Skip to main content

The God of small things

"The God of small things" by Arundhati Roy - winner of the Booker prize of 1997 is a sad tale narrated hilariously.

The story is woven around a pair of twins Estha and Rahel and their divorced mother who live with their maternal grandparents in the town of Ayemenem. It starts with them being 31 years of age and narrates different phases of their lives as kids, as grown ups, but basically deals with the tragedies they had to face during their childhood at the age of 7.

Since the twins are aged 7, their conversation, their thoughts are funny for an adult, but they are witty and mature for the children of their age. It depicts how the tragedies that happened during their childhood have impacted their adulthood and made them complete strangers to each other because of their separation at that time..

The relevance of the title- "The God of small things" is the person who is the centre of the tragedy and who the twins and their mother love to death.

It is a sad tale, doesn't have a happy ending so I dint Love the book. But it is worth a read.

My Rating- **** n half.

- Richa's Randomness

Comments

arte said…
this is one of my favorite books ever. the sense of humor implied is different and some of the phrases like love in Tokyo head bands n orangejuicelemonjuice man etc r quite funny. since its narrated in a hilarious way, we expect the book to have a happy ending. i guess tatz where the author got us.

Also read

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...

Vastu & karma: Can spaces carry energetic debt?

Ever walked into a room and felt an inexplicable heaviness? According to vastu shastra, our living spaces can absorb and reflect our karmic energies. This article explores the connection between vastu and karma, signs of negative energy in your home, and practical steps to cleanse and harmonize your space. What is vastu shastra and how does it relate to karma? Vastu Shastra, often referred to as the "science of architecture," is an ancient Indian system that outlines principles for designing and organizing spaces to promote harmony and prosperity. Rooted in the belief that the physical environment significantly influences our lives, Vastu emphasizes the balance of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—to create a conducive living atmosphere. Karma, on the other hand, is a fundamental concept in Indian philosophy that denotes the law of cause and effect. It suggests that our actions, intentions, and thoughts have consequences that shape our present and f...