I’ve been doing a little more research on The God of Small Things because I’ll be leading the discussion of it for BookAwards starting September 1st.
In my earlier review (if you can call it that), I stated that I was confused about something in the last couple of chapters in the book. I sort of had a “Did what I think happen, happen?” moment. My suspicions were confirmed. I haven’t rated the novel yet, nor really written an adequate review of it because 1) I want to discuss several issues with my book group without giving things away, and 2) I don’t know how in the world I’m going to rate this book with this certain event taking place in the second to last chapter.
This novel is definitely one that will generate discussion. I can’t say I liked it, but, surprisingly, I can’t say I hated it, either. I have NO IDEA how to give this book a rating, but after our group discussion, I’ll attempt one with at least some stab at a better book review as well.
I finished this book two days ago, and I still don’t know how I feel about it. Loved some of it, hated some of it, and was confused by the ending (particularly the second to last chapter; did they ?). I am reading this with my Book Awards group in September, and I have many things I’d like to talk about and discuss with them first before I write any kind of formal review.
I guess I will write one later. Lay Ter. (If you’ve read this book, you know what this means!)
I was disappointed in this book. I expected great things after loving The Handmaid’s Tale earlier in the year. I was especially disappointed as it was over 500 pages; it could have easily lost about 100 pages of detail. I guess that’s my main gripe about it. It just seemed too detailed for me. Also I correctly predicted almost all that happened. Long, too detailed, and too predictable. But still, Atwood does know how to turn a phrase, and that is why it still gets a 3.5 star rating.
This was not my cup of tea. I don’t need an exciting plot to enjoy a book. I don’t mind older men looking back on their lives. In a similar vein, I loved Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, although I hated Roth’s Everyman. This was closer to Everyman.
Max is a widower that is overly sensitive to smells who is grieving (I guess?) over his wife. He calls her the “c” word and admits he really didn’t know her because he preferred not to know her.
Not one character in the book was likable. I guess I was lucky this was short.
I didn’t think I was going to like this book at first, and I didn’t love it, but it definitely kept me reading and I did care about the characters.
Kerewin is an artist who lives in a Tower by the sea. She likes living by herself and even likes the isolation. She is estranged from her family.
Joe is a factory worker with an adopted son who is always getting into trouble. Joe has a bit of a drinking problem and doesn’t keep good tabs on his son. The boy ends up at Kerewin’s place, and the three end up becoming friends, if not a quasi family unit. Secrets, lies, and violence lie beneath the surface, though, and threaten to tear them all apart.
The story takes place in New Zealand with Joe and Kerewin being part Maori. Some of the myths, culture, and history of the Maori are also part of the book.
This is a different kind of book that is written in almost a “stream of consciousness” style. I thought this was a bit distracting at first, but then I got used to it and even enjoyed it. I also don’t like it when authors use the present tense rather than the past tense. This aspect bothered me for about 3/4 of the book, but then I didn’t notice it anymore.
For instance (p. 34) “She picks up the curious pendant one last time, to fondle and admire before she goes downstairs,” rather than “She picked up the curious pendant one last time and fondled and admired it before she went downstairs.” I guess it’s a preference issue.
If you’ve already read this book and would like to talk about it further, we are discussing it right now at BookAwards.
While this book has garnered much critical acclaim, I found it very difficult to complete. It took me over two months to get through it. Once I put it down, I just wasn’t compelled to pick it up again. It sort of felt like a school assignment. Luckily, the last 1/3 of the book went by much faster than the first 2/3. Before reading, I would highly recommend doing a little research if you are ignorant (like I was) of Indian culture or history. One link that shed a little light on the subject for me was here.
There are two settings for the book–America and Kalimpong. Sai lives with her grandfather, a former judge, at the foothills of the Himalayas. She falls in love with Gyan, her tutor, who is sympathetic to the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). The clash of ideals between the Indians who want change and those who wish to retain aspects of British colonialism is one of the two main conflicts in the novel.
The other conflict is that of the Indians who emigrate to the United States and the conditions of their lives once they live there. Biju, who is the son of the Judge’s cook, is one of the lucky few who get a visa to go to America. But once he is there, is he really better off? The novel asks the question — how much does each person care about their individual culture, nationality, and family. What does our “inheritance” mean to us?
While I appreciate these themes and do think the writing was brilliant at times, I wouldn’t recommend this book for most readers.
Carl V. – April 26, 2007
Beautiful title, beautiful cover art, but just not something that sounds appealing to me for some reason. Maybe because it looks like too much work. That doesn’t sound very literary of me, but most of the times I don’t want to have to slog through a book.Lisa – April 26, 2007I am really really struggling to finish this. I can’t make myself pick it up again. When I’m actually reading it I enjoy it, but it does not inspire me to return to it. Some recent discussion has made me curious about what happens with the Judge, but not so much as to keep reading.
I do think it’s a beautiful book, and I even like the writing.
3M – April 26, 2007
Carl–I almost always finish books I don’t like all the way to the end. I wouldn’t have finished this one, though, if it wasnn’t our April read for BookAwards.Lisa–I really struggled, too. I felt exactly the same way. I’m glad I finished it, but it took me about 2 months! The last 1/3 goes by a lot faster if you’re that far. I think it is about page 200 or so.
Framed – April 29, 2007
I have read similar comments about this book. It’s always nice to find a book I simply don’t “have to” read. There’s so many that I do.
"Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." (John 6:27, ESV)
I’ve been doing a little more research on The God of Small Things because I’ll be leading the discussion of it for BookAwards starting September 1st.
The God of Small Things
The Blind Assassin
