"Few have caught the real sorrow and inexplicable strength of India, the unaccountable crookedness and sweetness, as well as Mistry." (Time) "A Fine Balance" and "Family Matters" are two of the many novels written by Rohinton Mistry. In both novels he captures the reality of life in India, both negative and positive. There are many parallels between these books including the setting, the types of characters, and the violent deaths that occur. Rohinton Mistry's style of writing has many similarities in both of his novels "A Fine Balance" and "Family Matters."
Growing up in Bombay, India, Mistry uses his knowledge of his home town as a common setting for both novels. Both have many slums and residential areas called "jhopadpattis". These so-called houses have one big room with a communal water tap in the center of the street. These houses are constructed out of scrap wood and sheet metal.
A Fine Balance
Family Matters
English: Family Matters house, at 1516 W. Wrightwo...In order to go to the bathroom, tenants must walk across the road and sit on a rail in front of a train track. A Fine Balance, which is set in the mid 1970's and Family Matters, set in the mid 1990's share the same economic state. In both decades the country is poor and puts pressure on its citizens to acquire money. In Family Matters, Yezad is forced to work overtime and weekends just to pay for his children's education. The cost of school books and uniforms alone put financial strain on his family. In A Fine Balance Dina can not pay for her own flat, she is forced to have a paying guest and hire two tailors to work for her. Even the children feel pressure to help earn money, even though it may not always be the moral...