#39 in Literary fiction
The God of Small Things
- 357
- Pages
- about 7 h
- Reading time
- Booker Prize
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About the book
The God of Small Things is the 1997 debut novel written by Indian author Arundhati Roy. The novel follows the seven-year-old twins Estha and Rahel, raised by a single mother, as they navigate their childhood, the tensions in their family and the circumstances surrounding the arrival of their British cousin to Ayemenem, India, with the twins later reuniting in their thirties. The novel's events are set against the backdrop of social discrimination and political upheaval in 1960s Kerala, with casteism and British colonialism in India being central themes.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.7 across 508 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 73% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Literary fiction average of 7.6. That is how 7.8 comes out. A further +0.10 comes from the small bonus for major awards.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 7.6 | 73 | 14% |
| Hardcover | 7.7 | 435 | 86% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a book I first bought over 20 years ago. Back then, I eagerly tried to read it but soon found myself frustrated, eventually abandoning it altogether. The intricate narrative, the unfamiliar structure—it all felt too overwhelming. Fast-forward two decades, and there it was again, buried on my bookshelf. Its pages browned with age, coffee stains marking its journey with me, and my children's scribbles dancing across its margins. After finishing 100 Years of Solitude, I felt a renewed curiosity, a sense that maybe this was the right time to pick it up …”
Frequently asked
What is The God of Small Things rated?
7.8 out of 10, from 508 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is The God of Small Things worth reading?
Readers give it 7.8/10 from 508 ratings, which puts it ahead of 19 % of the Literary fiction shelf.
How long does it take to read The God of Small Things?
About 7 hours at an average reading pace — 357 pages.
Where does The God of Small Things rank?
#39 in Literary fiction on the current snapshot.
How long is The God of Small Things?
It has 357 pages — shorter than 69% of the ranked books in Literary fiction.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Literary fiction — and a score of 7.8, the closest to this book.
