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hunterreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
celestialwillow's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
deepat's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m confused about my feelings for this book. The writing is good, I admit. But the topic has left me confused and unhappy. It is a satire about India - the real life of the real people - both the rich and the poor. I was truly saddened by the life of Balram, our protagonist. But then, he treats his master, the one person in this world who treated him like a fellow human being, so appallingly without so much remorse. It was a contradictory read, to say the least. Interesting,too. But depressing. I will not be reading it again.
freyaws's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
beeayy's review
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ficgregtion's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga provides its readers with a stellar insight into the economic inequity and corruption of third-world countries. Following the story of the largely morally ambiguous protagonist, Adiga explores themes of power, ethics, and philosophy. Bar the somewhat one-dimensional characters and slightly uneventful ending, Adiga has written an emotional thriller with compelling narratives that force readers to evaluate their privilege and the structures of the societies we live in.
The White Tiger is an autobiography/letter written to the Chinese Chairman Ji Bao by Bangalore entrepreneur, Balram Halwai. While characters might seem one-dimensional in their motives, often painted as evil villains, this can be attributed to the protagonist. Balram Halwai is one of the best protagonists I’ve come across in a long time. Unlike most narrators that are flawed, yet generally good, readers of The White Tiger constantly struggle to choose sides in Adiga’s simple, yet ethically complex story. Characters such as the four landlords are nicknamed animals to represent their ruthless and animalistic nature, while others such as Ashok, Pinky, and Balram’s family are more annoyances than outright antagonists. Adiga walks the tightrope flawlessly between making his readers sympathize with Balram Halwai and his antagonists. While his enemies are painted in a terrible light by Halwai, readers are often reminded of the ruthless and selfish nature of Balram himself, and hence posed with the age-old ethical dilemma - “Who’s worse?”.
Adiga’s writing style, while simple, is satisfyingly effective at conveying the injustices and inhumane treatment that Balram Halwai often experiences. Adiga peppers his dark tale with humor, giving his readers a break from the heart-wrenching cruelty of a crude yet effective joke. For example, Balram often makes comparisons between the brown and “yellow” people when narrating a grim tale, or juxtaposing social commentary on women’s rights in India and the prostitution industry with the hilarious euphemism of a “beak” for a penis. Humor is hardly in short supply as Adiga recaptures viewers attention by contrasting the hardships of Balram with his out-of-pocket, often bigoted views. Yet, Adiga defends his protagonist’s opinions by putting the readers in his shoes, through the injustice and unfairness he’s faced, to evoke sympathy and once again leave us with an interesting ethical dilemma.
As a fellow NRI, I have to admit I certainly related to the author and his view of our home country. Descriptions of the streets of India hit home as someone who’s seen firsthand the grim side of India. Terms such as “The Darkness” contrast India’s buzzing metropolitans with the hidden villages that suffer the hardships and repercussions of unsustainable business acts and corrupt government policies. In its short 300 pages, The White Tiger tells a fast-paced, intriguing story that skilfully explore complex corrupt and ethical themes using a humorous writing style, easily digestible by the average reader.