Nonlinear

The God of Small Things
Arundhati Roy ©1996
Fiction; 336 pages

Ostensibly the story of two fraternal twins growing up in India, The God of Small Things is much more, often a journey through language, culture, and characters. It is a difficult and different read, partly because of the culture it depicts, and partly because of the flowing, evocative language Roy uses. The story revolves around one fateful day during the twins' childhood, but skips back and forth throughout describing what happened in the years before and after that day and how it affected the other characters within the story. The title refers to how a number of small events can add up to have far-reaching consequences. Roy's characters all have deep, human flaws and are well-developed. The story carries political undertones and addresses various cultural issues within Indian culture, looking at the caste system and the squalor and discrimination faced by the Paravans, one of the untouchable castes, and the Communist party's activity in India in the 60s.

This book requires attention and persistence, as Roy frequently refers to phrases mentioned offhandedly in preceding chapters, or to concepts that are explained much later. Roy writes much of the book from a viewpoint sympathetic to a child's, burying within the story many references to twins' take on reality, which, not surprisingly, isn't always what is actually going on.

The language is gorgeous; Roy has a gift for describing a scene and is a terrific wordsmith. She is as much focused on creating atmosphere and imagery as advancing the story. Consequently, at times her writing is a little tedious and slow to advance the actual plot, so there are moments when the reader's patience is tested. If, however, you are willing to sit back and wait for the story to advance, then this book contains many gems and is a rewarding read.

Consider it.