Yes, it has been a long time coming! This book was penned by
Arundhati Roy, an Indian author and
published in the year 1997.Unfortunately,do to some twisted chants of the
cosmic universe, I got to read only last week.
Honestly, not discovering this
earlier was a tragedy. It is a masterpiece!
The story revolves around a rich, influential Christian family
with its roots in a society that maintains its structure within a caste system
laying down seen and unseen laws of love, behaviour, wealth and opportunities. Swirling
around this is communism, an ideology yielding to the intentions of the
beholder.
The story is narrated through the eyes of children(the two -egg twins), adults, the
destitute, the powerful and the villians. The chapters are non-linear, playing between
different time zones. There is mischief ,love, revenge and a life changing
tragedy.
However, I think it is the authenticity that makes it
absolutely unique!! It is raw, no pretences and exposes every emotion, thought,
fact and truth unapologetically. Secondly, it is descriptive to the tiny
details to the fineness such that you see, hear and feel the emotions, the land and the people. It
is theatre between lines.
I think this book is a power house and if you missed it, I wish
the entire universe will conspire and bring the book to you.
