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sam_the_bibliophile 's review for:
A Fine Balance
by Rohinton Mistry
This is one of those rare books that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you in tears long after the last page is turned. The characters' lives will stay with you, lingering in your thoughts for days on end. The story wound carefully around 4 strangers brought together by the misfortunes that came with the Emergency during the reign of Indira Gandhi. The story was grim till the end, but it had its humor that uplifted your mood for one second and turned sour the next. As each design of the patchwork on Dina Aunty’s quilt tells a story and how the lives intertwine, this book beautifully paints a photograph of the cruel reality of caste difference, police brutality, “cleansing the city of the eye sores on pavements”, the illegal sterilization program, and the web of corrupt authority. The book powerfully captures the enduring presence of these challenges in today's world.
Dina, a headstrong woman, struggles with loneliness and mourns her dead husband to this day. With a complicated relationship with her brother, she decides to settle in the city. “Trouble with a capital t” was not far away when her landlord started harassing her for money. Not wanting to go begging her brother she finally takes in a paying guest.
Now enters Maneck, a college student who had to leave behind his beloved hillside home and parents. Despising his living conditions at the hostel he moves into the single-bedroom Dina’s house. Needing additional money Dina now hires two tailors, Ishvar and his nephew Om.
The story of Ishvar and Om is one rife with heartbreak and triumph over adversity. Despite facing relentless hardship from their village to the city, their unwavering resilience and support for one another enable them to find glimmers of hope amid immense challenges. They do not emerge unscathed or suddenly wealthy, but their steadfast companionship serves as a testament to the perseverance found in even the darkest of circumstances.
I felt overwhelming anger and disbelief at the cruelty of the world. There were moments when I had to shut my eyes to absorb the shocking content I had just read. It was not a matter of understanding it, but rather the sheer brutality that left me breathless. The final two pages of the book brought me to tears in a way that I couldn't contain.
Do I hate Indira? Yes, with every fiber in my heart, I hate her.
Dina, a headstrong woman, struggles with loneliness and mourns her dead husband to this day. With a complicated relationship with her brother, she decides to settle in the city. “Trouble with a capital t” was not far away when her landlord started harassing her for money. Not wanting to go begging her brother she finally takes in a paying guest.
Now enters Maneck, a college student who had to leave behind his beloved hillside home and parents. Despising his living conditions at the hostel he moves into the single-bedroom Dina’s house. Needing additional money Dina now hires two tailors, Ishvar and his nephew Om.
The story of Ishvar and Om is one rife with heartbreak and triumph over adversity. Despite facing relentless hardship from their village to the city, their unwavering resilience and support for one another enable them to find glimmers of hope amid immense challenges. They do not emerge unscathed or suddenly wealthy, but their steadfast companionship serves as a testament to the perseverance found in even the darkest of circumstances.
I felt overwhelming anger and disbelief at the cruelty of the world. There were moments when I had to shut my eyes to absorb the shocking content I had just read. It was not a matter of understanding it, but rather the sheer brutality that left me breathless. The final two pages of the book brought me to tears in a way that I couldn't contain.
Do I hate Indira? Yes, with every fiber in my heart, I hate her.