From Small Things to smaller, smallest writingR. Review on God Of Small Things, The - Arundhati Roy

The most charitable thing I can say about “The God of Small Things” is that the cover of the book was brilliant. If only the contents had been as well ! Unfortunately the book does not live up to the hype and hoopla that followed its publication. An untidy plot, cramped, full of characters, all whom are forgotten as soon as the last page is done, it is a book that disappoints, particularly given that Arundhati Roy is the only Indian woman to have won the prestigious Booker Prize. Her style of writing is a confused melange of more imminent writers, the imagery contrived and laboured. A kaleidoscope of notions, some memorable, mostly not, tumbling one into another, disheveled and disorderly.

The book, however, isn’t totally without merit. The plot moves along steadily, crafted just well enough to prevent one from abandoning the book altogether. The writing has exuberance, is spirited, and is, as a result, a passable time-pass. It will never acquire the status of a great book, so don’t expect to find it. I would recommend it only if you have absolutely nothing to do and can’t bear to watch the idiot box anymore, then and only then, read this fairly idiotic book. The story will carry you along to the bitter end. But beware, it will leave you vaguely dissatisfied, and looking for more - not, however, from the pen of Arundhati Roy.

And if you haven’t read it yet, don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything - big, small or otherwise!