Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Sometimes a bit exaggerated and predictable, but I liked it.
"I scream. It was a piercing scream which shatters the silence of the night like a bullet." This line has been written/"screamed" so many times in the novel by our protagonist Ram Mohammad Thomas. I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was important. I think it's because the novel is as dramatic as this line and is very different from the movie. The book contained more graphic and intense scenes and while I do agree that it can be quite extreme because Swarup practically included every crime you can think of into this book, I believe there's still that hint of reality in the book. It's quite unbelievable how someone can be so lucky and unlucky at the same time but I do believe that the life that Ram Mohamammad Thomas led is quite possible. This is a gripping read with a non-linear narration that actually quite reminds me a lot of Life of Pi. I mean look at how the narrator "has" 3 religions and how everything is based on luck. Ironic though how I enjoyed reading the life of an Indian through a Canadian's story more than from Swarup himself. It is quite weird but I guess it's all in the style of writing and maybe some of Swarup's lines were lost in the middle of translation but I enjoyed this book nevertheless. Do not compare this with the movie as the movie is quite different, okay a lot different from the book. They're both greatly depicted and told.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well, this is why you should always read a book before seeing the movie. Much like the trailers for the movie Slumdog Millionaire are nothing like the movie itself, the movie is not much like the book.
Same basic concept, same time-jumping structure, but very different stories.
It's a good, quick read, but unfortunately I did spend quite a bit of time pondering why the filmmakers chose to change each story in the book out for a different story.
And I'm not sure that's the best way to enjoy a book :)
Same basic concept, same time-jumping structure, but very different stories.
It's a good, quick read, but unfortunately I did spend quite a bit of time pondering why the filmmakers chose to change each story in the book out for a different story.
And I'm not sure that's the best way to enjoy a book :)
Quick and easy read. Chronology was a bit difficult to follow at first, but it soon fits into place as the story progresses.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
This is a re-read in preparation for watching Slumdog Millionaire. I read it when it first came out so I was quite surprised when I found out that a movie was being made from it, and then it started to win all these awards. I quite liked the book, but I read a synopsis of the movie and thought that they didn't seem very related. Anyways, the set-up of the book is kind of novel (heh), as each chapter is based on a question in the game show. Also the book is told in a non-linear, non-chronological order, which is another thing which makes it stand out. The writing itself is fairly simple, and some of the research/exposition seems too convenient and "look what I researched!" but overall the hanging plots keep the story going and it's always a treat to see the question at the end of the chapter and see how the events of the boy's life have led him to this place.
I didn't like the movie, but the book was great. It didn't seem as absurd for some reason.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I hope the movie (Slumdog Millionaire) is better. The book wasn't horrible, but it wasn't really well-written either. The conceit of the book is exposed early on and nothing really surprises the reader after that. I did learn a lot about the slums of India and the deplorable conditions that some people live in...but at their cores, I think our societies are not really all that different.
It's a quick read (2-3 days for me), so it's still worth the time.
It's a quick read (2-3 days for me), so it's still worth the time.