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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Only short of 4 stars because of the consistent and frankly excessive demonization of queer men. Swarup’s homophobia cannot be excused by the novel’s early 2000s release date.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Listened to the BBC audiobook version. Very good book--lots of twists and turns. Recommended.
Well, what can I say. Fairly easy to read, I got through this pretty quick and it kept me interested throughout. The story was engaging, although far fetched. The writing style was not the best, I struggled with some of the dialogue that I found so cheesy or simple it took me out of the story one or two times. The story had a lot of cliches but for the most part was fairly enjoyable… if a little predictable.
We follow the story of Ram Mohammed Thomas, an orphan in India who makes it onto a TV quiz show similar to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and he manages to answer every question right and win a billion rupees because each question somehow relates to a part of his life. Each chapter is based on a question, the part of his life, then the question itself.
I had a little bit of a problem with the murder and violence – it all seemed a little easy for him in the end to have got away with everything he had done wrong, and whilst I was totally on his side and wanted him to prevail, the explanations at the end were a bit too easy. I also found the portrayal of the gay actor a little difficult, it seemed to have a negative view on homosexuality in general. The gay characters were ‘bad guys’ and abusers in every situation. The stories involving religion and class were interesting, with the attacks on Muslims and the divide between rich and poor sticking out in particular. I did like the non-linear structure of the stories, they aren’t all in order, and we jump around Ram’s life finding out more and how he managed to answer each question. The twist in the end is fairly good as well. However, the coincidences are just a little bit too much and I struggled to suspend my disbelief.
If you put that aside, and read this as more of a fairytale, it’s a good read – the good guy wins in the end, marries the girl, wins the money, gets rid of all the bad guys and lives happily ever after, and hey, who doesn’t like that? I’m looking forward to seeing the film as well, although the last Danny Boyle book to film I saw was The Beach and he ruined a fantastic book for me… so, we’ll see.
We follow the story of Ram Mohammed Thomas, an orphan in India who makes it onto a TV quiz show similar to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and he manages to answer every question right and win a billion rupees because each question somehow relates to a part of his life. Each chapter is based on a question, the part of his life, then the question itself.
I had a little bit of a problem with the murder and violence – it all seemed a little easy for him in the end to have got away with everything he had done wrong, and whilst I was totally on his side and wanted him to prevail, the explanations at the end were a bit too easy. I also found the portrayal of the gay actor a little difficult, it seemed to have a negative view on homosexuality in general. The gay characters were ‘bad guys’ and abusers in every situation. The stories involving religion and class were interesting, with the attacks on Muslims and the divide between rich and poor sticking out in particular. I did like the non-linear structure of the stories, they aren’t all in order, and we jump around Ram’s life finding out more and how he managed to answer each question. The twist in the end is fairly good as well. However, the coincidences are just a little bit too much and I struggled to suspend my disbelief.
If you put that aside, and read this as more of a fairytale, it’s a good read – the good guy wins in the end, marries the girl, wins the money, gets rid of all the bad guys and lives happily ever after, and hey, who doesn’t like that? I’m looking forward to seeing the film as well, although the last Danny Boyle book to film I saw was The Beach and he ruined a fantastic book for me… so, we’ll see.
Great book! Slow in some parts, but overall well worth reading. By the end, I couldn't put it down. Now I need to see the movie.
I haven't seen the movie, so it was all new to me. I really enjoyed it, I just wish the end had been a little more detailed. Perhaps some sort of epilogue that gave more information. Now I have to go see the movie!
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reseña en español: https://deseoentrelibros.tumblr.com/post/188545302844/rese%C3%B1a-quiere-ser-millonario
This book is wonderful.
The prose is excellent, I never felt bored, on the contrary, I wanted to continue reading and reading and reading!
Basically the story is about Rama, and how he wins a question and answer contest, but because of his poor origin, they suspect he cheated. Each chapter is one of the questions that were asked in that show, and how through his experiences he could answer by association. In short, he didn't learn things in books, he lived them.
I loved how Vikas (the author) describes every detail with the magic of his pen, and although the details are many, as a reader you don't feel that they fill you with unnecessary information. Without a doubt it is a book that I would read again! :)
This book is wonderful.
The prose is excellent, I never felt bored, on the contrary, I wanted to continue reading and reading and reading!
Basically the story is about Rama, and how he wins a question and answer contest, but because of his poor origin, they suspect he cheated. Each chapter is one of the questions that were asked in that show, and how through his experiences he could answer by association. In short, he didn't learn things in books, he lived them.
I loved how Vikas (the author) describes every detail with the magic of his pen, and although the details are many, as a reader you don't feel that they fill you with unnecessary information. Without a doubt it is a book that I would read again! :)