Shantaram: A Novel
by Gregory David Roberts
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Book Reviews of Shantaram: A Novel
Book Review: Everybody Loves The Author Far Too Much
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm more than half way through this book and I think I'm done reading it. Much of it has been very engaging and entertaining. But in the end I just don't believe the voice of the author any longer.
You see, everybody loves Lin. Simple villagers love him, slum dwellers love him, beautiful ex-prostitutes love him, gangsters love him, afghani drug lords love him, taxi drivers always love him at a glance and so on and so forth. The only people who don't love him are the few truly evil and brutal characters in the book and they hate him because it's only right that evil would hate such a paragon of love. After a certain point it's just silly. The narrator has no real flaws and moves with ease in every social circle under the Mumbai sun.
And the author always knows everything he needs to know and has every skill he needs to have. He starts the book as a rough and tough man of the streets. But it turns out he is a karate master. And it turns out he studied under great philosophers and it turns out that he gained his social sensitivity from his parents who are renowned socialists. If the plot required the flying of a 747 I'm sure we would learn how Lin spent summers at his uncles flying school and is an ace pilot.
In the end the protaganist seems like some kind of MacGyver of love and virtue and skill; he just pulls any needed talent or feeling off his toolbelt and he can do anything and win love from anyone.
But, for me, once the narrator's voice rings false the book is done. It doesn't matter how interesting the secondary characters are or how compelling the plotline. If I can't trust any of it then I don't want to read it.
Book Review: Audio narration: 5 Stars; Writing: 2; Plot and characters: 4
Summary: 3 Stars
First off, the narration on the audio version this book is fabulous and amazing. Brilliant job with the acting and the accents. Considering the sheer number of characters and nationalities involved, it was no mean feat. The one fact that speaks volumes about the professionalism of Mr. Bower, the narrator, is that he was able to keep from laughing over some of the the unbelievably tortured language churned out by Mr. Roberts.
Some of the 5-star reviews evoke "One Hundred Years of Solitude", or other masterpieces of world literature. Some say he should win the Booker Prize. Nope, don't get sucked in for one second. I've read "One Hundred Years..." about eight times and there is no comparison. Roberts spins a good yarn, no question about that, and I spent time wondering how much was true. The novel paints a wonderful picture of India. The book is a love story for India, but it has some pretty fatal flaws.
I stuck it out for all 30+ discs, but the author's only claim to fame has to revolve around his ability to torture the metaphor like no one else on the planet. The metaphors were so overwrought at times, I couldn't help laughing. Really, overuse of the metaphor is not a substitute for good writing, but that is exactly what happens in this book. IMHO everyone who let this book proceed through the editing process without neutralizing this pathological abuse of the metaphor should be slapped. Take those horrible things away and you would have a simple narrative of an interesting tale. I would have preferred that by a long shot. He tells a good story, but I can't say that makes him a good writer. There is a big difference.
Book Review: An astounding read, but a bit heavy on the sappy philosophizing
Summary: 4 Stars
This is indeed, as prior reviewers have noted, the kind of book that only comes along rarely, the kind that can keep your attention firmly locked in for over 900 pages. It is also truly fascinating to read about such a vibrant, foreign city and culture. The author's descriptions and imagery are so vivid that they leave you feeling like you've lived in the crowded streets of Bombay even if (like me) you haven't. The sense of high adventure in this book is tough to duplicate, and the characters really come to life, leading the reader to emote along with them. The reason I give this book four stars instead of five, however, is the author's tendency to deliver paragraphs, if not pages, of heavy-handed "deep thoughts" at the end of most chapters. Far too often Roberts bends over backwards to say something truly profound by speculating about the meaning of life, love and happiness, using flowery metaphors and drawing nonsensical comparisons. It gets a bit old, and borders on making for an inconsistent protagonist - making one start to wonder how Linbaba can be stabbing strangers nearly to death during mafia hits in one minute and babbling on so pointlessly about love and tenderness and "the heart" etc., in the next. Furthermore, the main character seems to learn major life lessons entirely too frequently (you'll see the phrase "it was in that moment that I realized...", or something very close to it, more than a few times). Luckily, these areas are fairly easy to predict (as they come at the end of most chapters) and can thus be skipped in order to get back to the thrilling storytelling and imagery that comprises the bulk of Shantaram.Book Review: Jason Bourne meets Robin Hood
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was so well crafted, so completely realized, that I still find myself wondering what happened to some of the characters in it, like I do with Stephen King's "The Stand." The only difference is, these characters are real. I haven't read a book this good in at least 15 years, and I've read thousands of them. Having traveled to Bombay (now called Mumbai), I can picture all the places the author talks about in this story, but I never imagined such insanity could take place. The author's firsthand accounts of his rise through all levels of the Indian mafia are incredible, especially considering he's not Indian. Every scene, whether it takes place in the dirtiest of slums or the wealthiest of mafia houses, is so well written that I feel an immediate, visceral connection. The main character (the author himself) comes off like a combination of Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher and Robin Hood. The action is intense. There are scenes of pain and torture in one of India's worst prisons; of altruism and goodwill in one of India's biggest slums; of fear and politics in the skirmishes between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan; and of love, friendship and loss. All are connected by one thread: redemption. The author's tale is woven around his friendships, whether with a cab driver, an assassin, or a mafia don; and how all these friendships shaped his life in India.
If you like books that are extremely well written, full of action and adventure, and have a decent amount of sex and violence as well, this book is for you. I simply cannot imagine that one man had so much happen to him, or that one man made so much happen to (and for) others.
Book Review: This Immigrant Finds a Home
Summary: 5 Stars
"Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere."
I found this quote in a book of quotations while reading `Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts. While the 900+ pg novel is a journey in itself, I don't believe a book has ever transported me as this did. This was partly due to my unfamiliarity with the region, but most of the credit goes to the talented author.
GDR delivers a story where a country plays as important a role as any character. India is the protagonist and a tremendous respect and love pours from the text. The people residing there are vital figures in the tale, but I've never read such praise for surroundings. He presents an aura around India and its people, while not sliding into supernatural sentiment.
At times, `Shantaram' reads like poetry, but it's a thrill ride. There are very few lulls; it is chock full of action. Any confusion with a romance novel (the cover could give that sense) will be gone with an early introduction to India's under-belly. Although extremely violent and graphic, GDR manages to mix in stories of love and community that will appeal to all. I know that's a wide demo, but it's true.
His story was drawn from his actual escape from an Australian prison and exile in India. There seems to be some controversy over how much of it is based in fact, but GDR clearly presents this as a novel. I fail to see how it matters, once invested in such a heart-pounding story. 'Shantaram' took me to a land of little interest, and I departed with hopes of returning again.