Dolors's Reviews > A Fine Balance
A Fine Balance
by
by
Four people from very different backgrounds cross their paths for a year during the seventies in India, and as we learn of their pasts, their presents and eventually of their futures, we get to know the political and social situation during that turbulent period in one of the poorest countries of the world.
I agree with most of the positive reviews when they say that this story is a faithful portrait of what might have been like to live in the India of the 70's and 80's (a complete nightmare), and of course, to show the kind of life its people led there, with all the complicate relationships between them. Social distinctions between castes and tribes, the role of women in Indian society, and their struggle to survive in a complicate moment, just when the country starts to fight for a political independence in a corrupt society. Utterly depressing, if I may say so.
And yes, the descriptions are accurate, the setting interesting, and the characters thoroughly developed, which make the story highly believable and realistic, devastatingly realistic. A reality in which the much oppressed population lead miserable lives so that a few can lead luxurious ones, and as the tittle says, reaching a Fine Balance.
But then, I think the story lingers and lingers more than necessary, and even with all the dramatic events happening simultaneously to all the characters, I felt detached from the story, maybe because of too many disgraces put together from the beginning. Every time I finished a chapter I thought it couldn't get worse and I was wrong each time, things never improved and I was actually despairing by the end of the book. Even with one of the most supposed-to-be shocking scenes which should shake the reader, I just read through it and closed the last page without thinking twice.
So I'd just say that this is a well written book, which will interest those who want to know more about India and its people, but beware, because comparisons can be awful, and I have to say that the book didn't manage to move me the way Vikram Seth's "A Suitable boy" did.
Maybe the fatalistic point of view of an occidental writer who doesn't really know that life in a place like India can be beautiful as well.
I agree with most of the positive reviews when they say that this story is a faithful portrait of what might have been like to live in the India of the 70's and 80's (a complete nightmare), and of course, to show the kind of life its people led there, with all the complicate relationships between them. Social distinctions between castes and tribes, the role of women in Indian society, and their struggle to survive in a complicate moment, just when the country starts to fight for a political independence in a corrupt society. Utterly depressing, if I may say so.
And yes, the descriptions are accurate, the setting interesting, and the characters thoroughly developed, which make the story highly believable and realistic, devastatingly realistic. A reality in which the much oppressed population lead miserable lives so that a few can lead luxurious ones, and as the tittle says, reaching a Fine Balance.
But then, I think the story lingers and lingers more than necessary, and even with all the dramatic events happening simultaneously to all the characters, I felt detached from the story, maybe because of too many disgraces put together from the beginning. Every time I finished a chapter I thought it couldn't get worse and I was wrong each time, things never improved and I was actually despairing by the end of the book. Even with one of the most supposed-to-be shocking scenes which should shake the reader, I just read through it and closed the last page without thinking twice.
So I'd just say that this is a well written book, which will interest those who want to know more about India and its people, but beware, because comparisons can be awful, and I have to say that the book didn't manage to move me the way Vikram Seth's "A Suitable boy" did.
Maybe the fatalistic point of view of an occidental writer who doesn't really know that life in a place like India can be beautiful as well.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 4, 2012
–
Finished Reading
March 19, 2013
– Shelved
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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I am still very happy that I stuck to the end, because I found the ending making up for some of this length, I didn't expect everything to end so badly (like they say so many times in the book). And even with everything so bad, some love, affection and personal growth has happened. I did love the characters, and felt pretty connected to them in the end.
I am wondering if I would like to read Family Matters, since it is even longer.
I also read both books quite a while ago, but I remember being thrown off balance by the tragedies that kept befalling on the characters in Mistry's book. Sometimes they bordered the cartoonish, even.
But I agree with you, Liza. I also ended up caring about the characters and felt truly bad when I turned the last, hopeless, page. I guess I should read more by Mistry to get a valid judgement of his works, although I don't plan on doing so in the nearby future (too many pending books on my shelves before I am allowed to buy new ones!;P)
Neatly stated, Margitte. I read this book a while ago, but the feeling of despair persists in my memory. I more recently read Rushdie's Midnight's Children, which covers a similar period in India, and found it more spiced with humor and original in its delivery, but then, I am not the same reader now than in 2012...we change so fast and so many times throughout our lives!
It's nice to see a different interpretation.