|
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
A Fine Balance is a novel set in India starting in 1975 which takes the reader into the lives of four Indians, a widow, an uncle & his nephew, and a college student.
I found the book to be well-written, but the content would stand out even if AFB had been poorly written. Many adjectives could be used to describe the content of AFB, but the two I chose over all others are disturbing and depressing.
I can't claim to know a lot about India, its culture and/or history. What I will say is if this novel is even remotely close to what has happened (still happens?) in India, then India was (is?) one of the most fucked-up countries in the world. I don't usually resort to cursing in my posts re books, but AFB definately struck a nerve.
This sounds more suitable to a blog entry, but I feel compelled to make this disclaimer regarding my bias against Indians in general. Please keep in mind my bias is based on my limited exposure, and I don't mean to group all Indians together even though it is tempting. My wife has worked for and with several Indians over many years, and I spent time a fair amount of time around those Indians via her job. I have never, so far in my life, met a more cold-hearted, corrupt, I-don't-give-a-shit-about-you-what's-in-it-for-me?, cheap, elitest, and demanding group of people.
__________________
In a society where the individual is not free to pursue the truth...there is neither progress, stability nor security.--Edward R. Murrow
|