From the Bookshelf of Read Between the Wines…

A Fine Balance

Rohinton Mistry

Start date: January 1, 2013

Finish date: January 31, 2013

Discussion: Book Club Discussions

Why we're reading this: This book was nominated by Katherine.
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What Members Thought

Dec 15, 2012 Jason rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-kindle, wine-club, reviewed

Liking this book makes no sense. Not only are its characters subjected to like, the bleakest set of circumstances ever, but then those circumstances are presented to the reader with such an alarming degree of authorial detachment that you almost have to wonder whether Mistry himself—fed up with the unending series of hardships his characters are required to endure—didn’t just raise his arms in the air and say, “Oh, fuck it.” And yet I could not tear myself away from this train wreck.

A Fine Balan Liking this book makes no sense. Not only are its characters subjected to like, the bleakest set of circumstances ever, but then those circumstances are presented to the reader with such an alarming degree of authorial detachment that you almost have to wonder whether Mistry himself—fed up with the unending series of hardships his characters are required to endure—didn’t just raise his arms in the air and say, “Oh, fuck it.” And yet I could not tear myself away from this train wreck.

A Fine Balance presents neither a balanced nor a very fine account of a group of four Indian residents during the late 1970s. These folks, heralding from different castes and backgrounds, are tossed together by their individually perturbing situations to forge an unlikely bond—not unlike the bond formed among the cast members of Big Brother or The Real World except that in this case, the glamorous hot tub around which the characters congregate is replaced by a broken propane stove and a rusty tap from which water can be drawn only occasionally. For those not brushed up on their political history, the late 1970s saw India under the rule of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who, though largely considered one of India’s greatest prime ministers on account of her centralizing policies (the constitutionality of which, I suppose, could be debated), was certainly not among those in the author’s favor. Throughout the story, Mistry’s characters are continually being caught in Gandhi’s crossfire even while remaining mostly oblivious to the political climate surrounding them. We get the distinct impression that Mistry is trying really hard to keep his own opinions from interfering with the story, but it is pretty obvious dude’s got some serious bitterness issues to work out.

Anyway, this book is not without its flaws. A few characters bump into each other under repeatedly, under no plausible pretext other than pure coincidence, and this coincidence occurs frequently enough, especially toward the end of the novel, that the reader has to remind himself that this is India we’re talking about here, right? The one with a population density of a thousand people per square mile? Mistry makes us feel like this might be an India under glass, where the characters are tiny steel balls and Mistry is controlling the flippers.

This book is good, though. For all its doom and gloom, I still see the hope in its pages. Three of its characters are clothing tailors, and one of the repeated themes is something about how life is like the patchwork of a quilt, the good parts and the bad parts being sewn together—but if one were to try to remove the bad parts, he’d only end up with holes in his life.

(I suppose you’d have to think positively when you share a crapper with 150 other villagers.) ...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Katherine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This work of fiction is very true to life. Set during the Indian emergency in the 1970's. It centers around 4 main protagonists,the story draws you in,when you are fiished you will miss the characters. This is the true measure of a great story teller.Dina,Ishvar,Om & Maneck will live on for a time anyway.

It's set in an unnamed city by the sea. The protagonists live together during this time,becoming a sort of harmonious family.It was a particulary barbaric period in the history and still goes o ...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Keryn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: human-drama

This book was part of our Goodreads bookclub selection and it was the first I had heard of it. What an amazing read! Based in India in the seventies - around the time of 'the emergency' - it was harsh in many places, and while depressing in some ways, I found it largely inspiring. To endure so many hardships and such discrimination by one's own culture never ceases to shock and yet it also reminds us of the human spirit's capability to endure and see the good in things. I loved the happy times s ...more

3 likes · Like · see review