A Fine Balance Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Name: A Fine Balance
Rating: 5.0 (26 reviews)
Author: Rohinton Mistry
ISBN: 9780375414817

A Fine Balance

by Rohinton Mistry

Critics' Consensus (9):

Readers' Rating (26):

First Published:
Nov 1, 2001, 624 pages

Paperback:
Nov 2001, 603 pages

X
- Literary Fiction
- Asia
- India
- 1960s & '70s
- Asian Authors
Genres & Themes
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Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry's stunning internationally acclaimed bestseller, is set in mid-1970s India. 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." Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances – and their fates – become inextricably linked in ways no one could have foreseen. Mistry's prose is alive with enduring images and a cast of unforgettable characters. 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 questions, discussion topics, and suggested reading list that follow are intended to enhance your group's experience of reading Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. 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.

Why has Mistry chosen not to name the Prime Minister or the City by the Sea, when they are easily recognizable? Does recognition of these elements make any difference in your attitude toward the story?

Is Nusswan presented entirely as a villain, or does he have redeeming features? What are his real feelings toward Dina?

How does Dina's position within her family reflect the position of women in her culture and social class? Is the status of Om's sisters the same as Dina's, or different? What sorts of comparisons can you make between the roles and functions of women in India (as represented in this novel) and in America?

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How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Vintage. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

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