Summary: The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)

"The God of Small Things" is a novel written by Indian author Arundhati Roy. It was first published in 1997 and went on to win the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in the same year. The novel is set in the southern Indian state of Kerala and tells the story of two fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, and their experiences growing up in a complex and highly stratified society.

The novel explores themes of family, love, caste, social injustice, and political turmoil. It weaves together the past and the present, using a nonlinear narrative style to tell the story of the twins' childhood and their adult lives. The narrative is richly layered, incorporating elements of magical realism and vividly describing the lush natural landscape of Kerala.

At its core, "The God of Small Things" delves into the tragic consequences of social and cultural norms on the lives of its characters, particularly the twins, who face discrimination and oppression due to their lower-caste background. The novel also touches upon the historical and political context of India, including the Emergency period in the 1970s.

Arundhati Roy's writing in this novel is known for its poetic and evocative style, as well as its exploration of the complexities of human emotions and relationships. "The God of Small Things" is celebrated for its lyrical prose and its powerful portrayal of the human condition. It has been widely acclaimed and is considered a modern classic of Indian literature.