A review by steveatwaywords
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A mesmerizing and distressing work, with a plot which nearly gives away its ending at the start but then reverses its way through a labyrinth of relationships and childhood impressions to reveal itself at last. Just a remarkable telling, with adversaries who are broken and real, silent personal histories which work themselves too powerfully, and the delusions we all share about ourselves and our potentials. 

While Roy's early work has its occasional missteps (an awkward metaphor or seeming senseless aside rarely), her weaving of the smallest innocence (for instance, a refrain from Popeye the Sailor) into a more tragic signaling slowly trains readers to understand the nuances of perception working upon the tragic events which unfold. I have seldom read anything quite so unique and powerful in its originality. 
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