Reviews

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

savaging's review against another edition

5.0

At the end, a character writes:

How
to
tell
a
shattered
story?

By
slowly
becoming
everybody.

No.
By slowly becoming everything.

Everything? That seems like a crowded book. But that's what Roy's doing -- you've got to put in every single struggle in India, not forgetting the beagle who escaped from the animal testing lab. (Nota bene: pay attention to names as you move through this book. Try to remember them. But then also shrug and accept when you are inevitably confused about who this one is.)

Does this novel make sense as a plot? I'm not so sure. Maybe Roy is trying to mirror the strange meandering plotlessness of social change, summed up by Musa:

"You're not destroying us. You are constructing us. It's yourselves that you are destroying."

Everyone -- no, everything -- slowly becomes constructed out of all this attempted destruction. Maybe not a big revolutionary triumph with a marching band parade, but a little space for some misfits to help each other become their whole glorious selves. Not paradise, but when you piss in the dust the puddle you made still reflects the stars.

I loved this book.

maximum_moxie's review against another edition

4.0

Confusing nonlinear storyline and perhaps a hundred pages too long. But Roy is always so full of beauty and rage she makes up for it. Some parts are slow—specifically regarding politics, but the politics in question are so interesting that this book is definitely worth picking up.

isigman's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

bookie936's review against another edition

5.0

one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.

literary_lauraaa's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

stella45's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

luna_granger's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

wetdirtreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

the_great_katsby's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

2.5

joanna_del_ro's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Slow burn, but satisfying journey and conclusion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, War, Genocide, Animal death, Physical abuse, Violence, Transphobia, Torture, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs