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

[mimimomma]

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.

Oh, A Gift of Rain is one of my favourites! In fact, I've in a MN book club, and that's my choice for this round. (Sorry if I've ruined the surprise for any Mice & Maltesers people.)

How did you find it - I mean that literally. I picked it up in the library one day, but I didn't see any publicity about it. I've since bought about six copies for people.

AP It was recommended to me by DH but funnily enough he didn't love it as much as I did.

Do you think that the 2 main protagonists were lovers? I think they shared a more deeper bond than just friendship.

And also do you think that they were finally released from the endless cycle that they were caught up in?

Apologies for the hijack OP...maybe I should start a new thread for it?

Loved it. Up to you of course but when the world is full of dreadful, dire, pointless, trash, it seems a bit daft to reject something so perfect!

IMO of course

Midnight's CHildren is one of may very favourite books though!

Brixton Beach good too.

I don't mind sad stories - I don't need cheering up all the time and life isn't all roses and rainbows.

The God of Small Things is one of the very few books I have failed to finish. I found it like reading treacle and lost the will to carry on.

So, I'd say don't bother. But then, it might get much better half way through for all I know .

GMG Here's one I started (under a different name) in 2007. Let's continue there...

I loved it. Its one of my all time faves. I didn't get on with Midnights children though

I must admit, it took reading this book in situ (on the backwaters in Kerala - bliss!) for it to work for me. Thoroughly enjoyed it then.
I'd had it on shelf for ages, and had a false start with it before.
Not the most accessible solution, I grant you!

Another vote for sticking with it. Nearly 10 years since I read it, and it's survived countless paperback chucking out sessions since. (Though I was much better at sticking with books 10 years ago then I am now ...)

This book was assigned as the first book for a book club. I can't remember what it was about except that it was terrible - just really pretentious codswallop. I didn't end up going to the book club as I figured if they were reading that I wasn't interested.

I did stick with it to try and find a redeeming feature. I failed.

I hated Midnight's Children as well. Another piece of pretentious crap.

I was entranced from the first sentence, loved it.

Made it 1/4 of the way through, never regretted not finishing it.

If you're not enjoying it then stop.

I loved it.

I'm reading it at the moment for a course I'm doing on Four Indian Novels. Am finding it hard going but have been assured it gets better after tge half way point so will keep trying!

I read it a long time ago so can't remember all the details, but I did find it quite depressing and unpleasant, and couldn't relate to or empathise with any of the characters. Have never had any inclination to re-read it.

But then I didn't finish Midnight's Children either.

I would put it back on the bookshelf (not the bin though - how can you do that to a book?).

Funnily enough I rather like Midnight's Children.

forced myself to finish it. can't remember anything about it. so it didn't leave much of an impression.

the first half of midnights children was hard work. but by the end i loved it.

A fine balance. hate it with a passion. so depressing without any counter balance. wish i hadn't persisted with it.

'The God of Small Things' is on my top five list of favourite books of all time. It is quite brilliant but also heartbreakingly sad. The prose is lyrical and meandering but once I got used to it I found it totally engaging.

'A Fine Balance' - well written but utterly depressing

Right, ok then, I'm going to try for a bit longer, as there is a lot of positivity for this book. Although maybe it's because I'm 12 weeks pregnant and am currently falling asleep at about 8pm, so anything more challenging than Jilly Cooper might be asking too much at the moment. :)

For what it's worth I loved A Fine Balance too, depressing but amazing.

I realise this thread was a year ago but I loved the book so much that I really had to add a message. the effects of reading the book was one of the reasons I went to India. I went to Cochin and travelled on the backwaters and very importantly saw the Kathkali dancers for myself. The images from the book hang around in my head as if they were my own memories. A truly great book.

I wonder what the op did!

I loved this book, though I've never been to India. I would have said put it back on the shelf and see how you get on with it in a few years time - my reading when I was pregnant was quite different in lots of ways.

God I hated this book. Just unrelenting misery, a complete dirge. Managed to finish it but wish I hadn't bothered, feel depressed just thinking about it
Agree with Gift of Rain being brilliant though. One of the best books I've ever read