The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a beautiful walk through a difficult time. Roy’s command of language surrounds the reader in the magnificent setting of late 20th century India. Through the details and power of her language, she immerses the reader in the place of the characters.

That said, the storyline and themes of the book span from difficult to heart-wrenching. The book itself is a gorgeous painting of some of the ugliest aspects of humanity. It’s a difficult balance but creates a powerful and memorable read.

The story follows the life of twins Estha and Rachel and looks at what happens when their younger cousin, who is different from them, comes to visit. While the book progresses around the lives of the twins, the supporting characters are not forgotten and are brought to life through the eyes of these children, their faults and strengths processed through this lens.

Beautiful and harsh. Genuine and true.