I closed its ebook covers at 20% because of typos, missing commas, too-many-grand-long-forgotten words and foreign mottos written wrongly, loose-lost opinions about historical facts, and over-the-top “'pumpkin bums’ descriptions of nothing-happening-to-many-characters-that-had-nothing-to-do-with-any-one”, I think that to be fair to those who read my reviews, I owe an explanation to my 5 star rating for ‘The God of Small Things’.
Roy took me through the creation and death of an ornamental garden; made me sat in a church filled with ants, a baby bat and a dead child.
I traveled in a bluesky Plymouth on a road full of frog stains while she uses foreign words, many half-full sentences, repeated ideas and (over-the-top, some will say) analogies. I consulted the dictionary more than a couple of times, as English is not my mother language and she uses words I was not familiar with (Probably, I would have to consult the Portuguese dictionary too).
She made me wait, as a pregnant woman waits, as I read story upon story of many different characters, who seemed to have nothing to do with Rahel and Estha or anyone else, but were all linked somehow by society and social relationships.
Yes, this book could have been smaller, but it could have been bigger. But if it were different, then it wouldn’t be ‘The God of Small Things’.
I didn’t closed the book at 20% and I rated her work 5 stars.
Why?
Because.
Because there are books and books; authors and authors.
Because I don’t care if another author has used a style before Roy used it. I don’t care if there is another author who does it better than she did it. What readers and reviewers sometimes don’t understand is that gifted authors are often gifted-avid-readers, with screaming souls begging to be set free; who drown in the works they have read and let them soak in and soothe their pains. These authors are allowed to use all the styles as their own, without being accused of stealing them, as I’ve seen a few reviewers raging about. And I tell you that as an avid reader with a newly-freed author’s soul, hoping to be one day as gifted as Roy.
Because what I care is that, in Roy’s work, there are magical, complex, centuries of old-untold relationships to be read about, learned and admired, in the middle of the marvel unseemly-going-nowhere descriptions of a ripple fruit bursting and an orange sun setting.
Because Roy’s Universe is raw and rough, a few times sweet, filled with her beautiful, sharp-edged opinions - that some may think prejudiced - but are historically based and lived. She tells us an Indian story that could have been a Brazilian story. My story. Your story.
Because what I care is that, without asking my permission, Roy took my soul and gave it back; Sadder for a moment, but more knowledgeable and fuller of passion.
Because this is not a book for everyone, but for those who live life on its full, and are grateful for the possibility that, even being of die-able age, they are still alive; for those who are interested in relationships and its octopus sucking tentacles; for those who are mindful of how cruel the world can be and yet are able to see the beauty of a sunset and a strict forbidden incest love told in poetical, not-rhymed words; for those who can stand up for others in need.
For those who love.
“Because Anything can Happen to Anyone.
It’s Best to be Prepared.”
Arundhati Roy, in The God of Small Things
———————————————————————
P.S. 1 - If in your ebook you stumble upon lost inverted commas, dizzy dashes and en-dashes, overlook them. They are just simple typos - perhaps there on purpose, who knows?
This book is like a child or a loved-lover, who should never be loved less, for his perchance carelessness, because it belongs to the Universe of Rippling Truths of Life.
-
AnilouReviewed in France on 21 January 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Une histoire à lire et à relire
Verified PurchaseUn style très particulier, une façon de voir les choses comme à travers des yeux d'enfants. Très bien observé. Pas très facile au début d'entrer dans l'histoire car le livre ne suit pas là chronologie, les noms des protagonistes nous sont étrangers et on a du mal à repérer les liens familiaux. Par la suite les choses s'éclaircissent, les non-dits deviennent plus evidents. On apprend des choses sur le Kerala (leurs coutumes, la politique, les rapports entre "touchables" et intouchables, la gestion de cette zone) qui nous font réviser le souvenir qu on en avait si on a eu la chance de le visiter. On comprend comme une remarque mal comprise d'une mère a ses enfants peut changer une vie et même plusieurs.
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伊藤よしひろReviewed in Japan on 16 December 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars 長いレビューです。最後にAudible版のレビューもあり
Verified Purchasekindle版 ASIN : B0051UH6W4
出版社 : Fourth Estate; New Ed版 (2011/5/26)
ファイルサイズ : 435 KB 本の長さ : 355ページ のレビュー
20世紀英語文学の掉尾(ちょうび)を飾る傑作。
登場人物(双子の子からみた)
Estha; 双子の男の子 1962年生まれ。
Rahel; 双子の女の子
Pappachi; 元英領インドの官僚で昆虫学者。シリア正教クリスチャン。おじいさん。
Mammachi; 一家の漬物工場を切り盛りする。おばあさん。
Baby Kochamma; 同居している独身の大叔母。過去にカトリックに改宗。
Ammu; 双子の母。両親に反対されてヒンドゥーの男と結婚するが、ろくでなし男につかまった結果になる。離婚して二人の子を連れ実家へ戻っている。
Chacko; 長男でオックスフォード卒。イングランド人と結婚したが子どもが大きくなる前に離婚。
Margaret ; Chackoがイングランドで結婚した相手。後に離婚。別の男と再婚するが、その相手が死去。
Sophie Mol; MargaretとChackoの娘。双子と同世代。クリスマス休暇を過ごすためケララを母と訪れる。
Velutha; おばあさんの漬物工場の技術者で不可触賤民。こどもたちがなついている。
最初に読んだ時は、ちょっと技巧が鼻につき、それに子どもを使ったあざとさが気になったけれども、再読して、あらためてねじ伏せられました。もちろん、完全に理解できて、納得したわけではありませんが、20世紀を代表する英語小説でしょう。
インドのケララ州を舞台に、家族の闇を、双子の兄・妹を通して描いた物語。差別された者がさらに差別し、裏切られた者がさらに他人を裏切る、という構造が絶妙に描かれています。三つの宗派のキリスト教、マルクス主義、カースト制、性の抑圧など、子どもたちを囲む残酷な現実が描かれます。
もっとも、そうした重いテーマよりも、全編にちりばめられているのは、幼い子どもたちの言葉遊びや歌。インドの上流家庭で、英語を話し、英語の歌を歌って育つとは、こういうことなんだなと納得しました。もっとも実は家族みんなの母語はマラヤーラム語であるようですが。
一家ばかりでなく、まわりの人々も英語を話しています。わたしが一番可笑しく、残酷だと思ったのは、共産党(ケララ州の与党です!)の印刷業の息子、なんと名前がレーニンという子が、意味もわからずシェイクスピアの『ジュリアス・シーザー』の一節を暗唱するシーン。
‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your—?’
‘lend me yaw YERS; ’ あはは。そういえば、わたしがya-yasという語をおぼえたのはローリング・ストーンズのアルバム・タイトルからですが、この小説のクライマックスでもラジオからストーンズの歌が流れます。その作詞作曲クレジットは、ジャガー=リチャーズになっていますが、実際の作者は1969年に溺死したメンバーのブライアン・ジョーンズらしいという噂もありますね。そのへんのところまで暗示しているのでしょう。
そこまで細かい引用にこだわらなくても、ミュージカル映画『サウンド・オブ・ミュージック』は知っておいたほうがよいでしょう。何度も歌のフレーズが出てきます。一見楽しい映画のようで、実はオーストリアでは嫌われている映画であって、その理由はウェブ上でも検索できます。さまざまな裏切りがテーマのこの作品で、映画のストーリーと重ね合わせた部分もありますから、このアマゾンのビデオででも見ておいたらいかがでしょうか。
Audible版の朗読も聞いています。女性の朗読は聞きやすいはっきりした発音です。すぐに気づくのは、会話部分がインド英語のアクセントでよまれていることです。わたしはインド英語のアクセントがちゃんと判別できるわけではないのですが、身分や年齢によって訛りが強かったり弱かったりと、区別をつけているようです。作者のインタビューなどをyoutubeで聞くと、ロイも堂々とインド英語で話していますから、かなり適切な朗読だと思います。あまり長い小説の朗読を聞くのはたいへんですが、この程度の長さならおすすめです。
最後に蛇足ですが、翻訳について。わたしは現物を見ていません。DHCという現在は化粧品やサプリ食品のメイカーとして有名な会社から出版されていました。もともと翻訳出版から出発した会社ですが、翻訳権を他に譲渡する例はないようです。新潮社か白水社、早川書房か岩波書店あたりから翻訳が出てもおかしくない作品なのに、文庫化もなく困ったことです。ちゃんとした翻訳家に新訳を出してほしいのですが、原書を読む以外ないでしょうね。
- Oliver PageReviewed in Italy on 1 August 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique
Verified PurchaseI wasn’t expecting such an extraordinary piece of writing. A novel that invents its world through a unique use of language that echoes and sings through the whole book, creating a flow of imagery, atmosphere and characters unlike anything I have ever read. What’s more the narrative voice is at once entertaining, irreverent, moving, vulgar, vivid and utterly involving. As with many great novels the crescendo of events and emotions comes through traveling through a book that builds in layers rather than chronological events, so that by the end you not only know what happened but have experienced it in the complexity of destiny lived out in the context of culture, family, society and the individual choices of human beings. Absolutely recommended.
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Natália PachecoReviewed in Brazil on 22 November 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Obra maravilhosa
Verified PurchaseRoy trabalha tópicos importantíssimos de forma muito sensível e delicada. Apesar de a intercalação dos episódios poder causar alguma confusão, a escrita é muito fluida. Recomendo muito!