As I've mentioned before, summer makes it hard to get through a book, especially when you're busy with outdoor activities and soaking up the sun. It's even harder when the book itself keeps drifting on and off track, and that's exactly what happened to me with The God of Small Things.
It genuinely surprises me that this novel won the Booker Prize in 1997. Maybe it just wasn't a strong year for the prize.
The storyline itself is compelling: it follows a family in India, allegedly "touchable," headed by a hot-tempered father who batters his family members from time to time. The novel traces how death, divorce, failed love, sexual abuse, the political climate of the time, and their tangled relationship with another Indian family (allegedly "untouchable") shape and transform who they become. All in all, it's a sad, heavy story.
Told in a clear, chronological way with a single steady voice, I think this could have been a genuinely gripping read. But from where I sat, there was no real main character to hold onto. Instead, it wanders through a lot of small things in a very extended, meandering way that dragged me back and forth until I lost track of where the story was actually heading. Honestly, this book put me to sleep more than once, in broad daylight, purely from boredom. I nearly abandoned it several times, especially in the middle, but I pushed through for the sake of my readers. It is not an easy read.
Luckily, I didn't buy this one; a school library lent it to me. This is the second Booker Prize winner I've struggled to get through, and sincerely, it's not one I'd recommend.
If you're looking to read about India and the separatism within its society, at least what this book was trying to convey, I'd point you instead toward The Space Between Us, 2006, by Thrity Umrigar ****, which I found far more rewarding. There are plenty of other wonderful Indian writers out there worth exploring too.
Though i read this book a long while ago, i remember having some problems with upon all the hype given it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHey dear.. it's me Mary the blogger.. I have been away for a while.. still away though. Can't log in I am responding with my phone. Geosi I think you are not the only one.. I investigated a bit .. and I realised there are quite a good number of people who thoroughly dislike this book. It is an interesting story.. but I think writers should make their books readable. This book in most of its chapters was absolutely unreadable. I am glad now I know. And I see u too had issues.
ReplyDelete@geosi have you read the space between us by Thrity Umrigar?
ReplyDeleteNo, have not read that, Mary.
ReplyDeleteWell the story seems interesting to me but Mary your major concern is the book lacking a major character but t seems full of real life stories and lots of lessons to be learnt. Might try and look for it but I guess not after the reviews lol.
ReplyDeleteWell the story seems interesting to me but Mary your major concern is the book lacking a major character but t seems full of real life stories and lots of lessons to be learnt. Might try and look for it but I guess not after the reviews lol.
ReplyDeleteKboy, that is one of my concerns. But my main concern is actually the way it took me back and forth in time. This is defnitely a book you will not enjoy except you love poetry, if not I will not recommend it at all.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you downgraded Bride Price for the first portion being an easy read, but then also downgraded this book for being a more difficult read, i.e. not being chronological or featuring a "main character." Heaven help you should you delve into non-linear models of storytelling.
ReplyDeleteHi Afroboy, The Bride Price was in no way downgraded dear, not even for the first portion being an easy read. All Emcheta's books are easy reads that is one of the reasons why I love her books and proclaimed myself her fan so there is no way I would downgrade them for being easy reads.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I downgraded The Gods of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, it is a difficult read, and in no way was it enjoyable. I believe writers should think about their readers when they write.
Afroboy, I would advise you to read both books though and then leave a second opinion.