... various awards. Like its predecessor, A Fine Balance treats India both kindly and harshly. Set in the mid-1970s during Mrs. Gandhi's declaration of a state of internal emergency, the book turns first toward the Parsi community in an unidentified city by the sea that resembles Bombay, but its plot opens ... spiritual" (62). At the end, Gustad is damaged, and he will likely never again view the world with such innocence. "But where?" he says as the novel concludes, and enters into the security of his shabby flat. "Life will go on" is the answer to his question. In a way the narrative becom...

• Word Count: 4673
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... various awards. Like its predecessor, A Fine Balance treats India both kindly and harshly. Set in the mid-1970s during Mrs. Gandhi's declaration of a state of internal emergency, the book turns first toward the Parsi community in an unidentified city by the sea that resembles Bombay, but its plot opens ... spiritual" (62). At the end, Gustad is damaged, and he will likely never again view the world with such innocence. "But where?" he says as the novel concludes, and enters into the security of his shabby flat. "Life will go on" is the answer to his question. In a way the narrative becom...

• Word Count: 4675
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate