Wrap Up: The God of Small Things

It is so goddamn hot in my apartment, that I can now wrap up The God of Small things. Apparently I have to imagine myself in a slummy fire-trap in India to talk about this book

It turns out this is a great novel. At the same time, it is confusing and mixy, and sweaty, and suspenseful. From the beginning you know someone has died because you get to go to her funeral. There is also a visit to a police station. My interest was piqued by all this information; but reading to the end was a little like say, fighting your way through a jungle with a machete. Roy gives her characters and setting amazingly vivid physicality. It's really impressive. And opressive.

I listened in on a conversation with two friends the other day about travel, and they discussed going to India. The more experienced traveler warned how you have to brace yourself when you step off the plane; and how it's not relaxing; and you kind of have to fight the entire time you are on vacation. He preferes Thailand. Roy gives the reader the same type of intense experience, but it makes for kind of tough reading.

To make up for your hard and tragic trek through India; Roy finishes with a jewel of a scene that makes it all worth while. Upon closing this book, you have a lot to chew on: sacrifice, unhappiness, right and wrong, justice.

Lovely. Deserving of the Booker Prize, which she won in 1997.