A Fine Balance

[bony00]

I just finished reading this book byRohinton Mistry. It was such a tragic book. The most tragic that I have ever read. I couldn't believe that after the main characters struggles, pain, suffering and persistance that they all ended up unhappy and defeated. So I didn't like it just because of that.
The story is set in India during the reign of Indira Ghandi it seems and it gave an insight into what life was like during that time in India. So that aspect of the book was interesting.

couldn't put it down

I read this book when I was in the Peace Corps; my mother had sent it to me in a care package b/c she saw it had Oprah's Book Club on the cover. She knew nothing about it, and I wasn't picky about what I read while I was abroad. I found that I could NOT put this book down. It is incredibly long, but the characters and their life journeys really grabbed me and sucked me in. I finished the book in about two days (not impossible when that's all you do all day), and highly recommend it to anyone else. It offers you a glimpse into Indian culture and life, as well as the internal motivations one has for behaviors. I even felt an enormous pity for the state of the characters b/c they felt trapped and helpless, and you begin to sympathize, even when the character may not seem to merit any initially. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

[planet]

Incredible book. Do not read Mystry if you are prone to depression and get too drawn in when you read. A Fine Balance is hard to shake. Storylines converge so this book requires patience.