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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
medium-paced
I was enthralled, surprised, horrified and completely charmed by this story. I picked it up knowing nothing about it - had not seen the film or read any reviews. I was captivated by the engaging narrator and colorful characters. One of my favorite reads this year.
This book was made into the movie Slumdog Millionare. It is so much better than the movie and hard to put down.
As is always the case, I enjoyed this book more than the movie. And it's entirely different.
Even though I kept wondering how an Indian "diplomat" can write about life in the slums, his storytelling is indeed convincing.
Even though I kept wondering how an Indian "diplomat" can write about life in the slums, his storytelling is indeed convincing.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
I’ve never seen the movie, but I think that this was really a good book. It took a little longer to read because the urgency wasn’t necessarily there. I love how the chapters were divided up, but each had its natural end so this means that I didn’t necessarily feel compelled to read the next. But I think as an overall work it was very good. The only thing I didn’t love was the epilogue. I mean what happened was good, but the way it was written was a bit cheesy, but maybe that was on purpose. To capture that very typical early 2000s movie ending feel.
Compelling! I have not seen the movie Slumdog Millionare that was made from this title but I can understand why the story would be a great film. It was a little too far-fetched for me but it's fiction so I'll let that slide. :)
Book that Slumdog Millionaire was based on. So much better than the movie! The story is so much more complex and not as focused on the cheesy love story. Definitely read it if you haven't seen the movie!
My review is based on the Audio Book with excellent narration by Christopher Simpson. I had seen the movie several years ago so can’t recall which events or how were they adapted for the film.
I remember the furore generated because “the West loves to depict India and Indians in a disgusting, filthy light.” It is therefore difficult for some readers who have commented on this site, to accept that the author is an Indian and a diplomat to boot! So, he is blamed for “pandering to the West!” I have personally witnessed young, homeless boys being buggered by rickshaw pullers late at night in Kashmiri Gate, Delhi; young cousins being molested by “uncles” at family weddings; the treatment of domestic staff by “middle class” families and the complete obliviousness to filth strewn neighborhoods. India exists and survives at multiple levels and only those who approach it with a pair of unjaundiced, nonjudgmental eyes can witness life as it unfolds - not just in India, but anywhere, anytime.
The theme is commendable but the narrative style dull, plodding and repetitive. Usually, I root for the written work over the visual movie but in this instance, the movie wins hands down.
I remember the furore generated because “the West loves to depict India and Indians in a disgusting, filthy light.” It is therefore difficult for some readers who have commented on this site, to accept that the author is an Indian and a diplomat to boot! So, he is blamed for “pandering to the West!” I have personally witnessed young, homeless boys being buggered by rickshaw pullers late at night in Kashmiri Gate, Delhi; young cousins being molested by “uncles” at family weddings; the treatment of domestic staff by “middle class” families and the complete obliviousness to filth strewn neighborhoods. India exists and survives at multiple levels and only those who approach it with a pair of unjaundiced, nonjudgmental eyes can witness life as it unfolds - not just in India, but anywhere, anytime.
The theme is commendable but the narrative style dull, plodding and repetitive. Usually, I root for the written work over the visual movie but in this instance, the movie wins hands down.
Soap opera in book form. The plot jumped around at leisure. You could tell the whole thing was written in a rush. Any beauty in the prose was lost in translation
When Ram Mohammad Thomas wins a billion rupees on an Indian quiz show, the show's producers, not wanting to pay out the jackpot and not believeing that an 18 year-old waiter from the slums of Mumbai could correctly answer all the questions without cheating, have the police arrest him. A lawyer with a surprising connection to Ram's past frees him from police custody. To prove to the lawyer that he did not cheat, Ram explains how he knew all the answers on the quiz. Each chapter of the book gives the back story of Ram's knowledge and ends with Ram and his lawyer watching the taped snippet from the quiz show where he correctly answers the question. At times ludicrous, at times comical, at times horrifying and yet oddly uplifting, the novel keeps the reader wondering until the end: what were the quiz questions and will Ram get to keep the billion rupees?