Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

4 reviews

fuguballoon's review

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

I finished this book, but I wouldn't recommend it.

It is technically a novel, but it's actually a thinly veiled memoir. (Family members of one of the "fictional" characters have spoken publicly about this.) The book's plot is bloated with unnecessary material that, I would imagine, felt essential to the author because it happened in real life. Unfortunately, it makes for both boring reading and a main character who is completely blind to his flaws (again, because he is the author). The prose does not redeem the book. There are passages so bad, especially the author's descriptions of women, that it's hard to believe an editor actually read them.

The biggest issue I had, beyond the bad writing in what really feels like a narcissistic ode to self, was the white savior-ness of it all. The author congratulates the main character over and over for living in a ~slum~ while simultaneously looking down on the people and way of life there, all while literally "saving" them as the local doctor. It makes for rough reading.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Car accident, Racism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Police brutality

molliekneath's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Torture, Death, War, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Gore, Body horror, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual assault

wifeslife's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Torture, Classism, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, and War

kayfab's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Addiction, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, and Classism