Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

62 reviews

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Incest, Sexual assault, Racism, Grief, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual content

annatan's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Child death, Classism, Racism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Grief

_rowan_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, and Racism

c_dmckinney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Rape, Police brutality, Bullying, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

aalfie's review

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

heartbreaking and so beautiful 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Incest

angelkisses's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Classism

Moderate: Child death

johk's review

challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.75

Despite its slowness, prose, confusing writing and spectacular imagery, I could not put it down for long. Every time I did, I had to come back to see where it was going. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Death, Domestic abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

rubbercitykitten's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Pedophilia, Child death, Violence, and Racism

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

4.75

This book has so much to unpack. the writing? delicious. the plot? nuanced and complex. the characters? rich with history and personality. I need to reread this asap because there's just so much to analyze.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child death, Pedophilia, and Violence

Moderate: Incest, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death

Minor: Racism