Times book award for fiction, the commonwealth writers prize, canadas prestigious giller prize and was a 1996 booker prize finalist. Aug 17, 2011 but a fine balance reminded me of the value of family and friendship. It tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a state of internal emergency. One of the quilt pieces they recall is from the very first time they sewed for dina and another one is when they were taken to the work camp and dina and maneck had to finish the job. This study guide consists of approximately 86 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a fine balance. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either.
A fine balance is, in many ways, a total mess of a novel. The wall street journal about this guide the questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list that follow are intended to enhance your groups experience of reading rohinton mistrys a. Womens olympic gymnastics team, the first and only american womens team to take gold at the olympics. A fine balance well, i was halfway through this book with very high hopes that it might be one of the best that id ever read. A fine balance a fine balance audiobook, by rohinton mistry. The a fine balance study guide contains a comprehensive summary and analysis of a fine balance by rohinton mistry. The discussion is ongoing and will continue until feb.
His new novel, family matters, will be released by knopf in 2002. Through the dramatic and often shocking turns their lives take, we get an intimate view not only of their. About the book set in india at a time of internal emergency, travel back to 1975 and experience distrust, friendship and love alongside the characters. A fine balance is the second novel by rohinton mistry. This inaugural democracy index for botswana is intended to set a benchmark for democracy to be measured against.
View notes a fine balance book report from iaff 100 at university of nevada, reno. A fine balance is well written and achingly evocative of the period, the second half of the twentieth century in india. What is the theme of a fine balance by rohinton mistry and. We hope they will provide many interesting angles from which to approach this sweeping and magnificent novel by one of the most powerful of contemporary writers. A fine balance, rohinton mistrys stunning internationally acclaimed bestseller. The pace is steady, perhaps a bit pedantic at times but definitely worth the time it takes to read. Rohinton mistry took an unflinching look inside india during the emergency and brought a new cultural awareness to our lives. I wonder if any school systems are using this for a novel study in high school english. It keeps on growing as time goes on, present becoming past. A rich and varied spectacle, full of wisdom and laughter and the touches of the unexpectedly familiar through which literature illuminates life. The questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list. A fine balance book report sundance bauman iaff 100 book.
The quilt could be seen as both a motif and a symbol. In mistrys a fine balance, indira gandhis emergency era is the backdrop of tragic events befalling the four protagonists, who, despite the utter hopelessness and anxiety surrounding them, find comfort in each others company. The narrative structure for the first half is awkward and unsatisfying. Due to the arrival of a new, readymade clothing store in the town, business dwindles for the characters, causing ishvar to consider taking omprakash with him to the. Reading guide for a fine balance by rohinton mistry. Mistrys second novel, a fine balance, is a long, complex work, with four protagonists and a variety of settings. Discussion questions start your own book club and get the discussion going. This magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of india. The bookclubinabox discussion guide to a fine balance, the. A fine balance by rohinton mistry book club discussion. Balance book a guide for managing dental caries for.
Does a fine balance show peoples vulnerability, or their fortitude. A fine balance was written by rohinton mistry and published in 1995. Nov 30, 2001 a fine balance by rohinton mistry announced november 30, 2001 discussion questions 1. It is a great book, and one that will stay with you. Moreover, although most of the events in the novel take place in the mid1970s. The extract i am discussing is about two tailors named ishvar and ashraf, and an apprentice named omprakash. It is set in india in the mid1970 and shows how the lives of four ordinary people are overturned by the emergency, a period of political turmoil and violence. Although it is bleak, i found it hopeful, too, and it sent me home considerably lighter than when i arrived. The bookclubinabox discussion guide to a fine balance. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. A fine balance discussion rohinton mistry took an unflinching look inside india during the emergency and brought a new cultural awareness to our lives.
She picked a fine balance, only her second nonamerican book. India, 1975, and a callous government has declared a state of emergency. Holding this book in your hand, sinking back in your soft armchair, you will say to yourself. Through the dramatic and often shocking turns their lives take, we get an intimate view not only of their world but of india itself. In these precarious circumstances, four characters form an unlikely alliance.
Most of a fine balance takes place in 1975, but the novel also offers a brief glimpse. The bookclubin a box discussion guide to a fine balance, the novel by rohinton mistry book. Why has mistry chosen not to name the prime minister or the city by the sea, when they are easily identifiable. Why has mistry chosen not to name the prime minister or the city by the sea.
Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5 video. We will checkin throughout the month to discuss each read. For background, we tackled the book s topic a boys view of his highpowered working mom in november 2006 in a success at work, a failure at home. A fine balance rohinton mistry, 1995 random house 624 pp. A fine balance by rohinton mistry oprahs book club. A fine balance is the second novel byrohinton mistry. His first novel, such a long journey, was shortlisted for the booker prize and received, among other awards, the governor generals award and the commonwealth writers prize for best book of the year. I am an avid reader, and i put off reading this book.
Such a long journey 1991 was shortlisted for the booker prize and won the governor generals award, the com. After september 11, oprah wanted a book club choice that would introduce american readers to the east. Balance in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Set in bombay, indiabetween 1975 and 1984 during the turmoil of the emergency, a period of expanded government power and crackdowns on civil liberties, the book concerns four characters from va. Off balance by dominique moceanu, paul and teri williams. Based on the bookershortlisted novel by rohinton mistry and adapted by sudha bhuchar and kristine landonsmith, this programme text edition of a fine balance is published to coincide with tamasha theatre companys 2007 revival and tour of the hit play. The quilt it is symbolic of the time they spent together and their connection. The corrupt and brutal government has just declared a state of emergency, and the country is on the edge of chaos. It is a book to savour rather than to gallop through. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Although it is bleak, i found it hopeful, too, and it sent me home.
About the author, rohinton mistry highlights from oprahs book club group discussion of a fine balance more from a fine balance. Together, we choose a new book to read and discuss each month. Containing case histories, scientific studies, excellent charts and illustrations, it not only outlines a system to manage caries, it in simple terms explains the balance that defines the caries process, and. Mistry is also the author of swimming lessons, a collection of short stories. A fine balance rohinton mistry fab book club recommendations. As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, a fine balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state. A fine balance rohinton mistry this book is a long read, and we read this early on in our book club, before we made the rule of no books over 400 pages. The tool, developed and honed by idasa over many years, assesses the depth of democracy in a country through five focus areas. For background, we tackled the books topic a boys view of his highpowered working mom in november 2006 in a success at work, a failure at home. Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances and their fates become inextricably linked.
A fine balance culture vultures lonely planet forum. Times prize in fiction, commonwealth writers best book of the year, and giller prize. Some key issues for the novel suppression of unions and labour movements misa. A fine balance amnesty international book club canada.
Oct 03, 2007 i am currently reading a fine balance, i am on page 527 of the oprahs book club edition and i cannot imagine another piece of literature making such an impact on me. Though mistry is too fine a writer to indulge in polemics, this second novel. But a fine balance reminded me of the value of family and friendship. It is set in india in the mid1970 and shows how the lives of four ordinary people are overturned by the emergency, a period of political turmoil and. What effect is achieved by the novels mildly comic ending, with om and ishvar clowning around at dinas door. The questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list that follow are intended to enhance your groups experience of reading rohinton mistrys a fine balance.
Balance is, as it claims on the cover, a guide for managing dental caries and it is an excellent one. A fine balance, rohinton mistrys stunning internationally acclaimed bestseller, is set in mid1970s india. The novel gives us a vivid picture of life for members of the untouchable caste in remote villages. Not because i was told it wasnt worth reading, quite the opposite. Read the highlights from oprahs book club discussion about a fine balance by rohinton mistry and set in india. We are over on instagram or facebook where we discuss the books in the comments. The story starts in the same year the emergency was declared, 1975. Mistrys prose is alive with enduring images and a cast of unforgettable characters. This guide introduces the reader to rohinton mistrys novel a fine balance, which is an oprah book club selection. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. The government has just declared a state of emergency. A fine balance v a fine balance displays a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of charles dickens.
Meet the author since immigrating from bombay to toronto in 1975, rohinton mistry has written a number of awardwinning novels, including such a long journey. A fine balance topics for discussion rohinton mistry this study guide consists of approximately 86 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a fine balance. Written with compassion, humor, and insight, a fine balance is a vivid, richly textured, and powerful novel written by one of the most gifted writers of our time. The bookclubinabox discussion guide to a fine balance, the novel by rohinton mistry book. A fine balance the quilt motif notes the quilt it is. The author uses so many literary devices, its hard to keep track of what they all are. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. The wall street journal about this guide the questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list that follow are intended to enhance your groups experience of reading rohinton.
And after you have read this story of great misfortunes, you will no doubt dine well, blaming the author for your own insensitivity, accusing him of wild exaggeration and flights of fancy. Published november 30th 2001 by vintage first published 1995 more details. Rohinton mistry is the author of a collection of short stories, tale from firozsha baag 1987, and two internationally acclaimed novels. This 43page guide for a fine balance by rohinton mistry includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 16 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
Rohinton mistry was born in bombay and now lives near toronto. Use these questions to get started on a fine balance. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. The current book is on her trail by john dickerson. Though mistry is too fine a writer to indulge in polemics, this second novel is also.
Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout a fine balance by rohinton mistry. A fine balance audiobook abridged listen instantly. With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of charles dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of india. Set in an unidentified city in india, initially in 1975 and later in 1984 during the turmoil of the emergency, the book concerns four characters from varied backgrounds dina dalal, ishvar darji, his nephew omprakash darji and the young student maneck kohlah who come together and develop a bond. A fine balance by rohinton mistry announced november 30, 2001 discussion questions 1.
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