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Original poster

The God of Small Things- do I throw in the bin or carry on until the bitter end?

48 replies

mimimomma · 21/10/2011 19:42

So I've had this book on the shelf for years (purchased soley because I liked the cover and it's a Booker Prize winner). But boy it's hard going, I've read about 5th of it and want to know is it really worth continuing with? Or bin it and forget it? I generally don't like to start and not finish a book, but in this case could make the exception if you wise MNtters suggest it.

OP posts:
cottonreels · 21/10/2011 20:45

Well, its one of my favourite books of all time. Along with Salmon Rushdies midnight children. But then I love reading about far flung places and different cultures.

ThePathanKhansWitch · 21/10/2011 20:47

Oh it's brilliant, stayed with me for a long time that book. cotton also a big fan of midnights children.

AgentProvocateur · 21/10/2011 20:48

I loved it. I read it years ago, and I can't remember much about it, but I do remember that it was a great read.

cottonreels have you read A Fine Balance? I think you'd enjoy it. It's one of my favourites.

FootballFriendSays · 21/10/2011 20:49

Overated - bin.

FootballFriendSays · 21/10/2011 20:50

overrated

gushofbloodtothefloor · 21/10/2011 20:51

I loved the writing of the book, and some of the scenes are uniquely evocative. But for me the story did get a bit sideways sometimes, not entirely satisfactory - but I did enjoy it very much. It went in my 'keep' pile (and I am ruthless Grin)

RattusRattus · 21/10/2011 20:52

Another fan of Midnight's Children here too! Stick with the God of Small Things as it is really excellent too. Made me cry at the end. Brilliant book.

KCEHNR · 21/10/2011 21:03

Wonderful book, one of those books where events stay with you like memories from your own childhood. Agree about A Fine Balance - excellent book too.

IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat · 22/10/2011 05:30

Chuck it, it sucks.

ninjasquirrel · 22/10/2011 05:42

God of Small Things - quite good. A Fine Balance - ended up hating the book for being so bloody depressing. Extremely well written if you can cope with the misery though!

Colyngbourne · 22/10/2011 09:16

Disliked this book very much. I would ditch it.

alto2 · 22/10/2011 09:26

Bin

IndridCold · 22/10/2011 17:20

Definitely bin.

I have loved lots of comtemporary fiction from the Indian subcontinent - but this was trite rubbish. God knows how it won the Booker...

MrsHoarder · 23/10/2011 21:19

Read it. I love how it all starts coming together from around halfway through.

Ellefabulosa · 23/10/2011 21:29

Bin

KatharineClifton · 24/10/2011 15:23

Chuck it. The MOST depressing book I have ever read. Relentlessly awful throughout - life never gets better for these folks.

gastrognome · 24/10/2011 20:10

Read it. I thought it was beautiful and definitely worth persevering with. (And I'm not one for ploughing on with things if it's not worth it)

academyblues · 24/10/2011 20:13

I remember liking it rather than loving it when it was first published, though can't remember much about it now, other than it was sad and set in India.

I do remember lending to someone who I thought would like it and their comment was that they gave up reading it because they had no idea what it was about.

So on the fence here.

lenak · 24/10/2011 20:25

Haven't read God of Small Things, and will probably avoid it given those who like it also like Midnights Children, which is the most rambling, self absorbed, contrite book I have ever read (had to read it for uni).

If you like India based stories try Kanthapura - a brilliant, charming little story about how a little village is impacted by the fight for independence or Sunlight on a Broken column - a wonderfully written book about the impact of independence on a teenage muslim girl and her family.

motherinferior · 24/10/2011 20:30

I liked it. Also I rather love Arundhati Roy.

Lenak, I reviewed Sunlight on a broken column years and years ago (about 20) when it first came out, and Attia Hussein liked my review [proud]; she was the same kind of generation as my Indian grandmother.

QuickLookBusy · 24/10/2011 20:34

I gave up at my first attempt, but tried again a year later and stuck with it. Glad I did as I loved it.

Also absolutely love A Fine Balance.

redheadbedhead · 24/10/2011 20:37

i loved it when i read it a long time ago. might try it again since it's been so long...

Technoprisoners · 24/10/2011 20:38

It is self-conscious, esoteric, hard work and depressing. But still read it. Roy captures the stream of consciousness of childhood well.

AgentProvocateur · 24/10/2011 20:48

This thread inspired me to go and buy Family Matters at the weekend by the same author as A Fine Balance. When I mentioned it upthread, I remembered how much I loved it.

GaramMasalaGirl · 24/10/2011 20:49

I absolutely love The God of Small Things...one of my all time favourites. DH couldn't quite get to grips with it though so it's not everyone's cup of tea.

ninjasquirrel I agree about A Fine Balance. Utterly utterly depressing as are all the other books from Rohinton Mistry although I am considering giving his Such A Long Journey a try...just to see whether he's lightened up a little!

Just finished the Gift of Rain and was mesmerised/haunted by it. A beautiful read...anyone agree/disagree?