A Fine Balance

This massive book has haunted me ever since I finished it a few months ago. It’s set during a period I knew nothing about (India, 1975, during Indira Gandhi’s “State of Emergency”).

It took me a while to become invested in the characters, and that is because Mistry takes his time (more than 600 pages) to really develop the four main characters, exploring their history, their motives, fears, and prejudices.

Parts of this book were so brutal that I had to set it aside for a few days until I felt I could continue. Parts of it were so sensitive… show more.

A Fine Balance, written by Egyptian author Rohinton Mistry puts you inside the household of a Muslim family at the turn of the 20th Century. Although the protagonist is respected if not admired in his community, within the family, he is a tyrant who destroys their lives. Is it his fault when he's just an ordinary man living what his religion and culture expect of him? 

Okay, don’t laugh, but once I was watching HGTV—I forget what show— and there was a bit about countertops and why granite is such a popular choice for them. Granite is formed under extreme heat and tremendous pressure, which is what makes it resistant to both of those things. This novel illustrates, in haunting detail, how this notion applies to people. There are characters who get absolutely pummeled by challenges but keep getting right back up. They are hardship-resistant. Meanwhile, the ones who were born into comfort do not fare as well. Made me grateful for every difficulty I encountered… show more.