Set in an unidentified city in india, initially in 1975 and later in 1984 during the turmoil of the emergency, the book concerns four characters from varied backgrounds dina dalal, ishvar darji, his nephew omprakash darji and the young student maneck kohlah who come together and develop a bond. The selection of a fine balance for oprahs book club in 2001 changed the nature of mistrys career, as it has for many authors. Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances and their fates become inextricably linked in. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a fine balance vintage international. Firstly, the extreme misery content makes it close to being farcical. The pace is steady, perhaps a bit pedantic at times but definitely worth the time it takes to read. The questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list. While already respected, he had now earned a recognition with a new readership in the hundreds of thousandsa readership that was by and large unlikely to pick up a sprawling book set in 1970s india. Indeed, rohinton mistry has often been compared to storytellers like tolstoy and dickens. This study guide consists of approximately 86 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a fine balance.
Mistrys second novel, a fine balance, is a long, complex work, with four protagonists and a variety of settings. Times book award for fiction, the commonwealth writers prize, canadas prestigious giller prize and was a 1996 booker prize finalist. A fine balance v a fine balance displays a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of charles dickens. As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, a fine balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state.
But a fine balance reminded me of the value of family and friendship. If youve been to any psychology subreddit, youve likely noticed that many of the headlines poorly describe a studys findings, and many of the comments show a poor understanding of psychology in general, if not an outright dismissal of the disciplines legitimacy. At the bottom of the page you will also find useful links, all in one place. Who insisted he was fine and that she was to come with him to follow a path she didnt know she had. Yet it was intrinsically canadian because the author was a canadian. But this book is a very good and a very different historical fiction book. Together, we choose a new book to read and discuss each month. Every book page contains useful information for your book group including book club questions.
Tailors, ishvar darji and his nephew omprakash leave their village to escape poverty and seek their fortune in the city, hoping to return rich and successful and rescue their family from crushing poverty and prejudice. A fine balance vintage international kindle edition by. A fine balance discussion rohinton mistry took an unflinching look inside india during the emergency and brought a new cultural awareness to our lives. Great for book clubs, if you can cope with its length over 600 pages this book does have a fantastic story and the characters are extremely well developed. A fine balance rohinton mistry fab book club recommendations. The author uses so many literary devices, its hard to keep track of what they all are.
A fine balance is a true modern epic, built on the ordinary. While already respected, he had now earned a recognition with a new readership in the hundreds of thousandsa readership that was by and large unlikely to pick up a. Online a fine balance by rohinton mistry page hapter. Good bookdiscussion books present the authors view of an important truth and sometimes send a message to the reader. Maneck kohlah, a college student, has rented a room in the city. This magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of india. First book in the from balance to darkness series after getting separated with her best friend she met his uncle. A fine balance book report sundance bauman iaff 100 book. These books can be read more than once, and each time the reader learns something new. Rohinton mistry has been compared to charles dickens in his finest years when he was able so profoundly to look at the human spirit juxtaposed against the inhumane conditions. Mistrys rich, complex, and beautiful 1996 novel is like a dickens book set in india, about the humor and degradation in the life of the poor. On city, one village, one town, three families this is the tight canvas in which mistry paints, or rather, is the quilt that he weaves. Written with compassion, humor, and insight, a fine balance is a vivid, richly textured, and powerful novel written by one of the most gifted writers of our time. If you are into the fiction books then the books we are talking about is going to be the best book for you.
A fine balance rohinton mistry, 1995 random house 624 pp. The corrupt and brutal government has just declared a state of emergency, and the country is on the edge of chaos. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage indepth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or publishing in a safe, supportive environment. If youre looking for help with a personal book recommendation, consult our weekly recommendation thread, suggested reading page, or ask in rsuggestmeabook. In these precarious circumstances, four characters form an unlikely alliance.
A fine balance is a saga written in the tradition of tolstoys famous anna karenina. I first read this book soon after moving to canada. A fine balance like pax said, the suicide hit me hard, but didnt disappoint me. Rohinton mistrys novel, a fine balance, is a heartwrenching read, a story of horrors and the unlikely friendships that survive them. A fine balance topics for discussion rohinton mistry this study guide consists of approximately 86 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a fine balance. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mistrys prose is alive with enduring images and a cast of unforgettable characters. The government has just declared a state of emergency, in. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. I doubt the book can be understood as a whole if you cant understand the ending. The death count includes cows and street dogs, in ad. It wasnt long before she knew her true purpose, and unlike other people, she e. The scene is india, 1975, and indira gandhi has declared a state of emergency in the country.
His new novel, family matters, will be released by knopf in 2002. About the author, rohinton mistry highlights from oprahs book club group discussion of a fine balance. The a fine balance study guide contains a comprehensive summary and analysis of a fine balance by rohinton mistry. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. However, from the first page, it takes the reader on a compelling journey into the chaos of india during the 1975 state of emergency a world defined by political instability, corruption, the rigid caste system and the unpredictability of daily life.
What effect is achieved by the novels mildly comic ending, with om and ishvar clowning around at dinas door. The writing is excellent and the storytelling is perfect. A fine balance vintage international kindle edition by mistry, rohinton. If one could read only one book about india, this would make a very good choice.
A good bookdiscussion book often stays in the readers mind long after the book is finished and the discussion is over. A fine balance rohinton mistry learn about a very corrupt india and some very well written interesting characters. Ive spent a long time trying to figure it out since i finished reading, because i think that it has to be central to mistrys goals in the book. Does a fine balance show peoples vulnerability, or their fortitude. A fine balance is well written and achingly evocative of the period, the second half of the twentieth century in india. View notes a fine balance book report from iaff 100 at university of nevada, reno. This work falls very short of its acclamation as a classic for lots of reasons. At 600 pages, mistrys stunning second novel looks intimidating, yet this moving tale of four people caught up in indias 1975 state. A boy grows up in the northern mountains of india, well cared for.
A fine balance is a book that will stay in my memory forever. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Book club discussion questions this page gives you a full list of all the books featured on this site, split between fiction and non fiction. Mistry traces the story of four bombay residents who. Times prize in fiction, commonwealth writers best book of the year, and giller prize. What do indians think of the book a fine balance by. A fine balance is the second novel by rohinton mistry. A fine balance culture vultures lonely planet forum. The narrative structure for the first half is awkward and unsatisfying. This article borrows its title from the novel a fine balance, by indocanadian author rohinton mistry b. With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of charles dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of india.
The questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list that follow are intended to enhance your groups experience of reading rohinton mistrys a fine balance. There are many things making a fine balance a very different book from all the others. Ive never encountered pages that took me so far, and removed me from my own way of life and way of thinking the way a fine balance did. This 43page guide for a fine balance by rohinton mistry includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 16 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. A fine balance by rohinton mistry book club discussion. Plot summary indianborn canadian writer rohinton mistrys 1995 novel a fine balance is the story of four characters from diverse backgrounds whose paths converge in 1975 india. Though mistry is too fine a writer to indulge in polemics, this second novel is also. It is a book to savour rather than to gallop through. The novel gives us a vivid picture of life for members of the untouchable caste in remote villages. A fine balance, rohinton mistrys stunning internationally acclaimed bestseller, is set in mid1970s india. The author uses so many literary devices, its hard to. It tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a state of internal emergency.
I wonder if any school systems are using this for a novel study in high school english. Good book discussion books present the authors view of an important truth and sometimes send a message to the reader. A fine balance audiobook abridged listen instantly. Although it is bleak, i found it hopeful, too, and it sent me home considerably lighter than when i arrived.
A fine balance by rohinton mistry announced november 30, 2001 discussion questions 1. A fine balance was also one of the first canadian books to bring about a dialogue in what canadian writing was. Moreover, although most of the events in the novel take place in the mid1970s. The novel is a reminder that there are moments where life can be beautiful even in the most appalling of circumstances. The story starts in the same year the emergency was declared, 1975. Is nusswan presented entirely as a villain, or does he have redeeming features. A fine balance a fine balance audiobook, by rohinton mistry. Published november 30th 2001 by vintage first published 1995 more details. A good book discussion book often stays in the readers mind long after the book is finished and the discussion is over.
The government has just declared a state of emergency, in whose upheavals four strangersa spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his. The government has just declared a state of emergency. Nov 30, 2001 a fine balance by rohinton mistry announced november 30, 2001 discussion questions 1. But these are not the reasons i love the book so much.
Rohinton mistry booklist rohinton mistry message board. We hope they will provide many interesting angles from which to approach this sweeping and magnificent novel by one of the most powerful of contemporary writers. Events cause him to be sent to the city to become schooled. A fine balance paperback book discussion goodreads. Why has mistry chosen not to name the prime minister or the city by the sea, when they are easily identifiable. Reading guide for a fine balance by rohinton mistry. I loaned out my first copy and never got it back so i have gotten a second copy and am reading the book again. Through the dramatic and often shocking turns their lives take, we get an intimate view not only of their world but of india itself. This is a literary masterpiece and comes highly recommended.
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