REVIEW: A House for Mr Biswas (V.S. Naipaul)

Book: A House for Mr Biswas

Author: V. S. Naipaul

My rating: 3/5

Mr Biswas has been told since the day of his birth that misfortune will follow him - and so it has. Meaning only to avoid punishment, he causes the death of his father and the dissolution of his family. Wanting simply to flirt with a beautiful girl, he ends up married to her, and is promptly swallowed up by her domineering family. But in spite of endless setbacks, Mr Biswas is determined to stand apart, to achieve independence, to own a house of his own.

[⚠️CW: domestic abuse]

This book wasn't quite what I expected. The first half dragged for me; Mr Biswas wasn't particularly likeable and often his pride caused his misfortune. But part 2 really picked up and I found myself enjoying this book. Mr Biswas becomes more likeable and the setbacks less of a reflection of his character. I found the setting interesting. I don't know much about Trinidad, and especially how it's full of different cultures. I felt for Biswas's wife at times - women were constantly looked down upon and treated like servants, highlighting how tough it was to be a woman in post-colonial Trinidad. Moreover, a clear theme in this book was money. Money is a both a barrier and a springboard. Mr Biswas struggles a lot with finding a steady source of income, meaning he has to choose between his children's education (and giving them a good chance to get out of poverty) and a house of his own. This was contrasted with other characters who stumble on business ventures that thrive, leaving them to prop up the rest of their families. So some heavy themes throughout this book, making it a tad gloomy at times. But overall, Mr Biswas won me over and I'm glad I read this.