The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is about fine lines between love, pain, joy, madness, jealousy, hierarchy, human intent, and nature. It shows the intricacies of familial love, set against the lush, politically charged landscape of Kerala, India. This novel, Roy's debut and the 1997 Booker Prize winner, is a blend of emotional depth and innovative narration.

The story is set in Ayemenem, Kerala, with a disjointed narrative shifting between 1969 and 1993. Estha and Rahel are fraternal twins whose lives are irrevocably altered by a hostile political climate, love laws, a family tragedy, and a series of 'small things' that collide to alter the course of their lives.

In this novel, Roy criticizes the rigid social hierarchies and moral codes that govern Indian society, showing the destructive power of these structures through the tragic love affair between Ammu, the twins' mother, and Velutha, an Untouchable. Their doomed relationship highlights the brutality of the caste system and how it perpetuates inequality and suffering.

The portrayal of the lush Kerala landscape, monsoon, and communism mirrors the complexities of human emotions. With lyrical prose, jumps between time periods, and rich imagery and symbolism, Roy establishes herself as a powerful voice in contemporary literature. However, the book was also criticized in some places for its unrestrained descriptions of sexuality and perceived obscenity.

The story is tragic, but it never promises to be anything else. Sadness and loss weave through the story right from the start. It's not for everyone. But if you are a literary enthusiast, enjoy dense, flowery writing, or like to experience different cultures through books, this will be worth your while.