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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
This was a well written book and I am glad I listened to it; the voice actor was excellent. It seemed very realistic and true, and I felt strongly for the characters- but all of the events that happened to them made me very sad. Again, glad I read it but don't choose it if you're looking for a feel-good read.
Mumbai, India, 1975ish during "The Emergency" (more government, less civil liberty). Four characters - Dina, Ishvar and nephew Om, Maneck, are very different but end up living together and developing a friendship. Dina is a from a good family but her father died young, leaving her at the mercy of her well-meaning but selfish and clueless brother. Money is tight for her as she tries to avoid having to go to her brother. Ishvar and Om are untouchables who have been taught to sew to help them move up the ladder. They're hired by Dina. Maneck is a friend of Dina's son, comes to stay with Dina to get out of the crazy college dorm. Very depressing ending - things don't go too well for anyone.
Themes: vulnerability vs. fortitude, corrupt gov't that doesn't understand, class issues, a little bit of love
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, despite the general unhappiness in the end. I love this sort of epic novel that covers a large cast and time span and goes through so many themes. It feels like real life.
Themes: vulnerability vs. fortitude, corrupt gov't that doesn't understand, class issues, a little bit of love
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, despite the general unhappiness in the end. I love this sort of epic novel that covers a large cast and time span and goes through so many themes. It feels like real life.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
When discussing this book and my troubles with it, a friend advised me to see it as a parable. A parable, a farce, a tall tale about the nature of fate and the attitudes we take toward what befalls us. While this advice helped me through, this was not the book for my tastes; I had read Rushdie's Midnight's Children too recently not to make comparisons between the two. But, the characters are certainly vivid and Mistry's heart is with those we often overlook.
For my full review please follow the link below:
https://www.bookwormadventuregirl.com/post/a-fine-balance-by-rohinton-mistry
https://www.bookwormadventuregirl.com/post/a-fine-balance-by-rohinton-mistry
A interesting look at India in Emergency- a period that is often forgotten/overlooked. The imprint that Emergency (even if it only lasted a year) left on an entire generation of Indians- my parents' generation- is startling. Mistry does a good job of reflecting the varying attitudes of India's minorities- the lowest classes, the forgotten and the unwanted. Human portraits all.
However, he falls into the trap of the usual Anglo-Parsee, harking back to the pre-Independence; glory of British India stereotypes of Parsees that has abound through Indian literature. He also skips the huge Indian Middle Class- the educated who ignored the caste system and however secretly ignored the Emergency and rioted against it. Curiously, he comments on the various political contradictions that India is typically a pitfall for, but avoids discussing it in depth. The novel suffers for a lack of context to those not familiar with India- it only serves to underscore the stereotypes.
However, he has managed-remarkably- to weave and straddle roughly four generations of India into a cohesive story. A story of her people and her times. Of desperation and of the city of Bombay that takes souls as easily as it hands out camaraderie.
I do have an objection to the way the book ended. Conveniently. For a book about struggling against the vagaries of life, of a nation in flux- it ends without very much of a fight at all.
However, he falls into the trap of the usual Anglo-Parsee, harking back to the pre-Independence; glory of British India stereotypes of Parsees that has abound through Indian literature. He also skips the huge Indian Middle Class- the educated who ignored the caste system and however secretly ignored the Emergency and rioted against it. Curiously, he comments on the various political contradictions that India is typically a pitfall for, but avoids discussing it in depth. The novel suffers for a lack of context to those not familiar with India- it only serves to underscore the stereotypes.
However, he has managed-remarkably- to weave and straddle roughly four generations of India into a cohesive story. A story of her people and her times. Of desperation and of the city of Bombay that takes souls as easily as it hands out camaraderie.
I do have an objection to the way the book ended. Conveniently. For a book about struggling against the vagaries of life, of a nation in flux- it ends without very much of a fight at all.
If anyone asked me to recommend them just one book from India, I would choose "A Fine Balance." I read this just a few weeks ago and it is one of the best books I have ever read. This 600+ page book encompasses so much of what the population of our country has been through and continues to go through. Set in the time of the Emergency and Indira Gandhi, it follows the life of a woman living under the thumb of the patriarchy and her struggles to live a life independent from her controlling brother. It also follows multiple descendants from a family who came from the lower varna of the caste system. The book shows their life not only in this system but how they survived in acute poverty and constant misfortunes. Another character is one who is more 'privileged' than the others, yet he isn't any less complex.
This is a difficult book to get through. Not only is it long and detailed, but it will also make you extremely sad and hopeless many times because any Indian reading this book knows how realistic it is. This book has had a huge impact on me. I see the blessings in my own life with more gratitude but I also see more clearly the reality, struggle, and cruelty of this world.
There is no person I wouldn't recommend this book to (except those struggling with their mental health and younger readers).
Check out more of my book reviews, recommendations, and other content on my blog Travelling Through Words and bookstagram!
This is a difficult book to get through. Not only is it long and detailed, but it will also make you extremely sad and hopeless many times because any Indian reading this book knows how realistic it is. This book has had a huge impact on me. I see the blessings in my own life with more gratitude but I also see more clearly the reality, struggle, and cruelty of this world.
There is no person I wouldn't recommend this book to (except those struggling with their mental health and younger readers).
Check out more of my book reviews, recommendations, and other content on my blog Travelling Through Words and bookstagram!
For full review https://booksteaandmorecom.wordpress.com/2017/10/14/book-review-fine-balance/#more-2778
The book is set in the time period of 1970’s in India. It is the story of a country which has gained independence, which is slowly moving in the path of progress yet there are some perils and ills that are still rampant. The divide between the society is still looming large with caste distinctions still playing a major role. Poverty is still a large problem among the masses. Among all these 1975 marks a period of political upheaval in India with a state of emergency declared.
The story follows the life of four characters Om, Ishvar, Dina and Maneck. All of these four characters are as different as possible and complete strangers yet life brings them all in close proximity and their fates get entwined with each other. All of these four characters are simple people who wish to just live life well and are happy in modesty though life has taken a toll on all of them in varying degrees.
Om and Ishvar are nephew and uncle who are tailors by profession and belong to Chamaar caste considered to be a low caste. Dina has had a tough childhood in Bombay and each time she gets some happiness life has a way of snatching it from her. Maneck is tormented by thoughts of his home and feels a lack of connection with his father as he grows up. A feeling that torments his soul.
This book evokes in you a whirlwind of emotions. At the end, this book makes you wonder about human life and think that somewhere down the line in our country such stories are still taking place. This book establishes the fact that great storytelling does not require fantasy sometimes lives of people who are simple have a great tale to be told. Rohinton Mistry establishes with this book yet again why he is one of the best authors today.
The book is set in the time period of 1970’s in India. It is the story of a country which has gained independence, which is slowly moving in the path of progress yet there are some perils and ills that are still rampant. The divide between the society is still looming large with caste distinctions still playing a major role. Poverty is still a large problem among the masses. Among all these 1975 marks a period of political upheaval in India with a state of emergency declared.
The story follows the life of four characters Om, Ishvar, Dina and Maneck. All of these four characters are as different as possible and complete strangers yet life brings them all in close proximity and their fates get entwined with each other. All of these four characters are simple people who wish to just live life well and are happy in modesty though life has taken a toll on all of them in varying degrees.
Om and Ishvar are nephew and uncle who are tailors by profession and belong to Chamaar caste considered to be a low caste. Dina has had a tough childhood in Bombay and each time she gets some happiness life has a way of snatching it from her. Maneck is tormented by thoughts of his home and feels a lack of connection with his father as he grows up. A feeling that torments his soul.
This book evokes in you a whirlwind of emotions. At the end, this book makes you wonder about human life and think that somewhere down the line in our country such stories are still taking place. This book establishes the fact that great storytelling does not require fantasy sometimes lives of people who are simple have a great tale to be told. Rohinton Mistry establishes with this book yet again why he is one of the best authors today.