A Fine Balance

By: Rohinton Mistry

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed city by the sea. The government has just declared a State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers—a spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native village—will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an uncertain future.

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.

©1995 Rohinton Mistry (P)2001 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

1997, IMPAC Dublin Literary Award

2011, Neustadt International Prize for Literature

"Astonishing. . . . A rich and varied spectacle, full of wisdom and laughter and the touches of the unexpectedly familiar through which literature illuminates life." --Wall Street Journal

"Monumental. . . . Few have caught the real sorrow and inexplicable strength of India, the unaccountable crookedness and sweetness, as well as Mistry." --Pico Iyer, Time

"Those who continue to harp on the decline of the novel . . . ought to consider Rohinton Mistry. He needs no infusion of magic realism to vivify the real. The real world, through his eyes, is magical." --The New York Times

Incredible

I have just finished this book and the characters and story are still so real to me. I have just logged in to download another book by the author. "A Fine Balance" was close to perfect. Superb character development and an uncanny ability to draw the reader into the lives of the people and their surroundings. Highly, highly recommended!!

Long story but worth every minute

I was not familiar with Indian culture or history. Beautifully written story about common people and their struggles. Heart wrenching but still shows the sweetness of human connection.

Lost My New Friends

That’s the way I feel after reading A Fine Balance. Dina, Ishvar, Om, and Maneck went through so much hardship in India during the 1970’s State of Emergency. Their lives converged randomly as strangers and yet they bonded like family. Who is the strongest and yet, years later, who emerges as the most resilient and thankful for life’s blessings? Find out. Highly recommend the narration on Audible - the Indian accents add so much to the cadence of the dialogue.

A Fine Balance, Indeed!

I like how we got to know different characters. They come and go...we revisit them from time to time. And throughout the book so many nuances about balance and finding meaning in the midst of chaos provide the reader with an opportunity to ponder what balance means in their own life and what keeps them going.

powerful gripping

Powerful and humbling. Ordinary characters struggling through reality. I wanted them to discover a more comfortable place. But that, then and now, is not real.

A favorite story set in India

I've read this once and listened to it twice over the years. I am touched, made happy, and saddened each time. It's a story of human struggles, failures and success, weaknesses and strengths. It could take place anywhere, but the setting is overcrowded India during years of government insensitivity and political corruption. I weep for what these people endured, and I am in awe of the friendships and endurance some found for themselves in those dire circumstances.

Loved it

From the beginning I was drawn into the life of the characters. The writing painted a beautiful picture and the narration was spot on. Great job!

Do not miss this one

Started a bit slow but WOW! Sucks you in and drives home the point. You get to know interesting people and you care what happens to them. Well written and well narrated. A bit of a downer but a terrific story.

Excellent Book

This book will make you realize how tragic life can be for the extremely poor in India.. how they suffered so much at the hands of the upper class but yet were still able to keep their dignity and zest for life.. It will make you want to cry and laugh.. I throughly enjoyed this book and did not want it to end..

Beautifully difficult

This author might be the Charles Dickens of India. I found this book difficult to listen to at times... Painful. But it was beautifully written and read! I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good long novel they can sink their teeth into.