Thursday, October 2, 2008

The White Tiger




Simple, straightforward and different - Aravind Adigas The white tiger do warrants a read just for the fact that it is different from most of the other Indian novels - here you will hear the story of Balram Halwai and his journey from rags to riches.

 

Balram Halwai is an average Indian - born in a village and raised and conditioned to be servant - this is his story - the story of entrepreneurship and breaking free, the story of how he transformed himself to become one among the entrepreneurs who made their life - the story of Truth about India, as Balram says.

 

The story unfolds in a series of letters, written to Chinese premier, and follows the path he took to reach where he is today. There are lot of remarks in the book which will leave behind an impression - "In the old days there were one thousand castes and destinies in India. These days there are two castes: Men with Big Bellies, and Men with Small Bellies." - like this.

 

Adiga have succeeded in capturing the outlook of the poor man about the ways of modern world and the quest of the poor to make it to the rich, and as a side story, he puts light on the true condition of the politics and business - a place where money and power talks.

 

The author paints the difference between the 'darkness' and the modern world - the entrepreneurs paradise, the call center heaven, the IT city - places like Gurgaon and Bangalore, and he have done it with remarkable effect.

 

There is no boardroom drama, there is no cut throat business competition, there is no glamorous world of fashion, pubs and high society, but there is a stark naked world of truth - a world where pot bellies are made and cash and shrewdness rules the roost.

 

Give it a try - I liked it.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is been said as the worst book in the Man Booker prize list :)

'Sea of Poppies' got rave reviews :)

I am not sure... mebbe i will pick it up!


I am just waiting for the prize announcement.. when is it?!@ Oct 14th na?

--xh-- said...

@veenzie: what is the prize announcement have to do with the book? You see a book, pick it up, read the blurb and if you like it, read it - thazt it. I dont go by these so called recommendations or prize list...

Monika said...

I have been wanting to grab this book from sometime... read its review on Jabberwok sometime back too....

may be will when I finish reading what I am reading now... My list of books to read is growing so rapidly I wish I could read as fast too

Sameera Ansari said...

Seems interesting!Will give it a try sometime :)

Cess said...

Sounds an interesting one, does it reflect India or it s more pure fiction?

C.

Winnie the poohi said...

ah lend me the book :D

Winnie the poohi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

certainly.... will read it asap...!! :) thanks for the review anoop...!! :)

Rià said...

Sounds interesting...will give it a shot sometime. :)

Gazal said...

worth a read...will add it on

gypsy said...

i wanted to pick this up, but hadnt, picked that "you are here" sadly!

But next time :)

Anwesa said...

i'll certainly giv d buk a try..

Preetilata【ツ】 said...

wowww..sounds interesting....will surely read it

n i agree to ur reply commnt to veens

take care

Shalini Gowrisankar said...

This sounds great :) Will check it out.

Mana said...

I saw this book last week in the new arrivals section @ Strand. That was a quick read and nice review :)

ceedy said...

Thanks...one more to my list !

M said...

Sounds interesting ...
just like last time ur 'Never let me go' review did work out right for i picked that book .. and it was interesting .

So anyways i was wanting to read this White tiger , and now ur good review ll make it more exciting !

Happy Dussera/Navratri da !
Take care

Pavi!!!! said...

Tagged!

Anonymous said...

i am already waiting to pick this from you ... ;)

Sangfroid said...

I haven't read a lot of Indian authors. But I'll give this one a try (read only half of your post and it looks interesting)

But ... you'll have to lend me the book :-)

aMus said...

One more added to that growing list of to be reads!!

oh the pressure! pressure!!! :D

but i'm tempted to try this soon though...

Unknown said...

Somehow, I've never been a fan of Indian writing very much... dunno if i'll pick this one up though.. :-s

Cheers yet! :D

Cяystal said...

Will try getting this book sometime!

Sounds something gooodiee..

Anonymous said...

:-) I know I know :P

I was just telling you :-)

maaf karo :P

Gayatri Bhadran said...

sounds very interesting.

will certainly give it a read sometime.

rantravereflect/ jane said...

wowwwww.. i'd love to read it, without all the frills, the naked truth like ya call it--> n hell, naked desire does get ya there..
it takes one hell of a visionary to strike rich the naked way though.. :)

wil give it a aread 4 sure :)

Praveen said...

heard a lot about this book..
gotta check it out soon..thnks 4 the review


btw, nice meeting u today at crossword..:D

Kush said...

That's a neatly written review. One detail I found missing was review of the style of writing, the type of language and expression employed -- rich or poor.

Rhett

Jaya said...

Sounds interesting. Have ordered the book...

Pavi!!!! said...

Sounds interesting...not sure if it'll be available here in the US tho...

n pls dont be angry...but adiga...got me craving for the food from adigas...a fast food joint in blr! sigh!

--xh-- said...

@monica, sameera, cess, winnipoohi, vinay,ria,G,d_s, anwesa,preetilata,shalini,manasa,ceedy, meenu,prats,pavi,sangfroid, suma, curious, crystal,gayathri,jane, praveen, rhett, joy - thnx... and this book won the man booker prize :)

Tys on Ice said...

Thanks...i will pick this up....

Iam currently reading Sea of Poppies...no comments yet.

Cheezespread said...

@ veens : seconding you on that . But " worse " is a word i would never use for a book . The White Tiger was not to be there . LOved Sea of Poppies and routed for it . Ghosh has outdone himself .. Btw , try Netherland !...was longlisted for booker too .. I loved it !

ceedy said...

Thanks bud for this recommendation....

read it finally and loved it....