Between the Assassinations

Between the Assassinations is a collection of interconnected short stories set in the fictional Indian town of Kittur between 1984 and 1991 - the period between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination and her son Rajiv Gandhi's death. The stories take place in Karnataka, Southwest India, following characters from different social classes, castes, and religions as they navigate life in Kittur. Each narrative stands alone while building a complex portrait of the town through recurring locations and overlapping characters. The book presents a cross-section of Indian society during a period of significant political transition. Workers, journalists, entrepreneurs, servants, and students move through the streets of Kittur, their lives intersecting against the backdrop of social transformation. Through its varied perspectives and layered narratives, the book examines questions of power, inequality, and social mobility in modern India. The collection portrays both the vitality and tensions of a rapidly changing society through its focus on one representative town.

Readers view this collection of interconnected stories as a raw portrait of small-town India, though less impactful than Adiga's "The White Tiger." Reviews note the book's unflinching look at corruption, caste dynamics, and social inequalities. Readers appreciated: - Detailed character studies across social classes - Authentic depiction of 1980s Indian life - Dark humor throughout narratives - Clear, precise prose style Common criticisms: - Lacks cohesive narrative thread - Too many characters to track - Stories feel uneven in quality - More depressing than enlightening Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (50+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "Each story pulls you into a different corner of Kittur" - Goodreads reviewer "The stories start to feel repetitive and bleak" - Amazon reviewer "Strong individual pieces but doesn't come together as a whole" - LibraryThing review

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry Chronicles the interconnected lives of four characters across different castes in 1970s Mumbai during the Emergency period in India, capturing the social and political upheaval of the era through their personal stories.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Tells the story of twins in Kerala whose lives are shaped by social hierarchies, forbidden love, and political change in post-colonial India through multiple timelines and perspectives.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga Follows a driver's rise from poverty to entrepreneurship in modern India through letters that expose class divisions and social transformation in urban and rural settings.

Tales from Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry Presents linked stories about residents in a Bombay apartment complex, examining their daily lives and relationships across social classes and communities.

In An Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh Weaves together stories from medieval and modern India and Egypt, connecting different time periods and cultures through the lives of merchants, slaves, and villagers in both countries.

🔸 The book was published in India before Adiga's Booker Prize-winning "The White Tiger" but was released internationally afterward to capitalize on his success 🔸 Kittur, while fictional, is based on real coastal towns in Karnataka like Mangalore and shares similar religious diversity, with Hindu temples, mosques, and churches coexisting 🔸 The time period (1984-1991) spans from Indira Gandhi's assassination to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination - a transformative era that saw major economic reforms in India 🔸 Each section of the book begins with a guide book-style introduction to different areas of Kittur, giving readers a tourist's perspective before diving into the harsh realities 🔸 The author spent part of his childhood in Mangalore and drew from his experiences as both an insider and outsider (having also lived in Australia) to create the narrative's unique perspective