Why people recommend it
The God of Small Things is the Booker Prize-winning debut novel by Arundhati Roy that traces the childhood experiences of fraternal twins in Kerala, India, whose lives are shattered by the destructive societal rules governing love and caste. On The Book Review podcast in an episode titled 17 Nonfiction Books We’re Looking Forward to This Fall released on September 12, 2025, Jumanna Katib referenced Roy's famous novel while discussing a different work, stating that The God of Small Things remained one of the most profound reading experiences she had ever encountered. Earlier, in an episode titled Al Franken on Life in the Senate broadcast on July 18, 2024, contributor Alexander Alter recalled the massive commercial success of Roy's debut novel on The Book Review, noting that it became a massive global hit that ultimately sold six million copies. These reflections captured the dual legacy of Roy's work as both an intensely moving artistic achievement and a historic publishing phenomenon that resonated deeply with readers and critics around the world following its release.
Who recommended it
- Jumanna Katib Discussed
- Alexander Alter Discussed
Jumanna Katib — 1 mention
“So, this is Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arand Roy, and she is the of course is the author of The God of Small Things, which is a novel that honest to God I think was one of the more profound reading experiences I had.”
Alexander Alter — 1 mention
“and of course when where's debut novel came out the god of small things it was a huge hitit sold six million copies”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- 1984
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Al Franken, Giant of the Senate
- All the Way to the River
- Blood, Bones, & Butter
- Can't stop, won't stop
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“activist and novelist who wrote the god of small things.”
“We should say The God of Small Things won the Booker Prize and a subsequent novel was long listed for the Booker Prize.”
“the ministry of utmost happiness which of course came out 20 years after her debut novel The God of small things”