The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

"I'm not a twin, and I've never known twins. The book really delves, very deep I think, into human nature. The story tells of the brutality we're capable of, but also that aching, intimate love. And for me the twins are what that is about...the ability to actually dream each other's dreams an to share each other's happiness and pain." Arundhati Roy -

As you read the book, expect to jump back and forth in time between present-day India—when the main character, Rahel, comes back to her home in Ayemenem in the rain—and the past when a terrible tragedy (“the Terror”) occurred which changed the lives of her and her family forever. Right away we see the funeral of Sophie Mol, Rahel’s cousin. Like much of the book, it is described through the perception of childhood. Roy’s ability to write from the point of view of a child is considered one of her major strengths as a writer, but the child’s view of the world is also very important in terms of theme because their innocent view is not tainted by the traditions, values, and limitations of adult society. The cause of cousin Sophie Mol’s death remains a mystery through most of the book, so if you feel you missed something, don’t worry. Gradually we get to know each member of Rahel’s family, the love they shared, and the conflicts they faced, and finally the whole story comes out.

See this website for a detailed glossary of Indian terms used in the novel. You may wish to print it and refer to it when needed. The following character list is taken from the site: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/anglophone/roy.html

Rahel (girl) and Esthappen Yako (Estha): fraternal ("two-egg") twins.
Ammu: their mother, born 1942. Married to "Baba" ("father": his real name is never given) and divorced.
Baby Kochamma (born Navomi Ipe): Rahel and Estha's grandfather's sister--their grand-aunt.
Sophie Mol ("Sophie girl"): the twins' cousin, daughter of their Uncle Chacko and Margaret Kochamma. Throughout the novel, "mol" is "girl" and "mon" is "boy."
Margaret Kochamma: daughter of English parents, former wife of Chacko, then of Joe, mother of Sophie Mol.
Mammachi (Shoshamma Ipe): blind grandmother of Rahel, Estha, and Sophie Mol, founder of the family pickle factory. "Mammachi" simply means "grandmother."
Pappachi (Benaan John Ipe): late abusive husband of Mammachi. ("Pappachi: of course means "grandfather.")
Chacko: son of Mammachi, divorced first husband of Margaret.
Joe: second husband of Margaret, died 1969.
Kochu Maria: "Little Maria": the tiny cook of the household.
Larry McCaslin: Rahel's American husband.
Velutha Paapen: Paravan untouchable around whom much of the action revolves.
Vellya Paapen: his father.

A site about the author: http://website.lineone.net/~jon.simmons/roy/tgost1.htm
An interview with Roy: http://www.salon.com/sept97/00roy2.html

Another site—Emory University’s Introduction to Postcolonial Studies—provides the following relevant links:

Kerala http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Kerala.html

State on the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula where the novel takes place. Homeland of the author.

Caste System in India http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/caste.html

Brief overview of strict divisions between classes of society in India. Velutha, an Untouchable, is outside the caste system.

Christianity in India http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Christianity.html

Dominant non-Hindu religion in Kerala. The family of Estha and Rahel are Christians.

Communism in India http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/communism.html

The Communist Party of India founded in the 1920s as a revolt against the capitalist system. Comrade Pillai and Velutha are members of the Communist party.

Divorce in India http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Divorce.html

The fact that Ammu is divorced seriously limits her options.

Kathakali Dance http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/katha.html

Traditional Hindu dance described in chapter 12, p.

217-225, when Rahel watches a dance in the temple.

Arundhati Roy’s family in India: