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heather_c_w's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautifully written. Hard to read at times with the subject matter. I found it tricky to follow and get the gist at points, as the narrative switches perspectives and time frames a lot. But things generally became a bit clearer towards the end as the timelines merged - and this actually reflects that clarity that comes to the characters in adulthood in comparison to their childhood understanding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Classism and Racism
meghancolbert's review
challenging
dark
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Arundhati Roy’s writing is exquisite. She writes as if the plot is a block of marble that she is slowly chiseling away at. The story does not unfold in chronological order, and the narrative subtly switches between past and present (sometimes you have to pay attention to small details to know which decade you are in). Despite the constant shifting, I was never confused about what was happening or where the author was leading me. I could see the final masterpiece emerging from the block of marble bit by bit. Arundhati Roy paints an incredibly detailed and nuanced picture of generational trauma, family dysfunction, and the corrosive natures of jealousy, grief, and guilt. This is the story of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel, who have their childhood innocence violently stolen from them by the adults who were supposed to protect them. As adults, Estha and Rahel reunite and struggle to repair their once-inseparable bond. As they battle their demons, they make a remarkably destructive choice that endangers them both.
I appreciate that Roy refused to sugar coat the devastating effects of trauma on the human psyche, and resisted the common temptation to force happy endings on her characters. This book will disturb and sadden you, but at the same time will prompt you to reflect deeply on human nature, love, rebellion, and free will.
I appreciate that Roy refused to sugar coat the devastating effects of trauma on the human psyche, and resisted the common temptation to force happy endings on her characters. This book will disturb and sadden you, but at the same time will prompt you to reflect deeply on human nature, love, rebellion, and free will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Incest, Sexual assault, Racism, Grief, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
ebarnitt's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death, and Gore
Minor: Incest
casshw_wgtn's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
cassreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
This book was an excruciatingly slow read for me. If you're looking for likeable characters or a suspenseful plot that makes the time fly by, this may not be a great pick for you.
But I really liked it. I loved it's exploration of colonialism and gender and selfhood, of Borders and Boundaries and the people who cross them. The prose is expansive, almost poetic at times. Roy plays with language, in ways that can feel aimless, driven by association, by a need to reveal the edges of letters and words and the limits of the meanings they are meant to convey.
It isn't 5 stars for arbitrary reasons, not due to any flaw in actual quality. I only rate a book 5 stars if I can't wait to re-read it, and I don't want to re-read this, maybe ever. Finishing this book feels like finishing an overly rich, Michelin star meal at a restaurant you can't afford to go to again.
But I really liked it. I loved it's exploration of colonialism and gender and selfhood, of Borders and Boundaries and the people who cross them. The prose is expansive, almost poetic at times. Roy plays with language, in ways that can feel aimless, driven by association, by a need to reveal the edges of letters and words and the limits of the meanings they are meant to convey.
It isn't 5 stars for arbitrary reasons, not due to any flaw in actual quality. I only rate a book 5 stars if I can't wait to re-read it, and I don't want to re-read this, maybe ever. Finishing this book feels like finishing an overly rich, Michelin star meal at a restaurant you can't afford to go to again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Misogyny, Incest, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Grief and Child death
Minor: Animal death
nolsreadsbooks's review
As soon as the kid had to jerk a guy off I was out. Not for me. I wasn’t really liking it already and then that happened and I was out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
noahmarcuswhite's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not really expect anything going into this, but I certainly did not expect this. People should go into it blind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
swampsquatch's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
rzh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i really really loved the way this was written, the use of language is so smart and well thought out - the return to the same phrases again and again made it feel like an epic poem or a biblical text or something. really amazing. the only downside is the fact that it is SO long - feels a bit laboured at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Police brutality, Child death, and Death
readinggeek's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse