BOOK REVIEW: MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS

 BOOK REVIEW: MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS 

Ministry Of Utmost Happiness is a political fiction novel written by Arundhati Roy. After twenty years of publications of "God of Small Things," this novel came out in 2017. But it is not as the expectations were.

 'There seems to be no hope. But pretending to be hopeful is the only grace we have...'

~ Arundhati Roy

The style of writing is simple but the plot is not. It has a plot and subplots also kind of non-linear plot. There are two major characters in the novel, Anjum who narrates the story sometimes, who is transgender and have an identity crisis. Another character is Tilo, mother, the lover whose story also highlights the issues of Kashmir. 

The Story is narrated by different narrators time by time. It is a long detailed novel on the issues of Indian politics, Kashmir and identity crisis, also gender discrimination and religious conflicts. There is so much in the novel that it makes a mixture of things, also long paragraphs, that's the only reason l feel bored while reading it. It is rough to read, like bread with no butter. 

It was highly praised by readers so l picked it up but it disappointed me. Honestly, l forcefully read and completed it with many breaks. One thing is that religious satirical and political fiction interests me. But some lines were funny like Gaaaliya (Bad words).

For those, who are interested in Indian politics, culture, Kashmir issues and identity crisis, this novel is worth reading. Otherwise, rough and tiring read it is to me. Again, l can't deny that there are some quotes/lines that l like. 

"She wondered how to un-know certain things, certain specific things that she knew but did not wish to know" Arundhati Roy

3/5 rate it.