Book Review: God of Small things

I finally read it! It was second attempt at reading it, first time I couldn't cross Page 50 because I thought I was going into a depression. But that was four years ago! I'm much more grown up now and like to read for the sake of reading.

The book is a perspective of life as seen by a real cynic. Happiness is not common to the people of Ayemenem, one would believe, after reading the book. It's a reflection on south Kerala society. Deep divisions between the touchable(the Syrian Christians, the Pillais and other caste Hindus) and the untouchables(the Paravans, as they're called in Kerala).

The language used is beautiful and the creates its own vocabulary. The description of some incidents just transports you to that place and environment. Description of development over the Meenachal river brings out the conflict between environment and economics in a nice way. The best description in the book is that of a Kathakali performance in the Ayemenem temple. The description of the incidents of Mahabharata and the expressions of the performers described is so real. It felt as if I witnessed the whole performance live!

The Story - it's a lot of sadness packed into this book. The concept of the 'laws of love' - that prescribe "who should be loved, how and how much?" is brought out powerfully. The story is that of non-identical twins Rahel and Estha. And of their family - Ammu, her brother Chacko, Baby grand aunt Baby Kochamma and the grandmother Mamachi. Almost every man is shown as a wife-beater, drunkard or an unfaithful. Except of course Velutha. Velutha is the untouchable Paravan who has achieved more than his due as per the laws of the society. The style of narration does not maintain chronology in the strict sense. So, it takes you back and forth in time and the puzzle is revealed part-by-part.

It also gives a good description of the Syrian Catholic society of Kerala. Of the rise of communism and how comrade EMS' appeal to the Hindu masses of Kerala. Descriptions of the adventures of Estha and Rahel to the other side of the river are so real. The story of Sophie Mol - the child of Chacko and Margret Kochamma is touching.

Overall, a very good book. But read it slowly and let the words and language sink in. One does get a feeling of melancholy when he/she reads it! Pooja also can certify this as a book that is beautiful but the story is very sad.