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  • A Fine Balance

  • Written by: Rohinton Mistry
  • Narrated by: Vikas Adam
  • Length: 25 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (775 ratings)

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A Fine Balance cover art

A Fine Balance

Written by: Rohinton Mistry
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
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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)2018 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about A Fine Balance

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This excellent book is now an excellent audiobook

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I was so excited that it was coming out in an audiobook. I had been waiting for a long time for this.
The narration was everything I hoped for. I felt like I was right there with the characters. One of my favourite books, a modern day classic is now one of my favourite audiobooks.
#audible1

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A Fine Balance

Heartbreaking. Just absolutely heartbreaking with a sense of love, compassion and empathy.

I enjoyed the Narrator’s beautiful accent. He definitely brought the story to life.

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BRILLIANT!!

This was a perfect listen. the reader brought the book to life. I will miss the characters. quite an experience listening to this gem.

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Worth the time

I really enjoy listening to and reading books that teach about other cultures. Some of the societal problems in India are still going on today. Just last year the Wall Street Journal wrote an article on the mafia running the beggar system. The voice acting I thought was excellent.

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A very tragic but moving story.

A merciless indictment of the Indian caste system and the harsh injustices of the repressive "emergency" regime. A sad but necessary story. Very well performed.

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Heart wrenching

you fall in love with the characters. I had a hard time stopping this book to get on with my days.

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Just gutted

I rarely rate a novel over 4 stars, but the writing is magnificent and the narration by Vikas Adams is just about the best I've listened to. The story is profoundly sad, yet beautiful at the same time. The only other I've read, years ago, that had this kind of effect was "A Little Life".

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Excellent rendition

I enjoyed the book when it first came out. Now the richness of the audio enhanced my enjoyment. Thank you.

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best listen in years

it's hard to express how deeply this story affected me: love, discrimination, abomination, beauty, richness

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First class!

I raced through this book as it is captivating. A very interesting look at Indian cultures and mid to late 20th century politics.

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