Shantaram

The Black Hole of Books

In protest to the chronic tangent in which this book was written, I am presenting my review in outline format. Enjoy.
What I liked:
1. Tremendous adventure with MANY unique and memorable characters. It's hard to believe that this book is pretty much a true story.
2. Incredible descriptions of India (Bombay in particular). I've never traveled to India but in speaking to people who have read this book AND been to India, I am assured he captures the essence of this country to a tee. Now the fact that a good part of the book takes place in a slum and I could just about smell the fecal festooned sidewalks through my mind's nostril is a different story, but still, very admirable descriptions.
3. To piggy back on #2, I appreciated the history and cultural context he provided along with the events that affected the story (conflict with Iran, Pakistan, etc.) To a history buff, this is always helpful and welcomed.
What I Didn't Like:
1. The LENGTH - It is soul crushing and SO UNNECESSARY!!!! I would've catapulted this book to a 5-star rating if he had kept to the story telling, which honestly would have cut the length in half, and avoided the self aggrandizing, completely obnoxious philosophical bull sh*t!! I mean, ok, I get it, you went through hell and back, met some crazy powerful and charismatic people, found yourself, lost yourself, whatever. But when you're in the middle of telling me about a potentially huge drug bust, or about to go have sex with a woman with whom you've built up a tremendous amount of tension, I could give to flying f's about your thoughts about the universe moving towards the "ultimate complexity". I. just. don't. care.
2. The "Lesson per Chapter" Approach - Again, to piggy back on #1, the ratio of actual story telling to the author's introspective musings is truly 60/40. As I was saying earlier, in some cases these musings would pop up at a very inopportune moment in the story, but in most cases they appear in the closing of each chapter giving the book an infuriating "lesson of the day" feel to it. Furthermore, the predictable apparition of these delusional gems honestly cheapened the message and by the second half the book I always knew when a chapter was coming to a close because my eyes would start rolling and my sighs of exasperation would increase in strength and volume.
3. My Disappointment - I wanted so badly to love this book. On almost every book site of which I am a member it gets rave reviews. Multilple friends and family members recommended it to me with great enthusiasm. But, alas, I just did not like it. I finished it on Christmas Eve and had I not had several glasses of wine at that point, I would have thrown the book directly into the crackling fire out of pure spite.

11 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Great read

this is a very well written book that i enjoyed until the end. although it is quite lenghty, it is worth the journey.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Vivid page-turner

Tantalizing, This personal vivid depiction had me completely absorbed page by page.

"Every human heartbeat is a universe of possibilities."

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great biography!

Amazing story and very well told. Cannot put it down (not a typical biography book). A+++

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

If you liked the Kite Runner / A Thousand Splendid Suns, this is a must read.

Fabulous writing, the descriptions of foods, smells, sights makes you feel like you are there with the author. His broken english diction as spoken by the native Indians is laugh out loud funny at times and very endearing. From a historical perspective, just as eye-opening as the accounts offered in the 2 books in the headline.

Gripping drama, fantastic and colorful cast of characters.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Mesmerizing! And I did meet Gregory David Roberts too!

Great novel. Very nostalgic. He presents Bombay in its original light. The light of the near past. The description of the land, it's people and the author's relation with the city is beautiful. A must read for anybody who loves Bombay and anybody who wants to know about this magnanimous metropolis. And I met Greg Roberts in Leopold Cafe in Colaba in 2005 while I was on a trip home. I also got his autograph on a 10 Rupee note. It was a day I will never forget.
The simplicity of the characters, the boldness of their friendship, the love between the characters, the ruthlessness of the city, the humid salty air and the hustle-bustle, the hugeness of the city and yet its ability to make you her own is captured very well by the author. A+ for Gregory David Roberts. You make me proud of being a Mumbaikar!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

One of a Kind, A Novel That Ought To B e Celebrated

Shantaram is a beautifully crafted novel telling the tale of an ex-con attempting to escape his formerly tumultuous life by assimilating into the bustling life of Bombay, India. I need say no more for it encompasses all the themes a modern masterpiece requires and never disappoints. It is a must read for the avid reader and the book's massive size shouldn't make anyone think twice before setting his/her hands on it. It is one of my favorite books of all time and I'd usually be hesitant to say this because I have read some other remarkable novels but this one stands out from the rest of the crowd. Keep an eye out for Gregory David Roberts in the future, because this book will surely elevate him to the status of other literary veterans of today, just as The Kite Runner did to Khaled Hosseini.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Intriguing, informative, touching - This is one of my all-time favorite books - you won't be able to put it down.

One of my all-time favorite books. I've read it twice so far. Roberts gives you a true-to-life feeling of what it would be like to live in the slums of Mumbai with all the experiences that would entail. His characters come alive. The fact that this is based on fact makes it even more compelling. Two of my daughters decided to travel to India after reading this book and said most of the young travelers there were either carrying the book with them or hoping to get a copy. They actually stayed in a hotel over Leopold's. By the way, they loved India and found it fascinating.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My favorite book of all time.

A meaty book, almost 1000 pages long, and every page leaves you hungry for more. I fell in love with this book, though it was a chance encounter in the store that caused me to buy it. I will never regret buying this book. Wonderful!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Personal and observed experiences of intrigue, love, and war - often in exotic settings, this book¿s twists and turns compel the reader to keep looking around the corner for what¿s next.

Had I known exactly what I was getting into I might never have bought this book. If I¿d been cautioned about the aggression and violence I might have missed out on the honor, beauty, and love. The casual tone used to describe the underground world of forgery, murder, and drug and weapons trafficking contrasts with exquisite tales of beauty, betrayal, devastation, redemption, and hope. Shantaram puts a magnifying glass to the horrible living conditions of some of the worlds most beautiful people and how their paths cross with others living in the splendor of wealth and power. A window is opened onto the worlds of wild partying in Bombay, Bollywood movie making, and even guerilla warfare in the remote regions of Afghanistan. The sweltering heat and frigid chill can¿t compare with the passions that rule the characters in this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Epic!

I really enjoyed reading Shantaram, especially while traveling. The author created amazing characters and captivating adventures. I highly recommend the book.

read it

awesome book but just got back from a month in India so am biased

Fan(frigging)tastic!

Yes, it is a meaty book with tons of pages to chew, but it is an explosion of flavor! Vivid in description and will keep you talking about it and recommending it to everyone. WOW, wow, wow! Really!

Great reading

This writer is fantastic. His manner of of writing is bright, with fresh discriptive visual cues. I love how the writer makes me feel a longing to know and understand India. The manner in which I am brought along with the main character, Lin, through the ztreets of Bombay, or on an all day and night trip to a small villiage to visit the family of a friend let me walk along side him as he learned how to love India. I want to read rhis for a second time.'7667y

Fabulous!

This is one of the best books I have ever read! It is filled with danger, drama & romance. Very wordly & thought provoking & the perfect balance of fiction & fact. Also, great for men & women and anyone interested in Indian culture. It is very long but well worth the read! I heard there have been talks of a movie? I would def be one of the first in line.

So Long!

It is SO LONG and just wearing out with their drunk discussions about life at an Indian bar. So many retrospective thoughts.. boring!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Liked it...

I really enjoyed this book...the last 200 pages were kind of hard to get thru...but the majority of the book was a good story.

Inspiring

Based loosely on his real life story.

Loved it.

Loved it.

Incredible Journey!

This book takes you on a journey through India's culture, underworld and lore of Indias offerings. A cult classic!