The God of Small Things - Question...

[littlepeas]

Possibly a slight spoiler - I will try to conceal it!

I'm reading The God of Small Things and I've really been enjoying the style of it and so on. I've just got to the bit in the cinema. I don't like this sort of thing AT ALL - couldn't read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings for the same reason, and generally avoid avoid avoid, etc. I find it really upsetting and disturbing - I know that's probably the point, but I don't read to be upset and disturbed.

So my question is - is there any more of this? Is the poor sod haunted by it forevermore? I think I have to give up if there is/he is. I hate giving up on books, which is why I'm asking!

Just read that back and I don't think I've concealed the spoiler very well - apologies.

The incident with estha? (Sorry, don't know what else to say without spoilers). No, there isn't anything else like that, although it understandably colours reactions later on.

I understand it's not an easy book to read emotionally, but it's one of my "favourite" books, in that it conveys such depth of feeling and it stayed with me for such a long time after reading it. I just sat quietly thinking for ages after reading the last page.

Just reread your OP, if you want a light book, it certainly isn't that. But it's far more about the caste system and social tensions and the emotional ties we have to people (family and otherwise and for good or ill). That's what makes it emotionally wrought.

If I've got the wrong end of the stick and you want to pm me your question with spoilers feel free!

I love The God of Small Things. No, there's no more incidents like that, but yes, it's mentioned again and it does haunt Estha to a certain extent.

I think it's a stunningly beautiful book though. Really really special, and one of my very favourites.

Only book I've ever loved enough to read twice.

I LOOOOOOOOVE this book! And actually really like the bit with orangedrinklemondrinkman. The mix of horrific detail and understatement is clever. Other Bad Things Happen. It's a very sad book.

A question : did you not know it was a desperately sad book before you started to read it??

Thank you everyone. I think I'm going to leave it - I've started something else. I can see that it is a beautifully written book, but it's upsetting in a way that I'm not great at dealing with. Piggy no, I didn't realise it was so bleak.