Welcome to Litsy!

This is one of those novels that I have been meaning to read for so long that I begin to think that I have actually read it! I have compiled a list of these 'phantom' books and I aim to cross a few off in 2026.

18-22 Sep 25 (audiobook)
A re-read that may as well have been a first read as I remembered very little except that I enjoyed it.
A young girl drowns and the explanation of how and why involves many years and hundreds of pages.
I loved reading this after Roy‘s memoir as many characters and experiences are reflections of her life.
A worthy Booker winner.

Roy's style is everything I've ever wanted in a novel. From the fractured timeline to the repeated thematic phrasing to the bleak outlook that culminates in the bliss of being human - everything struck me here. Roy's novel moves through colonialism, abuse, criticisms of caste, and the many ways that love can be understood (and misunderstood) by children. I was struck by this one and look forward to more from Roy, starting with her upcoming memoir!

“Nothing much mattered. And the less it mattered, the less it mattered. It was never important enough. Because Worse Things had happened. In the country that she came from, poised forever between the terror of war and the horror of peace, Worse Things kept happening. So Small God laughed a hollow laugh, and skipped away cheerfully. Like a rich boy in shorts. The source of his brittle elation was the relative smallness of his misfortune.”

#twins #NewYearNewBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs Not exactly a new book, since my copy was a 19th birthday gift from one of my sisters way back when… but still one of the best pieces of fiction I‘ve read. Some people hate her writing style (not to say anything of the content which has been banned in many countries), but she always spoke to me. Probably time for a reread.

An excellent novel that follows fraternal twins being raised by their mother in their grandparents‘ home. They are often left to their devices and that leads to a traumatic event that will change things for the entire family. Superb writing and storytelling. Stunningly. unforgettable!

I'm rereading it for my book club after almost twenty years. Fortunately it's as good and as beautiful as I remember. I enjoy it so much I don't want to end! I definitely won't be waiting twenty years for another reread

So her essays weren't really my kind of thing, so I thought I might give her novel a try. I might get along that. It's not, but I see why her book is so famous and widely loved. Seems like I'm not one for this kind of literature. I feel left out. Like the book, the characters and the writer don't care if I'm there or not. So I couldn't feel anything for the characters and their tragedies either.

This was a slow read, mostly character based and surrounding the lead up and consequences of an event.
It briefly covers a lot of topics from castes, Marxism, colonialism, jealousy, some Freudian feelings, women‘s rights, and contains this in a multigenerational story focused on twins.

My main problem with this book is that it took a long time to get to the point. But at the same time I enjoyed the circuitous route.

#FoodAndLit #India

It's a story of love, casteism, childhood, Marxism and more. There are two twin protagonists in it. A masterpiece exceptional in every way. #thegodofsmallthings #arundhatiroy

This was a disjointed Picasso picture of a novel, exploring issues of culture and caste through a multi generational family history.

I found it equal parts devastating and frustrating.

The plot jumps around all over the place, the language is flowery and repetitive and it takes a while for anything to happen.

It's also haunting and moving, with believable characters and cleverly unfolding spirals of plot.

I'm on the fence.

⭐⭐⭐

#Movie2BookRecs @klou
Prompt: The Namesake

So far this book is verrrrrry exposition-ey. There is no immediacy to the story, it is all background and description... I am hoping it gets better.

(Also, check out my new teapot 🥰🥰🥰 )

Started over two months ago, almost halfway through, lol. I'm the king of Slow haha😊.

Started about a month ago lol. I go slow lol.

It seems I'm kinda liking Ammu. She's sort of feisty, lol.

Enjoying every word of the novel. To think I DNFed this once, smh.

What do you think of this list? I think it's an interesting one. Of course I wish there was a Laurence novel on here & I think it would have been wonderful if they had added Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader. Omissions are inevitable & I think that they mostly got it right. Several are still on my TBR (including the tagged volume):
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/18/the-god-of-small-things-to-shuggie...

Reading, learning India.

It's all about the decadent prose.. 🙂 dank, dark, and dramatic..

@Readergrrl #ProfessionalBooknerdSChallenge #Day6 CLockwise from top-left:
Absolutely heartbreaking and harrowing story of lives torn apart by war.
Incredibly powerful account of the last days of Trujillo.
Lovely moving account of the immediate aftermath of the Russian revolution.Very autobiographical.
Sons in search of lost fathers,and childhood.
Made me cry when I was 9!
Visceral,always relevant account of caste in India.And a tragic love story.

A story woven together in pieces and moments throughout the book. Well told and compelling. #bookclubreads

I have so many good books I could dig into right now (thank you everyone for the great gifts/swaps!!), but I feel this is the one for me right now. My cousin gave it to me in the summer and I never quite got to it. She passed from cancer a few weeks ago and we are all heartbroken. This might break me to read it now, but I feel like I need to be broken. Not even sure that makes sense.

The way that Roy tells a story is like looking at a elaborate tapestry; you recognize a new, incredible detail every time you look at it. This novel unfolds exquisitely; each layer deepening the experience of trauma, tradition, family obligation, and how the small moments of life lead to big ones every time. Roy‘s use of language, perspective, and sense of place to tell this story is so special, and her writing style is poetic and innovative. 4⭐️

Finally starting this book that lovely @Tanisha_A gave to me more than three years ago! (Where did time go??) I‘m only a few pages in, but so far I‘m very much intrigued ♥️

Description was so incredible. And the story was so unique. Absolutely loved it.

This book was interesting. Not something I‘d normally pick up but very well written and a bit heart wrenching.

It's been awhile since I last read a book from India. I really did enjoy this! I loved the characters and the story setting. Only thing I didn't really enjoy was that the stronger plotline started quite late in the book so that is why I decided to give it only so-so.

This was a lovely read, extremely descriptive, poetic writing that evoked many emotions in me, and made me love and hate the characters in it. Arundhati Roy definitely deserved the acclaim she received on this one. Full review will be up soon on my blog, theyellowparasol.com

Hmmmm, had this on my 'favourites' shelf since reading when I was a lot younger. Chose it to reread as part of a book club and ended up bailing and changing my choice. Not sure if I didn't give it enough of a chance or if my tastes have changed a lot over the years. Perhaps something I need to try and pick up again at some point when life is less hectic.

It is curious how sometimes the memory of death lives on for so much longer than the memory of the life that it purloined.

#indianindependenceday
1. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
2. Just a couple of books...
3. I have. I am afraid, I am not very fond of it
@Blackink_WhitePaper

1. Tagged
2. I also read Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
3. Yes, I love Indian food!

#indianindependenceday

Not gripping

Hi @BarbaraBB ! Congratulations on your 3 year Litsyversary. This is a super fun idea of a giveaway! 🥳 Thankee!

I read this book when i was 16, which i think was too young an age to understand this multifaceted, complex story. Don't remember much now, which tells me that i should re-read it. Set in Kerala in India, it's a tale of forbidden love, family, childhood bonds, hope. #thinklocalgiveaway

The way she wrote this book is so different from the books I read earlier. This book has got a separate style and language to it. This book describes the life of two twins in Kerala, India. They say Kerala as God's own country. But, what we see in this book is a lot different. The characters, the story and the situations are totally believable and are very natural.

This book won the Booker prize. It is also my #doublespin ! Only 18 left for this month lol

So beautiful and so very sad 😭❤ I have no words
⭐⭐⭐

#QuotsyMay20 Day 13: #Cocktail

Book report and weekly forecast!
🎧 Zodiac (not pictured) - finished and very bad... #bookspin
🎧 The God of Small Things - 57% completed #doublespin
🎧 10% Happier - up next! Waiting for Midnight at Chernobyl to be available so I have to push this one up on my #bookspinbonanza

Mockumentary on a tragedy.

1/5⭐ The very distancing character-hopping 3rd person narration, timeline incoherence, and lack of any character development in favor of just stating things that happened (supposedly for some theme or other) are not for me.

It‘s raining all day today so we‘re having some rec time in the garage.

Social distancing day 10

I didn‘t get nearly the time I was hoping for but I did spend a lot of good quality time with my fam. We played outside, finished a puzzle, and took lots of walks around the neighborhood #stayhome24in48

I love when one book I‘m reading references another that I‘m also currently reading 📚#shakespearereadalong

Up next!

“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably. They don‘t deceive you with thrills and trick endings. They don‘t surprise you with the unforeseen. They are as familiar as the house you live in. Or the smell of your lover‘s skin.”
Beautifully written. Must read!