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breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
You may be wondering why I have all these five star books. No, I am not easily pleased, but life being what it is, who has time to review mediocre stuff? Share the good! Share the worthwhile! And this novel is definitely worthwhile.
I liked "Last Man in Tower" better than "The White Tiger"--A book I enjoyed a lot. "Last Man" is just as gritty and compelling, and carries that same sort of horror factor that "White Tiger" did. Not horror in terms of zombies, but horror in seeing what people can become.
The people in Vishram Society have lived together in their co-op building for more than 30 years, sharing their
lives, helping each other, working through petty disagreements. When a developer offers them a munificent buyout that all residents must agree to, everything falls apart.
Vishram Society is made up of very regular middle class people who may prove willing, if not eager, to throw each other under the proverbial bus if need be. Every resident of the tower is achingly human, infuriating and touching at the same time.
This is not an easy read. The themes are hard, the characters challenging, and Mumbai is a monster. But you will not want to leave Vishram Society until the buyout deadline is past. There is a Dickensian element to this book as it touches on a variety of lives from different castes, religions, and throws them into the roiling maw of a great city. There is a universality to this novel that will make it live long in memory and in literature.
by Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
I liked "Last Man in Tower" better than "The White Tiger"--A book I enjoyed a lot. "Last Man" is just as gritty and compelling, and carries that same sort of horror factor that "White Tiger" did. Not horror in terms of zombies, but horror in seeing what people can become.
The people in Vishram Society have lived together in their co-op building for more than 30 years, sharing their
lives, helping each other, working through petty disagreements. When a developer offers them a munificent buyout that all residents must agree to, everything falls apart.
Vishram Society is made up of very regular middle class people who may prove willing, if not eager, to throw each other under the proverbial bus if need be. Every resident of the tower is achingly human, infuriating and touching at the same time.
This is not an easy read. The themes are hard, the characters challenging, and Mumbai is a monster. But you will not want to leave Vishram Society until the buyout deadline is past. There is a Dickensian element to this book as it touches on a variety of lives from different castes, religions, and throws them into the roiling maw of a great city. There is a universality to this novel that will make it live long in memory and in literature.
by Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
cassandralovesfeta's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting story but there wasn't enough character development for me to get sucked in. I can't recommend.
abhacado33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
readwritelib's review against another edition
4.0
While I like Adiga's The White Tiger better, this novel is a great read and captures the essence of Mumbai. What happens to a community when they are offered a huge sum of money to vacate their homes but one of them is holding out? The story explores not only neighborly ties that bind but also familial as everyone wants a better life for themselves. Read my full review at: https://movingbookmark.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/read-last-man-in-tower-a-novel-by-aravind-adiga/
notthesandpaper's review against another edition
3.0
John Steinbeck's [b:The Pearl|5308|The Pearl|John Steinbeck|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437234939s/5308.jpg|195832], set in modern day India. Would have been a four star book if it had been 100-200 pages shorter.
pujakamdar's review against another edition
4.0
Aravind Adiga's Last Man in Tower presents the gritty, unsheltered and true picture of the dog-eat-dog city that is Bombay. Amidst novels presenting Mumbai as the city of dreams, the Last Man in Tower is refreshing in presenting the ugly side of the rat race that is taking over this city of dreams - where life-long friendships and relationships perish when faced with the allure of money. The lack of a happy ending and the lack of any change or remorse in the characters reflects the reality of the city and its inhabitants who have no time to wait, grieve or reflect on their actions.
leslielu67's review against another edition
5.0
Another "must listen". The reader does all the voices with their varied Indian accents. Adiga slays again, this time a tale of modern Mumbai and redevelopment, how one man holds out, and how his "cooperative society" reacts and bares their true selves.
bkdrgn303's review against another edition
4.0
The sights, scents, sounds of Mumbai, right there on the page. Marvelous!
dogtrax's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as White Tiger, but still, an interesting portrait of development and the single holdout, and how money can rip apart the fabric of a community