We had a great discussion about this unusual book and its author. We all agreed that she is a gifted, original writer, who managed, in this particular novel, to capture the extraordinary tapestry, turbulence and vastness of India through many of its marginalised, ostracised and outcast people. 

The novel covers decades of 'modern' post-colonial India, encompassing political violence,  gender identity,  corruption,  religion, tribalism, power, oppression and coexistence plus much, much more.  It is not for everyone, as it is such an 'Indian' book, with no disrespect to anyone Indian or indeed offended by that remark.  It plunges the reader into the convoluted, bizarre, richly complex subcontinent from the far north state of Kashmir to the deep south of Kerala - Roy's home state. It is at times an incoherent roller coaster, moving back and forth, through time, place and people's lives. This is not an easy, cosy bedtime story, it is a book to be appreciated by submerging the reader into the location and period in order to be at one with the host of characters as their lives unfold.  Much of it is sprinkled with magical realism or perhaps it's  magical hysteria. It submerges the reader, at times to the point of drowning by total immersion, in the stories, legends,  myths and lives of the various colourful characters, swirling us along within the vastness of this enormous but ancient, exotic, aromatic, spiritual but deeply divided continent. 

We heartily recommend it as a hugely memorable novel, to be savoured once or indeed twice!