Silver Thimble and Filter Coffee: The God of Small Things

First things first: You don’t impulsively decide to read a God of Small Things, you plan it. It’s similar to climbing the Mount Everest. For that, you train physically. For God of Small Things, you train emotionally and mentally. I’m not trying to scare you, readers. I am simply trying to prep you for probably the most emotionally draining and definitely the most challenging book of your life. The God of Small Things tears you apart and then gnaws at the torn pieces individually.

Here’s what the story looks like: Twins Estha and Rahel were inseparable until their cousin Sophie Mol drowned in the river with her grandmother’s silver thimble in her hand. Nobody’s life was ever the same again. All the characters find themselves struggling with their own set of societal demons, mostly failing and falling at every step that they take on their road to happiness. Every character is the hero of their own story and whether young or adult, is silently fighting a battle unthanked. Set in the year 1969 in the state of Kerala, the book affects you so much that every few minutes you have to pinch and tell yourself that this is just fiction and is not really happening.

The story is about the loss of innocence, tragic incidents and about the unsaid but suffocating Love Laws that trap human emotions in an airtight bottle, never to escape the lips of lovers marking forbidden territories.

To quote Professor Trelawney, “You’re going to suffer, but you’re going to be happy about it.” This is exactly how you feel while reading this book.

Take this book and head to a garden with some filter coffee. The coffee will help you stay awake through all the ups and downs of Estha and Rahel making you feel like a part of their story.