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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
A violent beating resulting in death is depicted; child sexual abuse is referenced
Language
Some
Literary prose; some strong language
Sexual Content
A lot
An explicit sexual encounter between two adults across caste lines; child sexual abuse referenced
Substance Use
Barely any
Alcohol use by some characters
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Explores trauma, caste discrimination, grief, and the long psychological shadow of a single catastrophic event
What this book is about
Arundhati Roy's Booker Prize-winning debut novel is set in Kerala, India, and revolves around the Ipe family, twins Rahel and Estha, and the tragedy that destroyed them. The novel moves between past and present as it reveals the forbidden love between their mother Ammu and Velutha, an Untouchable, and the devastating consequences imposed by caste, family, and law.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Explicit sexual content between adults
Child sexual abuse references
Violent death
Depictions of the caste system and its injustices
Reader Verification
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