Arundhati Roy Books
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author and activist born in Shillong, India, in 1961. She gained international fame with her debut novel 'The God of Small Things', which won the Booker Prize in 1997.
Known for: The God Of Small Things, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A Novel
Books by Arundhati Roy
The God Of Small Things
Set in Kerala, India, this debut novel by Arundhati Roy tells the story of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel and their childhood experiences that shape their lives. Through a nonlinear narrative, Roy ex...
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A Novel
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is a sweeping, multi-layered novel that traverses the diverse landscapes of India—from the bustling streets of Old Delhi to the valleys of Kashmir. It follows a cast o...
Key Insights from Arundhati Roy
Ayemenem and the Ipe Family
Ayemenem is both a place and a state of being. Its shimmering river bends through the narrative like a pulse, carrying memories and histories. It is home to the Ipe family, Syrian Christians who live within the contradictions of privilege and oppression. Mammachi, the matriarch, plays her violin and...
From The God Of Small Things
Caste, Colonial Hangovers, and Family Rules
The veneer of civility in Ayemenem hides ancient cruelties. The Ipe family’s wealth and power, though diminished, still depend on the labor of those marked as untouchable. Among them is Velutha, the Paravan carpenter, whose intelligence and skill earn him quiet admiration—and dangerous affection. Ye...
From The God Of Small Things
Anjum: Becoming Herself Amid the Noise of Old Delhi
Anjum’s story begins in the dense, cacophonous heart of Old Delhi, where she is born as Aftab to a family who loves her dearly yet cannot quite comprehend her difference. Aftab’s early life is an education in contradiction—he is cherished by his mother, while his father clings desperately to silence...
From The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A Novel
The Wound of Gujarat and the Rise of Jannat
The turning point in Anjum’s life—and in the moral trajectory of the novel—comes with the horror of the Gujarat riots. When she travels there with a group of pilgrims, she finds herself amid genocidal violence. I wrote those scenes to tear through the comfortable narratives of progress and democracy...
From The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: A Novel
About Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author and activist born in Shillong, India, in 1961. She gained international fame with her debut novel 'The God of Small Things', which won the Booker Prize in 1997. Roy is also known for her essays and activism on environmental and political issues in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arundhati Roy is an Indian author and activist born in Shillong, India, in 1961. She gained international fame with her debut novel 'The God of Small Things', which won the Booker Prize in 1997.
Read Arundhati Roy's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 2 books by Arundhati Roy.