This is an exceptional book!

[Mathis]

Wow! This book is an eye opener. I've never knew such beatings, killings, injustices, and mistreatments went on underneath the " State of emergency" during Indira Ghindi term in office, in the 1970's. The malpractices done on the poor against their will, was a horrible ordeal. This book definitely a must read. You cannot help but to feel for every character in this poignant book.

[Richard]

it is fantastic. i remember becoming quite terrified the closer i got to the end as i had come to really know the characters.

the final chapter still makes me scratch my head though and i was never sure (SPOILERS)if Beggarmaster got to make his his final perfect beggar out of the two leads

[Mathis]

Sandyboy wrote: "it is fantastic. i remember becoming quite terrified the closer i got to the end as i had come to really know the characters.

the final chapter still makes me scratch my head though and i was n..."

I remember the Beggarmaster's "perfect beggar" sketch being grotesquely deformed; and the two leads definitely did not fit the image at the end. Therefore, I will assume his dream didn't come to friution.

[Mathis]

Another thing, I didn't know Beggarmasters even exited until I read this book. I have an indian friend from Mumbai who told me that they do exit. They pretty much like pimps.

[Michelle]

This is one of the most well written and saddest books I have ever read. I ended up crying how many times while reading it. I don't remember a lot of the story but things were really horrible then and are still pretty bad now. I now need a cup of cocoa because just remembering a few scenes that are so vivid in my mind, 4 years later.

[Karen]

I absolutely loved this book! It prompted my delving into several others about India that are also wonderful: Son of the Circus, by John Irving; Midnight's Children, by Salmon Rushdie; Red Earth and Pouring Rain, by Vikram Chandra; The House of Blue Mangoes, by David Davidar; and "A Suitable Boy," by Vikram Seth, if you are undaunted by enormous books.

[Sandra]

Reading this book was life-changing. I've recommended it many times.

[Mathis]

Karen wrote: "I absolutely loved this book! It prompted my delving into several others about India that are also wonderful: Son of the Circus, by John Irving; Midnight's Children, by Salmon Rushdie; Red Earth ..."

I cannot wait to read the a suitable boy; the title and cover looks interesting. And I have a bit of affinity for thick contemprary novels.

[Mathis]

Sandra wrote: "Reading this book was life-changing. I've recommended it many times."

You are absolutely right, Sandra. The one thing this book isn't, is dull.

[thewanderingjew]

Have you read "The Space Between Us" by Thrity Umrigar.
It was also wonderful.

[Richard]

the downside of this book for me is i found it tainted any other "india" novels.

A Fine Balance was simply so good that I was unable to read anything else set in India without being reminded that A Fine Balance was better - hence The God of Small Things went unfinished, Sacred Games i amandoned quite quickly and it wasn't until 6 years had passed that I managed to read another one - White Tiger - which despite being good was still not a patch on A Fine Balance

[Mathis]

thewanderingjew wrote: "Have you read "The Space Between Us" by Thrity Umrigar.
It was also wonderful."

I can't say that I have, but I will look it up.

[Esther]

I think this book was so excellent because it didn't try to make you feel guilty or sad or try to hammer you over the head with a point.
Instead it created fantastic characters who I loved so much and although they weren't perfect most of them tried to help one another. They struggled to live in the most horrific circumstances and I admired them for having the strength to go on.
Actually when I went with my mother to see Slumdog Millionaire a friend warned us that there were some 'upsetting' scenes. Having read this book I guessed what she meant but was completely unable to communicate this to my mother. My mother is hardly naive concerning the horrors of this world but it is just difficult for us to conceive of some of these things.
I feel it is a 'must read' book.

[Kristin]

This was a beautifully crafted book that gave the reader a wonderful insight into a segment of India-- its history, culture and racial tensions. The characters were so well drawn and evoked great compassion for each of them.

[Margot]

I felt the same way...Loved it. Made me interested in all books about India, I would love to go there someday..

[Margot]

Loved Son of The Circus too..

[[deleted user]]

This is one of my favorite books from Oprah's book club. I would like to visit India as well. The characters in this book had the strong desire to survive. They never gave up no matter what happened. I remember the lady who ran the sewing business from her home. It's all about taking one more step for another day when you feel like just caving.

[[deleted user]]

Thank you for the book titles. I haven't read any of the ones you named. Vikram Seth's book is truly huge. It scared me to death. I never started it. I gave it away.:)

[[deleted user]]

I'm not a great John Irving fan. Maybe I should change my tune. I did enjoy Cider House Rules. I have one titled The Fourth Hand. Have any of you read that one? The plot really interests me. What about The Widow....Year?? Is that one good?

[Meera]

This is a book I can never read a second time because it is so practically realistic that the situation becomes even more poignant. And, truly, one half of Indians don't know how the other lives. Books like this and Question and Answer (the book version of Slumdog Millionaire)show a seamy side that even we like to shy away from because it is so difficult to digest.

[[deleted user]]

It's wonderful, unforgettable.

[Pooja]

Absolutely beautiful. Having a mother who grew up during the State of Emergency in India just made everything so much more real. One of my favourite books - still has me thinking about it after having finished it months ago!

[Terry]

I have to say I also loved this, although I found the ending possibly the most depressing I've ever read. Immediately I'd finished it, I thought that that was maybe a bad thing, but thinking about it the next few weeks (as I did - a lot), I made my peace with it.

I can recommend Animal's People by Indra Sinha as another eye-opener about the after-effects of the Bhopal disaster. I'm just setting out on A Suitable Boy as we speak - about thirty pages in, that's nearly 1/40 of the way through...

[Mathis]

Terry wrote: "I have to say I also loved this, although I found the ending possibly the most depressing I've ever read. Immediately I'd finished it, I thought that that was maybe a bad thing, but thinking about ..."

I've read Animal's people, and to be quite honest I did not care too much for it. A crippled proverty-striken boy who have salacious thoughts all day and night with a borner, running around his slum seeking relief. Yes, the Bhopal disaster was interesting, however, I felt it wasn't told in a serious way.

Now, I always wanted to read A Suitable Boy, but the thickness of it seems daunting. I'm not sure I can tackle such a monster. We should read it together for motivation, Terry.

[Meera]

Terry wrote: "I have to say I also loved this, although I found the ending possibly the most depressing I've ever read. Immediately I'd finished it, I thought that that was maybe a bad thing, but thinking about ..."

I thought the boy's life was wasted... But such is life. Am reading Suitable Boy a second time after 14 years... Not as gripping as last time... Hoping it will pick up steam soon.

[Karen]

This is one of my all time favorites!
Try Katherine Boo"s new narrative nonfiction, Behind the Beautiful Forever.

[Terry]

I'm one part in already, it seems good. I like big books; last year's best read for me was Infinite Jest.

I don't think Animal's People is up to the level of quality of Mistry or Seth, but there were some profound moments and I thought the MC was very human and 'gettable'.

[Elaine]

This is absolutely my favorite book. It brought me to tears. I read it a couple years ago and it has always stuck with me.

[Mathis]

Meera wrote: "Terry wrote: "I have to say I also loved this, although I found the ending possibly the most depressing I've ever read. Immediately I'd finished it, I thought that that was maybe a bad thing, but t..."

Hey Meera and Terry, in my goodreads book club "A suitable boy" is going be the next read in March. If you guys would like to join in on the discussions. Just click on groups and search for.... Big fat books.

[Gayla]

NO IT IS NOT!!!!!!!!!

[Mathis]

Why do you feel differently, Gayla? Please elaborate.

[Ingrid]

I loved this book. Read it a few years ago and thought it was so powerful. I was really depressed by the ending too. But so worth the read.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Gayla! All~

[[deleted user]]

Ingrid, what book are you talking about?

[Ingrid]

Sorry...A Fine Balance:) A friend sent it to me and I was blown away by it.

[Mathis]

Ingrid wrote: "I loved this book. Read it a few years ago and thought it was so powerful. I was really depressed by the ending too. But so worth the read."

Yea, the end was pretty sad;I didn't expect it end so tradegically.

[Laurie]

This is one of my favorite books, mostly because he is such a fantastic writer. The story is so sad at times, but if you focus on the resilience (or lack of) in the characters, as well as the vivid images, it's amazing. His other book, Family Matters, is quite different and reaches even deeper into your soul, a story that transcends all cultures, another special story by this incredible writer.

[Ingrid]

Laurie - I'm going to check out Family Matters today. Thanks for the heads up

[Shourie]

This is the guide to the essential way of life in India, where change seems to have assumed a role so quasi-static that you tend to notice that something has changed so radically only after a span of about 1000 years or so. The lonely widow, the poor tailors, the head of an organized begging syndicate are all prevalent even today. This book if broken into parts can tell you the way Indian society works, mostly on reconciliation, every hour in India is reconciliation with the innermost desires of living a peaceful and dignified life(an extension can be made about the whole of human race, but not many can compromise as much as the Indian can).The whole of the book is a tale of such deep sorrow and melancholy, that it has been a resigned fact and we Indians don't even think that this is an extra ordinary story. It happens in every city, this time the narration is so much better.

One thing this story misses out on from the lives of ordinary Indians is even after all the reconciliation and compromise they go through, there is one aspect which makes them beautiful and their spirit indefatigable, which is after all that they are put through, it is HOPE. They hope, hopelessly against hope often but to keep such a battered spirit kindled itself is an art, A Fine Balance as the author calls it.

[Laurie]

Shourie, thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and insight. What did you think of Family Matters?

[Shourie]

Laurie: Have not read Family Matters yet, I need to read it. You let me know is it good ?

[BookwormQueenFiona]

All things India are interesting to me; I started with A Suitable Boy and from there have read many. A Fine Balance was one of the last ones I read (our book club's choice) and even though raw and often depressing, it is a wake up call as to the lives of many unfortunate souls.

[Pranay]

It is one of my all time favourite and certainly an awesome book. Had read the book a few years ago and thought that the ending should not have been so tragic. Rohinton does a brilliant job in endearing the characters and creating that ray of hope towards which majority of the middle class India is striving at. However after much thought I realised that the ending was apt and more real.

[Kat]

This book is one of my all time favorites. Whenever I dove into it, I was transported to India. It is beautifully written and the characters are so well developed I felt I knew them.

[Celine]

One of my all time favourite books! Harsh but beautiful!

[Marjorie]

I read this book a few years ago. It has made an indelible impression on me. Every time I think of it my heart aches for the people of India. It is, I think, the best book I have ever read but also the saddest by far.
Rohinton Mistry manages to take you to another time and place and you become incredibly involved with each character.

[Miss Melly]

Hi all. If you loved this book as much as I did, I would also recommend Shantaram , Q & A and The Space Between Us

[Naty]

I usually keep the books that I love, to read again in the future. Although this is one of the best books I've ever read, I know that I will never read it again. It was so sad and devastating. I fell in love with the characters but do not wish to relieve their pain again. I do recommend it. Everyone should read this book, at least once.

[Karen]

I listened to this book and loved it. It remains in my mind to challenge the media stories about the supposed "progress" India is making. Changed my thinking about India.

[Caroline]

I feel the same way as Naty. I read it several years ago, and it gripped me from beginning to end, but it has to be the most depressing book I've ever read and it's unlikely I'll ever read it again. All the same, whenever its time to donate books for the church sale, I skip over it because I want to keep it for some reason.