A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry It is the mid-1970s and India is experiencing a major political upheaval. During this time, four people and their individual stories - Dina, Ishvar, Om, and Maneck - become linked together, much like the patchwork quilt that Dina sews from the scraps of material that build up in her small flat. Through much hardship, these four come to realize that the makeshift family they have created will bring the happiest moments in their lives.
This book was a fantastic read because of Mistry's ability as a storyteller. Each character and his or her story is carefully crafted, as are the connections he makes between certain things, such as the reapparance of characters like Valmik and Rajaram, and the quilting motif throughout a lot of the book. However, a major theme that makes up this book is fortune, or the lack thereof. Just when you think things are looking up for the characters, something terrible befalls them and you are left wondering how people can survive in such circumstances.
This is not a "happy" read, for the most part, but if you're looking to get lost inside a great story, read this book.
"Please always remember, the secret of suvival is to embrace change, and to adapt. To quote: 'All things fall and are built again, and those that build them again are gay.'"
"Yeats?" guessed Maneck.
The proofreader nodded, "You see, you cannot draw lines and compartments, and refuse to budge beyond them. Sometimes you have to use your failures as stepping-stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and dispair. [. . .] In the end, it's all a question of balance" (268).
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