A - BOOK REVIEW:THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS

BOOK REVIEW - "THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS" BY ARUNDHATI ROY

"The God of Small Things" is the first novel by Arundhati Roy which won
her the Booker Prize in 1997. This novel is a work of fiction by this
Indian writer.

This novel relates a story, written in the backdrop of Kerala, a place
situated in the southern most part of the Indian peninsula. She has
described the natural beauty with her words in such a way, that, while
reading the whole scene can be visulised in the mind's eye.

The story centers round a family of the twin's ___ Estha and Rahel __ a
very big family indeed, with members of different age groups, from
children to old ones. They differ in their thoughts but cope up and
adjust in living together.

Many happenings are written about. She mentions of certain happenings
in a child's life, which is unforgettable. Childhood pranks, love and
affection, emotions, attachment, all drawn in a canvas.

Marriages and break-ups, and what it can lead to, is a part of the
family story. She also shows how the Hindu and Christian backgrounds
make no difference in one's life, especially for people living in this
vast country. The importance of the head of the family can be seen
clearly. How importance is attached to going abroad, a fact found in
her writing.

She has written about small things like going for drives, the pickles
and jam, visiting places, children taken care of by their elders and
made to remain disciplined and even things that happened while
traveling. In the long stretch of her writing she has also mentioned
politics and how it plays a role in this story.

So many small things are put together in this novel which has made it
so very interesting. For those who love reading, this book should be
included in their collection.