Good but not very good!. Review on God Of Small Things, The - Arundhati Roy

Let me start of by saying that I am reviewing the book for somebody else rather than just giving my opinion. After all that is what this site is all about...though it would just do if I give my opinion.

So how is the book like? Good enough coming from an indian author. The control of the author over the language is tremendous. The use of phrases to describe the environment, the situations and the relationships in the book is probably what has attracted her the attention from the world readers. She deserves it...and that is the reason why you should be reading the book.

Though the content at sometimes hovers around, it does settle down finally over to a definite end. This may not be to the taste of many. But I feel that is how traditionally our indian regional authors have been writing. And to that extent it is thoroughly indian in nature. Moreover it is this very reason that has irked many readers in India...having grown up reading Sheldon and Irving novels...they find it distasteful.

But the ending of the novel was very unlike the book itself. Somehow it leaves a bitter taste and not at all the twist you would expect from a master craftsman.

So ultimately I would say you should be reading this book to discover a new author and her language, and to find out why they are raving about her in the west. But if you are expecting something very extraordinary you might just be disappointed.