Scan barcode
cooturtle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
alexandre_rl's review against another edition
3.0
Mon premier contact avec Vikas Swarup s’est fait par le biais de « Slumdog Millionaire », l’adaptation maintes fois primée de son roman « Q&A ». J’avais trouvé le film amusant, mais les ficelles un peu évidentes. Comparé à « Meurtre dans un jardin indien », le film de Danny Boyle passe pour un rigoureux documentaire. Les péripéties y sont si nombreuses, les situations si invraisemblables qu’on nage en plein Bollywood. Seul bémol, je ne suis pas tout à fait certain que l’effet soit volontaire.
Un assassinat, six suspects. Pour résoudre l’énigme, Swarup présente en alternance les mobiles de chacun des personnages. On suit donc un suspect pour une soixantaine de pages, puis le suivant, puis un autre. Tous ont une bonne raison d’avoir assassiné Vivek Rai et tous se trouvaient sur les lieux du meurtre avec une arme en poche. Point positif, Swarup réussit plutôt bien à nous donner l’impression que tous ces personnages existent dans un même univers malgré le fait qu’ils ne se croisent à peu près jamais. La plume est comique, les scènes sont décrites avec efficacité et certains personnages sont attachants et bien campés. La politique de l’Inde est analysée et dénoncée avec un certain mordant. D’ailleurs, le meurtre présenté au début du roman s’inspire d’un cas célèbre en Inde.
Malheureusement, la qualité des personnages est très inégale. L’histoire de Munna est prenante et à peu près plausible. Même constat pour celle de l’aborigène Ekiti. En revanche, l’Américain Larry Page est un cliché sur deux pattes, d’une stupidité ahurissante et difficilement concevable. Ses chapitres sont pénibles de crétinisme. Les péripéties sont à tel point tirées par les cheveux que l’on nage en pleine bande dessinée. L’épisode de l’actrice Shabnam Saxena n’est pas beaucoup plus crédible. C’est cette danse constante et mal maîtrisée entre le réaliste et l’invraisemblable qui empêche le roman de se démarquer. Ce n’est pas un mauvais livre, mais c’est sans aucun doute le produit d’un éditeur pressé de faire de l’argent sur le seul nom de Vikas Swarup et qui n’a pas dû travailler sur le manuscrit très longtemps…
Un assassinat, six suspects. Pour résoudre l’énigme, Swarup présente en alternance les mobiles de chacun des personnages. On suit donc un suspect pour une soixantaine de pages, puis le suivant, puis un autre. Tous ont une bonne raison d’avoir assassiné Vivek Rai et tous se trouvaient sur les lieux du meurtre avec une arme en poche. Point positif, Swarup réussit plutôt bien à nous donner l’impression que tous ces personnages existent dans un même univers malgré le fait qu’ils ne se croisent à peu près jamais. La plume est comique, les scènes sont décrites avec efficacité et certains personnages sont attachants et bien campés. La politique de l’Inde est analysée et dénoncée avec un certain mordant. D’ailleurs, le meurtre présenté au début du roman s’inspire d’un cas célèbre en Inde.
Malheureusement, la qualité des personnages est très inégale. L’histoire de Munna est prenante et à peu près plausible. Même constat pour celle de l’aborigène Ekiti. En revanche, l’Américain Larry Page est un cliché sur deux pattes, d’une stupidité ahurissante et difficilement concevable. Ses chapitres sont pénibles de crétinisme. Les péripéties sont à tel point tirées par les cheveux que l’on nage en pleine bande dessinée. L’épisode de l’actrice Shabnam Saxena n’est pas beaucoup plus crédible. C’est cette danse constante et mal maîtrisée entre le réaliste et l’invraisemblable qui empêche le roman de se démarquer. Ce n’est pas un mauvais livre, mais c’est sans aucun doute le produit d’un éditeur pressé de faire de l’argent sur le seul nom de Vikas Swarup et qui n’a pas dû travailler sur le manuscrit très longtemps…
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed both Q&A and The Accidental Apprentice. This for me was a 'light' read - not short, no, but content-wise it's the kind of book where you can just float along and see where it takes you. But it IS a murder mystery. You forget that after a while.
The introduction, by an investigative journalist, tells us that rich, corrupt industrialist Vicky Rai has been murdered at a party at his home (celebrating his acquital for murder). Six suspects are in custody, each in possession of a gun that could have fired the fatal bullet.
We are then taken back one by one through each of the suspects' stories and backgrounds, back up to the date of the party. Each is completely different - a Bollywood megastar, a village tribal, a mobile phone thief, a politician, an American and Vicky's own father. It takes 400 pages but eventually we see how each tale takes the suspect to the murder site, and how some are connected.
It's not overly involved, though at the end names and accusations fly thick and fast and your guess is bound to be wrong. I guessed the final twist just before it was revealed .... (to avoid spoiler, skip down a line)
*SPOILER* and then was annoyed as I felt the synopsis on the back cover needed a rewording *END SPOILER*
It's a really enjoyable read, though a few phrases of English jarred. I liked Shabnam's narration the best I think, the Bollywood story, though all had their moments, especially the slightly dumb American, over in India to meet the 'fiancee' he's been sending money to.
Another book with a good feel for India (at least to this Western reader!) and a read to while away a few days.
The introduction, by an investigative journalist, tells us that rich, corrupt industrialist Vicky Rai has been murdered at a party at his home (celebrating his acquital for murder). Six suspects are in custody, each in possession of a gun that could have fired the fatal bullet.
We are then taken back one by one through each of the suspects' stories and backgrounds, back up to the date of the party. Each is completely different - a Bollywood megastar, a village tribal, a mobile phone thief, a politician, an American and Vicky's own father. It takes 400 pages but eventually we see how each tale takes the suspect to the murder site, and how some are connected.
It's not overly involved, though at the end names and accusations fly thick and fast and your guess is bound to be wrong. I guessed the final twist just before it was revealed .... (to avoid spoiler, skip down a line)
*SPOILER* and then was annoyed as I felt the synopsis on the back cover needed a rewording *END SPOILER*
It's a really enjoyable read, though a few phrases of English jarred. I liked Shabnam's narration the best I think, the Bollywood story, though all had their moments, especially the slightly dumb American, over in India to meet the 'fiancee' he's been sending money to.
Another book with a good feel for India (at least to this Western reader!) and a read to while away a few days.
peter_gagne's review against another edition
4.0
A very well-written and compelling novel. The 6 main characters each have their own voice in the novel and as the plot advances, the individual threads come together in unsuspected and ingenious ways.
j_olip's review against another edition
4.0
At times this book was a lot of fun, at others it was a little ridiculous and I found myself rolling my eyes. Overall a fun satire of India's politics that I enjoyed reading but I'm not sure I would it read it a second time. Also a little disappointed that one of the most selfless characters had to suffer the worst faith in the novel, not sure what the point of that story arch was, except to continue to make a commentary on the racial politics of India.
wallflowerreader_l's review against another edition
3.0
Really, the end saved this book.
To be honest, it started well. The pace was great, the writing as well. And then, after the chapters about each suspects, I'm not sure what happened but this book felt long.
After that, I couldn't care less about any of the characters and I thought the plot was a mess. Everything felt too unnecessarily detailed.
Still, the plot twist at the end was worth it for me. I also liked the message of the book : the denunciation of the corruption and all that is wrong with this society.
To be honest, it started well. The pace was great, the writing as well. And then, after the chapters about each suspects, I'm not sure what happened but this book felt long.
After that, I couldn't care less about any of the characters and I thought the plot was a mess. Everything felt too unnecessarily detailed.
Still, the plot twist at the end was worth it for me. I also liked the message of the book : the denunciation of the corruption and all that is wrong with this society.
bsmorris's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the storyline and felt I learned more about Indian society and culture. For the most part, I found the characters very engaging and interesting. However, it really bothered me that the Texan character didn't even sound consistently American, much less Texan. It makes me wonder how accurately the Andaman character is drawn and undermines the credibility of the whole novel a bit.
leemac027's review against another edition
2.0
This was a hard read. The characters were stereotyped and disappointing- the narrative showed some hope at the beginning, but that descended into caricature and farce.
Some of the characters were simply unbelievable - the cowboy Texan Larry Page (no not the Google guy) who was taken in by a mail order bride scam, then lurches into a call centre scam and is then kidnapped by an offshoot of Al-Quaeda. I know some people can be naive but Larry takes the cake including not knowing the President of the United States' office is based in the White House - and of course he has never heard of the US Constitution - anyone who knowns any American will know that this is not possible.
The Indian characters were a parody and I found them quite insulting.
I tried to find something positive but to no avail - sadly.
Some of the characters were simply unbelievable - the cowboy Texan Larry Page (no not the Google guy) who was taken in by a mail order bride scam, then lurches into a call centre scam and is then kidnapped by an offshoot of Al-Quaeda. I know some people can be naive but Larry takes the cake including not knowing the President of the United States' office is based in the White House - and of course he has never heard of the US Constitution - anyone who knowns any American will know that this is not possible.
The Indian characters were a parody and I found them quite insulting.
I tried to find something positive but to no avail - sadly.
kritim's review against another edition
4.0
A well written suspense book. Though there were some part that were slow, overall I loved this book.
raeesa_c's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0