The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things (1997) is a family drama that unfolds over 24 years and demonstrates how the small things can leave a profound mark on a person’s life. Roy also uses the book to explore Indian politics, the caste system, cultural tensions, and love.

The God of Small Things begins at the end, with the funeral of 9-year-old Sophie Mol. The plot then alternates between 1969 and 1993, slowly revealing the events that lead up to this funeral, as well as the lives of the characters 24 years after that day.

I thought The God of Small Things was beautifully written, but I found it to be a slow read. I know little of India’s history, and while I was able to get through the book on the information I had, I think my reading would have benefited from a better understanding of India’s past.

As someone who is not huge into surprises, I liked Roy’s method of starting at the end and moving back and forth through time. For me, it’s sometimes not so much the "what" of a story but the "why" – the psychological and emotional journey.

And, while I didn’t have a strong connection with any of the characters through the majority of the novel, I wept for them at the end. I wish Roy could have spoken as much to my heart throughout the entire novel, because I was little disappointed that I had to wait until the end to care so much.

Overall, I thought The God of Small Things was an interesting read, and it won the Booker Prize in 1997. The BBC World Book Club provides audio for a wonderful interview with Arundhati Roy, where - among other things - she discusses how The God of Small Things was received in India.

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Geraldine McCaughrean is an amazing writer. In White Darkness (2007), she led me into a story of madness and obsession, and as I finished the book, I felt as though I, too, was clawing my way out of the formidable wilderness of the Antarctic. The story was visual, the writing controlled, the characters compelling. I loved it.

Mistwood

After reading Leah Cypess’s debut novel, Mistwood (2010), I decided that if I could possess a magical ability, I would want to be able to shapeshift. I took this quiz, and apparently my inner shapeshifter is the werecat.

Mistwood tells the story of Isabel, a Shifter who exists solely to protect the king. But she can’t remember how, or why she fled to the Mistwood ten years ago, or why she experiences human emotions.

Cypess doesn’t waste words, and her writing quickly drew me into Isabel’s story. Unable to remember her past, Isabel is confused and vulnerable, but she possesses a toughness of spirit that I respected. She desires the truth, even as she realizes that the truth may be her undoing.

The plot twists and turns, and I had difficulty keeping up, but overall I enjoyed reading Mistwood. Cypess certainly has me interested in reading more stories about shapeshifters, and she provides suggestions under the "Shapeshifters" section of her website.