Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is a lyrical, devastating novel about forbidden love and its consequences in 1960s Kerala, India. Through the intertwined stories of fraternal twins Rahel and Estha, Roy explores how personal tragedies are shaped by larger forces of caste, colonialism, and social convention. The novel's non-linear structure mirrors the way memory works, revealing how small moments contain the seeds of catastrophe and how the past never truly releases its hold.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Roy understands that the biggest tragedies often hinge on the smallest transgressions. This novel shows us how rigid social systems crush individual lives, and how love, when it crosses the wrong boundaries, becomes dangerous. It's heartbreaking and beautiful in equal measure.

DETAILS: • Author: Arundhati Roy • Publisher: Random House Trade • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: December 16, 2008 • ISBN: 9780812979657 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days