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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I came across this book looking for a title that started with Q, X or Z for the popsugar reading challenge... learned it was actually the book behind the movie Slumdog Millionaire (which I haven't seen). I thought the story was interesting and unique . I liked how there was a story behind how the main character knew the answers to the game show. I did find it focused on poverty, abuse, crime and sexuality frequently and that felt disappointing to me as reader. As I don't know a lot about India but feel like it is much more than what was portrayed in this story.
When I first decided to read this book, I had no idea that it was the basis for the movie Slumdog Millionaire (which I haven't seen) so I was very curious and interested once I found out. I am glad to say that I was not disappointed!
First, I loved the format: after the introduction, each chapter is named for the monetary amount corresponding with the questions Ram is asked during the show. At first, I was wondering why this was, and how the chapter content was related to the game show; I loved realizing that the chapters illustrate how Ram knew the answer to each question. Mini spoiler: it's based on his own life experiences as opposed to knowledge of random trivia. I thought that was cool!
The only thing that I didn't particularly like was that the chapters, and therefore Ram's life experiences, don't follow a chronological order. That made it difficult to piece together his story, which is important. Even though the focus is on the game show and how Ram knew all of the answers, this book is obviously about Ram's life. However, as the book progressed, it starts to come together, but it's still pretty easy to get confused.
There were some sad and traumatic moments throughout the story, particularly in the beginning; it wasn't necessarily difficult for me to read, but I definitely needed a break sometimes. Still, I was interested throughout the entire book. I was really pleased with the ending. Without spoiling it, there's a small surprise which I was not expecting at all and which made me smile, especially after all of the ups and downs. I definitely recommend this book, whether you've seen the movie or not, and I will make a point to watch it as well.
First, I loved the format: after the introduction, each chapter is named for the monetary amount corresponding with the questions Ram is asked during the show. At first, I was wondering why this was, and how the chapter content was related to the game show; I loved realizing that the chapters illustrate how Ram knew the answer to each question. Mini spoiler: it's based on his own life experiences as opposed to knowledge of random trivia. I thought that was cool!
The only thing that I didn't particularly like was that the chapters, and therefore Ram's life experiences, don't follow a chronological order. That made it difficult to piece together his story, which is important. Even though the focus is on the game show and how Ram knew all of the answers, this book is obviously about Ram's life. However, as the book progressed, it starts to come together, but it's still pretty easy to get confused.
There were some sad and traumatic moments throughout the story, particularly in the beginning; it wasn't necessarily difficult for me to read, but I definitely needed a break sometimes. Still, I was interested throughout the entire book. I was really pleased with the ending. Without spoiling it, there's a small surprise which I was not expecting at all and which made me smile, especially after all of the ups and downs. I definitely recommend this book, whether you've seen the movie or not, and I will make a point to watch it as well.
Once you get past the homophobia and pedophilia, the story is not bad. The writing is still very unsophisticated and overall the book was incredibly moralistic. But I did like the structure of the book, as Ram proceeds to tell stories to support how he managed to know the answers to 12 specific questions that help him with a quiz show.
I saw the film a few years ago together with my mother, and I was amazed by the story – almost as much as I was amazed by Dev Patel and how wonderful he is. So, when I learned it was based on a book; it didn't take me long to go to the library in an attempt to find it. However, even though the library claimed to have it, it was nowhere to be found. Until the other day when I found it on a shelf way off where it's supposed to be. Talk about faith.
Ram Mohammad Thomas has just been arrested. Why? For winning the top prize on India's most popular quiz show. As a boy living in the slums of Mumbai, the producers of the show are convinced he cheated in order to win the billion rupees. Because how else would a slumdog be able to answer all twelve questions correctly? He even said he'd never been to school or even read a newspaper.
But when his lawyer asks him to explain how he knows the answers to those twelve questions, he takes her on a wild ride consisting of stories from different periods in his life, from the day he was found abandoned at a church to his days as a tour guide at Taj Mahal to only a few days before the quiz show. Each story contains an explain as to how he could possibly know the answer to each question.
Oh god. This is possibly one of the best books I have ever read. It's heart-warming, occasionally hilarious but also heart-wrenching and tragedic. It's an absurd but still realistic story about the life of a young orphan boy and his experiences and relationship as he tries to survive in a world that couldn't care less for him.
I didn't want to put the book down and I felt a pang of sadness when I read the last page. I didn't want it to end but at the same time, I didn't want it to continue either. It's brilliant just the way it is; a whirlwind of different genres – everything from comedy to drama, just like life itself. It is raw and powerful and just amazing.
Ram Mohammad Thomas has just been arrested. Why? For winning the top prize on India's most popular quiz show. As a boy living in the slums of Mumbai, the producers of the show are convinced he cheated in order to win the billion rupees. Because how else would a slumdog be able to answer all twelve questions correctly? He even said he'd never been to school or even read a newspaper.
But when his lawyer asks him to explain how he knows the answers to those twelve questions, he takes her on a wild ride consisting of stories from different periods in his life, from the day he was found abandoned at a church to his days as a tour guide at Taj Mahal to only a few days before the quiz show. Each story contains an explain as to how he could possibly know the answer to each question.
Oh god. This is possibly one of the best books I have ever read. It's heart-warming, occasionally hilarious but also heart-wrenching and tragedic. It's an absurd but still realistic story about the life of a young orphan boy and his experiences and relationship as he tries to survive in a world that couldn't care less for him.
I didn't want to put the book down and I felt a pang of sadness when I read the last page. I didn't want it to end but at the same time, I didn't want it to continue either. It's brilliant just the way it is; a whirlwind of different genres – everything from comedy to drama, just like life itself. It is raw and powerful and just amazing.
Not going to change the world. But really enjoyable. I can't wait to see the movie and see how they compare.
The book that "Slumdog Millionaire" is based on, but the storyline is very different. I enjoyed the story of Ram Mohammad Thomas' life and how moments from his past related to the questions from the game show. The book even had a few interesting twists at the end which kept it interesting right to the last few pages.
The only reason I decided to read this book was actually because one of my friends had spent around half a year attempting to it and I decided I would try it for myself to see what the real reason it took her so long was.
It was only today that I discovered this book was actually the movie Slumdog Millionaire with a different title, and needless to say it confused me a lot as for a very long time I thought they were two completely different books by the same author. And I still can't really get around the fact that the book I just read was Slumdog Millionaire.
Many people at school told me it was a very a good book and yes, I did enjoy it a lot, but for some reason I feel like it didn't have as much impact on me as it should have perhaps.
I have just looked up the plot for the movie on Wikipedia, but it sounds completely different to the book, for example the girl Latika and the references to The Three Muskateers, which I would have actually enjoyed if it was mentioned in the book. However, I still want to watch the movie sometime, just to get a sense of how different it is compared to the book.
It was only today that I discovered this book was actually the movie Slumdog Millionaire with a different title, and needless to say it confused me a lot as for a very long time I thought they were two completely different books by the same author. And I still can't really get around the fact that the book I just read was Slumdog Millionaire.
Many people at school told me it was a very a good book and yes, I did enjoy it a lot, but for some reason I feel like it didn't have as much impact on me as it should have perhaps.
I have just looked up the plot for the movie on Wikipedia, but it sounds completely different to the book, for example the girl Latika and the references to The Three Muskateers, which I would have actually enjoyed if it was mentioned in the book. However, I still want to watch the movie sometime, just to get a sense of how different it is compared to the book.
What an enjoyable read! Kept my attention from beginning to end.
Nice...this book is the basis for the wonderful movie, Slumdog Millionaire. Although the premise is the same, (dirt poor, uneducated Mumbai teen mysteriously answers all the trivia questions on a game show correctly, then explains in flashback how each question is connected to a traumatic life experience) the stories in the book don't hold together as well, and the ending is far weaker. However,some of the individual stories have a terrific creepy quality. Much more emphasis on the frequent degradation of lower class Indian women and the ferocious attacks on Muslims than show up in the movie.