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5th out of 20 books
—
27 voters
A Fine Balance: Drama (play)
Based on the Booker-shortlisted novel by Rohinton Mistry and
adapted by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith, this programme text
edition of A Fine Balance is published to coincide with Tamasha Theatre Company's 2007 revival and tour of the hit play.
India, 1975, and a callous government has declared a State of Emergency.
In these uncertain times a spirited Parsi widow
deter...more
adapted by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith, this programme text
edition of A Fine Balance is published to coincide with Tamasha Theatre Company's 2007 revival and tour of the hit play.
India, 1975, and a callous government has declared a State of Emergency.
In these uncertain times a spirited Parsi widow
deter...more
Paperback, 112 pages
Published
April 5th 2007
by Methuen Drama
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This was an astonishing story for the first approx 550 pages. Mistry nicely balanced the hope and misery in the lives of the major characters so that the story remained compelling rather than heartwrenching. I found the remaining 150 pages, however, to be so sad that it became disheartening. A story that I had enjoyed reading turned into one that I was relieved to finish. I'm still not sure why Mistry chose to deal with Maneck as he did. I can think of a half-dozen things that it may symbolize b...more
This book was written by an Indian who has been living in Canada for the past 30-plus years. Thus, although it is a book set in, and very much about, India (particularly the India under Indira Gandhi), it has a quintessential Canadian gloom about it. Don't get me wrong; this is a compelling book, and its very wryness somehow makes descriptions of the horrific bearable, but I would not recommend reading it unless your personal horizon is relatively free from despair.
This book made me realize just how lucky I am. are. It follows the story of two lower caste men, uncle and nephew who break out of their predestined roles and go to the city to earn a living. It leads them to a widow forced to live by her wits and the student she takes in as a boarder. Their lives really do depend on a fine balance, and anything can tip it the wrong way.
Jun 07, 2008
Jodi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Jodi by:
book club
Shelves:
books-about-india
This book drew me in quickly and I had a hard time putting it down. I so badly wanted the characters to be able to better themselves and to achieve their simple dreams. I got so mad at all the horrible, corrupt government officials who kept cheating them out of their basic human rights. It seems like this book could have taken place during medieval times with the cruel treatment of the lower classes, but it really takes place in India in the 1970's. I have always known that India is a third wor...more
May 06, 2012
Nazila Khalkhali
added it
It is a perfect but sad story. It's about 40 years of history of India but not from the viewpoint of people in power but the street people. The main characters are: A woman whose husband was killed in a bike accident, and she struggled to live independently, two hindou tailors who tried to find a normal life and a financial way to survive, and a college student. It's poignant. It changed the way I thought about the Indian politicians. It's my favourite book.
I read this one roughly eight years ago and I remember not enjoying it while I was in high school. However, I feel that my taste in literature has matured and this novel has everything that I usually enjoy in a story; I'm looking forward to giving it another shot ;)
I enjoyed this book, but I did find it so very sad and I just wanted one thing to go write for these poor buggers!! No happy endings here really...which was a shame...but we all know life is not fully of happy endings.
Not my cup of tea. I found it very hard to get into and kept wondering why on earth I was forcing myself to read it. Then I remembered that I had four co-workers waiting on word of what I thought of it....
Epic book!!! How the lives of people become intertwined and the lesson learned from one another will have you grab for the tissues.
One of the best books ever written! Heartbreaking but as my friend Susan would tell you - full of hope!
A must read. I read it several years ago and it still haunts me!
One of my favs.
Sep 01, 2012
De Meulder
marked it as started
Mooi verhaal, mooi geschreven maar doet me nog steeds niets na 150 blz.
One of the most poignant books I've ever read - the novel follows the lives of four people from India who are all from different backgrounds, religious sects, socio-economic backgrounds and language groups. It does this during the 1975 Indian state of emergency and captures the devastating effects of the corruption and oppression on ordinary lives. Although underscored with sadness and injustice Mistry manages a fitting humour. Truly a fantastic read.
This takes a long time to rope you in. But, if you're interested in character back story, it's worth the effort.I felt so much for the characters once the effects of Emergency State began to directly impact their lives lives. The events in the book, although fictional, are a reminder as to how government decisions made by disconnected individuals at the top have very real consequences for those at the lower economic rungs of society. Heartbreaking.
Oct 03, 2007
Bethanne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Dickens lovers and those who enjoy the suffering of others.
Like a Charles Dickens novel. Except in India. In the 1970s. And more depressing.
At some point I wondered if anything worse could happen to the characters, and then it did. Because the characters are so well developed, you really empathize with all the pain they are going through. A difficult novel to get through but quite a masterpiece at the end of the day.
At some point I wondered if anything worse could happen to the characters, and then it did. Because the characters are so well developed, you really empathize with all the pain they are going through. A difficult novel to get through but quite a masterpiece at the end of the day.
Jul 22, 2008
Adam
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Adam by:
Christie Masi
This book made me ponder a lot about life. The things we take for granted (coming from a western perspective), the way we will transform as life proceeds, the paths life will take us on, etc.
The book gave a good look into Indian life and I learnt many things I had no idea about. I will never look at India (and Indians) the same way.
Excellent book.
The book gave a good look into Indian life and I learnt many things I had no idea about. I will never look at India (and Indians) the same way.
Excellent book.
I had low expectations for this book, but it was good, which might explain why I liked it so much! Very educational, realistic book about India. Rough lives that beat some characters down while other characters remain happy and positive. A good moral for everyone, and it made me thankful for what I have in life.
A very good story, lots of historical and real-life insights into the poverty and hopelessness of India. In the end, though, it was too depressing and lacked any hopefulness. I felt it went just a bit too far. Yet, it's a book that sticks in my mind, and it did open my eyes to the lives extreme of extreme poverty.
Amazing story! Very well written. I felt like I really knew the characters and was almost dreaming about them. I just came away from this book thanking God I was lucky enough to be born in Canada and have the life I have. I would highly recomend this book.
Absolutely loved this book. I was sad when it became an "Oprah book" but that does not change the fact that the book is amazing. Deep characters, well written and lots of dramatic turns as one would expect from a tale of the unwealthy in India.
Although it has been some time since I read this book, my recollection of it was that the writing really transported me into the fabric of India but in a seamless fashion so that story line was not eclipsed by description of places and events.
One of my favortie books, long ,but still couldn't put this down, a memorable book!
A great picture of lives interwoven over the background of dramatic Indian history. A rare insight into India through several character's rich personal narratives, racked with their own struggles of class, tradition, and gender.
my sister couldn't get through this book because it was too depressing -- there's really not one light moment. but it does a really good job of painting these two characters so realistically and capturing nuances of Indian life.
soem of the best, sweetest, saddest, realest characters and moments . . . i read this a long time ago, but wanted to post it because it's one of those books that everyone should read. it's intense, but more than worth it.
My mom gave this book to me to read when I was in college (10 years ago). It turned me on to the genre of Indian fiction. Comprehensive and powerful - the characters are stunning and the stories still haunt me.
Amazing insight into the lives of the poorest of the poor, the homeless, the beggers, the desperate, life in Bombay, the Parsi culture. Perseverance even as circumstances deteriorate beyond bearable.
After traveling through India for 3 months, I can say this novel probably accurately represents the realities of life there. Shocking and captivating. It seems a lucky break is always just out of reach.
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26. Februar, 07:16 Uhr