Genre: Family Drama
Type: Fiction
This is my first book review on my blog and so I start with an Indian author who won the Man Booker Prize for this piece of work.
I was skeptical and felt it was a drag when I started but it was a good read in the end.
The story is not chronologically aligned and shuttles between different times. The pace is slow and sometimes too slow or I would say I wasn't able to concentrate on certain details. The depth of the characters and how they were revealed at appropriate intervals needs applause. Especially, Rahel and Estha reminds me how a child can know things but at the same time cannot understand the intensity of the knowledge. Almost all the characters have been given a backstory. The language is not very easy to comprehend and the style is complicated. Few places 'Stopitted' and the reading backwards amused me. The reasoning of the characters brings out the caste discrimination during that period. It also gives us sneak-peek on the Communist riot and Syrian Christian lifestyle.
A special mention the moments between the twins - the twins have their verbal fights and different character and attitude but they stay connected all the time ('We' and 'Us').
It makes me imagine of a dark blue and gloomy shade while reading.
The ups of the novel - Story, Characters and Intense emotions
Setbacks - Complicated and slow paced narration
I would recommend this for one time reading but I doubt if I'll re-read it.
Well said..😃
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