The title of the book comes from the martin luther king, jr. General book club questions for study and discussion. Marxist ideas grew popular in kerala soon after indias liberation from british colonial rule, and in 1967 the naxalite party split off as a more radical communist group than the mainstream. This novel is divided into 21 chapters so, for the sake of this discussion, im dividing it into three parts. Bbc radio 4 bookclub, arundhati roy the god of small things. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. The reason for god would be good for a christian book club that wants to talk directly about issues in faith rather than getting at issues through stories. This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step, so it is worth stating. Jodi picoults small great things is about racism, choice, fear, and hope. Our 23 hour meetings are primarily a social gathering with a mere 10 minute discussion about the book snuck somewhere in the middle. Choose one question at a time and toss it out to the group.
We meet in a private facebook group and chat about a new book every month. Discuss the narrative structure of the god of small things, which intertwines scenes from the past and the present, and arundhati roys writing style. It follows the story of two fraternal twins who have. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Were actually farther ahead in the future on the first page of the book, which plunks us down in 1993, than we are at the end of the book, which shows us a scene in 1969. The screwtape letters study guide god versus religion. Want to see these questions in action, and join a fun monthly online book club no awkward silences, promise. The god of small things hardcover book discussion goodreads. We also mentioned how the small things in life start piling up and eventually they result in a big event happening. Book club discussion questions for small great things the title alludes to a quote attributed often to reverend dr.
The book reached fourth position in the new york times bestsellers list for independent fiction. The god of small things by arundhati roy, paperback. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. As a child, ruth showed a high level of intelligence and earned a spot at an. Discuss the narrative structure of the god of small things, which intertwines scenes from the past and the present, and arundhati roys writing.
Small great things, jodi picoults 24th novel, is the remarkable story of an africanamerican nurse, a white supremacist couple, and one infant whose fate pits them against each other. It would be worth your while to reread chapter 11 of this incredible novel, entitled the god of small things. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the god of small things is the way it jumbles time. What is the significance of the title, the god of small things.
Book club central will be a repository of resources on book clubs from tools to start and maintain your club to recommendations on books, as well as fun ideas like food pairings for. All of these book studies can be done either in a small group setting or as an individual. What function does pappachis moth serve in the book. Likened to the works of faulkner and dickens when it was first published twenty years ago, this extraordinarily accomplished debut novel is a brilliantly plotted story of forbidden love and piercing political drama, centered on the. We found that they were maybe too structured didnt leave enough room to really consider life our lives the things actually happening and how to relate them to both the bible and to the things that encounter every day.
Whator whoare the small things over which this god has dominion, and why do they merit their own god. It follows the story of two fraternal twins who have had hard lives due to the things that may seem small. What are some examples of small great things done by the characters in the novel. Its arundhati roys first and so far only book of fiction and it took the literary. Needless to say, small great things would make a fascinating book club pick with the right individuals. Ruth jackson grew up in a poor part of the city, and her mother worked as a maid for the hallowells, a wealthy white family in manhattan. Between this remarkable novels first and last sentences, between may 1992 and december 1969, between the freighted present and past elusive hope, arundhati roy constructs a tale as far reaching and sensuous as myth, as inescapable as history, as passionate as the loves that impel the members of the kochamma family to. This is a good book for those wanting to examine their doubts or learn to engage. Arundhati roy discusses the god of small things on book club. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers.
Set in kerala, india, in 1969, the god of small things is the story of sevenyearold twins rahel and estha, born of a wealthy family and literally joined at the soul. I decided to come up with a generic list of book club questions to compel us to dig deeper than did you like the book. The action pivots mainly on two time periods, 1969 and 1993, moving. Young is a story that explores god s role in suffering. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. Some of the studies have a unique study guide that must be purchased separately. Also, at the end of the book, velutha is revealed to be the god of small things.
Some of the themes you might want to explore include prejudice, race. What other names and what divine and earthly attributes are associated with this god. I was going through some of the screwtape letters study guides on the net for this book. The god of small things takes place mostly in 1969 and 1993, in ayemenem aymanam, in the district of kerala. Small great things by jodi picoult book club discussion.
One of the key aspects of roys style that is employed throughout the book is the. This book shows that how small things in life can affect a persons life but there is always a. The book we read this month was the god of small things by arundhati roy. We have tons of study questions for you here, all completely free. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. Jan 10, 2017 the god of small things by arundhati roy book club discussion questions. The god of small things by arundhati roy reading guide. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including the god of small things.
The book explores how the small things affect peoples behavior and their lives. Throughout the god of small things, we get to see how things look from different characters points of view different versions of the same reality. Discussion questions for the god of small things the. To dislocate received rhythms and create the language she requires, a language that is at once classical and unprecedented. This novel is set in india and tells the story of twins esthe and rahel and their family. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. She received half a million pounds as an advance, and rights to the book were sold in 21 countries. No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion. We see estha and rahel at two very different points in their lives, 23 years apart. Lush, lyrical and unnerving, the god of small things is an awardwinning landmark that started for its author an esteemed career of fiction and political.
The god of small things, arundhati roy the god of small things 1997 is the debut novel of indian writer arundhati roy. Arundhati roy has given us a book that is anchored to anguish, but fueled by wit and magic. The god of small things questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the god of small things. In what ways do the actions of each of the narrators support this statement. Arundhati roy with jim and the bookclub audience i do hope those of you who have heard the arundhati roy discussion on the god of small. Oct 06, 2011 arundhati roy talks to james naughtie and readers about her booker prize winning novel the god of small things. The new york times bestselling and booker prizewinning novel about an indian family in tragic decline that introduced the world to the voice of arundhati roy. Hardcover, penguin books, 2012 the author presents a series of vignettes around her interactions with her patients as well as delving into premodern medicine, etymologies, pilgrimages and hospital bureaucracy, all from the perspective of a doctor healing the whole patient. What does the book have to say about the changes to the world brought about by modernity, development and globalization, etc 16. The god of small things is nominally the story of young twins rahel and estha and the rest of their family, but the book feels like a million stories spinning out indefinitely. It is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the love laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts.
The god of small things audiobook, written by arundhati roy. Why do you suppose the author chose not to unfold the narrative in a more linear way. Arundhati roy talks to james naughtie and readers about her booker prize winning novel the god of small things. Use these book club discussion questions and study guide. The god of small things arundhati roy, 1997 harpercollins 336 pp. The god of small things is a book by an indian writer, arundhati roy. Christian book club recommendations learn religions. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Roys narration is so extraordinaryat once so morally strenuous and so. The god of small things, the first novel of indian writer arundhati roy, won the booker prize in 1997.
If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. In your answers, you must refer to two specific scenes from the reading to support your answer. The novel is based on the true story of a labor and delivery nurse who was prohibited from caring for a newborn because the father requested that no africanamerican nurses tend to his baby. Connelly takes a break from his harry bosch police novels the last coyote, p. Between this remarkable novels first and last sentences, between may 1992 and december 1969, between the freighted present and past elusive hope, arundhati roy constructs a tale as far reaching and sensuous as myth, as inescapable as history, as passionate as the loves that impel the members of the kochamma family to their. The reason for god is a nonfiction book that addresses the most common objections to christianity and presents a case for the rationality of christianity. Aug 08, 2019 book club central, or bcc, will bring a world of information to book lovers, book clubs, libraries, and anyone who wants to increase their enjoyment of reading. We announce the book selection on the first monday of the month and discuss on the last monday of the month at. While this book was critically acclaimed and has won several awards, i only felt lukewarm about it.
The god of small things is the debut novel of indian writer arundhati roy. If i cannot do great things, i can do small things in a great way. Rahel and estha are cared for by a host of compelling characters. The god of small things by arundhati roy book club. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Dec 14, 2017 my current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so. However, it was the books title that left me with the most questions. Reading guide for the god of small things by arundhati roy. Home book discussion groups libguides at american library. Buy this book with sensuous prose, a dreamlike style.
The god of small things by arundhati roy reading group guides. Dec 16, 2008 it is an event that will lead to an illicit liaison and tragedies accidental and intentional, exposing big things that lurk unsaid in a country drifting dangerously toward unrest. The story is told from the point of view of rahel and the now silent estha, her brother. Today i finished reading the god of small things by arundhati roy, and i. Discussion questions for the god of small things 07. Dec 01, 2016 needless to say, small great things would make a fascinating book club pick with the right individuals. Whator whoare the small things over which this god has dominion, and why. Read book the god of small things by arundhati roy pdf. Club litteraire p club litteraire parisien du 29 mars 2020 a 17h00. There is a reading guide with fourteen thoughtprovoking questions. It was the debut novel of the writer and ended up winning the booker prize in 1997. The epigraph for arundhati roys booker prizewinning novel the god of small things seems especially relevant to a discussion of the new canon. The god of small things by arundhati roy goodreads. Reading guide for the god of small things by arundhati roy discussion guide for book clubs.
The god of small things questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the god of. Arundhati roy goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Soon after the book s release in 1997, a lawyer named sabu thomas attempted to have the book s last chapter removed because of its graphic description of sexual acts between members of different castes. Mar 01, 2018 the god of small things is a book by an indian writer, arundhati roy. It is a good idea to plan on finishing the book a little earlier than you might otherwise so that you have time to think about it and prepare before your book club meets. The god of small things infamously enraged some leftist keralans upon its release. This is not the order we read them in, since the book is a series of flashbacks and flashforwards so if you dont want any details spoiled, come back when you finish the book. Michiko kakutani, the new york times the god of small things offers such magic, mystery, and sadness that, literally, this reader turned the last page and decided to reread it.
What is the significance of the title of the novel. Martin luther king, jr if i cannot do great things, i can do small things that are great. Share your thoughts about the novels setting and the impression the author creates of rural india. Jan 24, 2018 i was going through some of the study guides on the net for this book. The god of small things by arundhati roy book club discussion. It wont be an easy discussion, but it will be an important one, especially in this day and age. I may be biased, but moms book nook is the best online moms book club youll find. The god of small things takes on the big themeslove.