What do you think?
Rate this book
丕賱賳賲乇 丕賱兀亘賷囟
賷購賯丿賲 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 丕賱賴賳丿賷 "丌乇丕賮賷賳丿 兀丿賷賮丕" 乇賵丕賷丞 鬲毓丿 亘賲孬丕亘丞 氐乇禺丞 囟丿 丕賱馗賱賲 賵丕賱丕爻鬲亘丿丕丿 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓丕賳賷賴丕 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿 禺氐賵氐丕賸貙 噩丕亍鬲 亘毓賳賵丕賳 "丕賱賳賲乇 丕賱兀亘賷囟" 賮賷賰卮賮 賱賳丕 亘賲丕 鬲賴賷兀 賱賴 賲賳 賯丿乇丕鬲 匕丕鬲賷丞 賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿 丕賱鬲賳丕賯囟丕鬲 丕賱丨丕丿丞 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賮賷 匕賱賰 丕賱亘賱丿 丨賷孬 賷鬲賯氐賶 丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賲賳 賴賳丕 賵賴賳丕賰 賮賷爻鬲賱賴賲 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 乇賵丕賷鬲賴 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賵丕賯毓 亘賰賱 鬲賳丕賯囟丕鬲賴 丕賱氐丕乇禺丞 賰丕卮賮丕賸 丕賱賲丐丕賲乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓賷卮 賮賷賴丕 丕賱賲賵丕胤賳 丕賱賴賳丿賷 丕賱亘爻賷胤 賲賳 賯亘賱 丕賱賲賱丕賰賵賳 賵兀氐丨丕亘 丕賱孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱胤丕卅賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰賵賳賵賴丕 毓亘乇 丕爻鬲賷賱丕卅賴賲 毓賱賶 丕賱孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷丞 賱賱亘賱丕丿貙 賵亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 "亘丕賱乇丕賲 丨賱賵賷" 兀賵 "丕賱賳賲乇 丕賱兀亘賷囟" 賴賵 賵丕丨丿 賲賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍貙 兀胤賱賯 毓賱賷賴 賲氐胤賱丨 "賳氐賮 賲禺亘賵夭" 賰賳丕賷丞 毓賳 賳氐賮 丕賱賲鬲毓賱賲 丕賱胤丕賲丨 廿賱賶 丕賱毓亘賵乇 賲賳 毓丕賱賲 丕賱馗賱丕賲 廿賱賶 毓丕賱賲 丕賱賳賵乇 賱賷丨賯賯 廿賳爻丕賳賷鬲賴貙 賵賱賰賳 賲丕 賴賷 賵爻賷賱鬲賴 賴賱 賴賷 賲卮乇賵毓丞 賵賲亘乇乇丞 兀賲 賱丕責 賵賴賳丕 賱丕 亘丿 賲賳 丕賱鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 亘丕賱乇丕賲 兀賰孬乇貙 賵賱丿 亘丕賱乇丕賲 賮賷 賯乇賷丞 鬲賯毓 賮賷 丕賱賯賱亘 丕賱賲馗賱賲 賲賳 丕賱賴賳丿貙 賵賴賵 丕亘賳 賱乇噩賱 賷毓賲賱 賮賷 丿賮毓 丕賱毓乇亘丕鬲 丕賱賷丿賵賷丞貙 兀亘毓丿鬲賴 毓丕卅賱鬲賴 毓賳 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賱鬲賯丨賲賴 賮賷 毓賲賱 丕賱賲賯丕賴賷. 賵亘賷賳賲丕 賰丕賳 賷賰爻賾乇 丕賱賮丨賲貙 賵賷賲爻丨 丕賱胤丕賵賱丕鬲貙 賰丕賳 賷乇毓賶 丨賱賲丕賸 亘丕賱賴乇亘 賲賳 囟賮鬲賷 丕賱賳賴乇 - 丕賱兀賲 丕賱睾丕賳噩貙 丨賷孬 鬲囟禺賾 丕賱兀毓賲丕賯 丕賱囟亘丕亘賷丞 乇賮丕鬲 賲卅丕鬲 丕賱兀噩賷丕賱. 鬲賵丕鬲賷賴 丕賱賮乇氐丞 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 毓賳丿賲丕 賷爻鬲禺丿賲賴 兀丨丿 賲購賱丕賾賰 丕賱賯乇賷丞 賱賷毓賲賱 爻丕卅賯丕賸 賱丕亘賳賴 賵夭賵噩丞 丕亘賳賴 賲毓 賰賱亘賷賴賲丕 丕賱亘賵賲乇丕賳賷賷賳 丕賱氐睾賷乇賷賳 胤賵賷賱賷 丕賱卮毓乇. 賵賲賳 禺賱賮 賲賯賵丿 爻賷丕乇丞 丕賱賴賵賳丿丕爻賷鬲賷 賷卮丕賴丿 亘丕賱乇丕賲 賲丿賷賳丞 "丿賱賴賷" 賱賱賲乇丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶. 賵賲丕 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 廿賱丕 賵丨賷. 賵賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱氐乇丕氐賷乇 賵賲乇丕賰夭 丕賱鬲禺丕亘乇 賵兀丨賷丕亍 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 賵丕賱兀爻賵丕賯 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 賵丕賱丕夭丿丨丕賲丕鬲 丕賱賲乇賵乇賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲卮賱 丕賱丨乇賰丞 賷亘丿兀 亘丕賱乇丕賲 鬲毓賱賾賲賴 賲賳 噩丿賷丿. 賰丕賳 賲丨氐賵乇丕賸 亘賷賳 睾乇賷夭鬲賴 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 丕亘賳丕賸 賲禺賱氐丕賸 賵禺丕丿賲丕賸貙 賵亘賷賳 乇睾亘鬲賴 賮賷 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 賮賷 丨丕賱 兀賮囟賱貙 賮賷鬲毓賱賲 兀禺賱丕賯賷丞 噩丿賷丿丞 賮賷 賯賱亘 丕賱賴賳丿 丕賱噩丿賷丿丞. 賵亘賷賳賲丕 賷賯賱賾亘 亘賯賷丞 丕賱禺丿賲 氐賮丨丕鬲 賲噩賱丞 噩乇賷賲丞 丕賱兀爻亘賵毓貙 賷卮乇毓 亘丕賱乇丕賲 賮賷 丿乇丕爻丞 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷賲賰賳 賱賱賳賲乇 賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 兀賳 賷賴乇亘 賲賳 賯賮氐賴貙 廿匕 賲賳 丕賱賲丐賰丿 兀賳 兀賷 乇噩賱 賳丕噩丨 賱丕 亘丿 賱賴 賲賳 兀賳 賷爻賮賰 丕賱賯賱賷賱 賲賳 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賵賴賵 賮賷 胤乇賷賯賴 廿賱賶 丕賱賯賲丞. 鬲鬲賵丕賱賶 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱卮賷賯丞 廿賱賶 丿乇噩丞 丕賱賲賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱爻丕賮乇丞 賱丕乇鬲賰丕亘 噩乇賷賲丞 丕賱賯鬲賱 丕賱毓賲丿 賵丕賱爻乇賯丞貙 賮賴賱 噩乇賷賲鬲賴 賲亘乇乇丞 賵賲賳 爻賷丿賮毓 丕賱孬賲賳 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞責 賴匕丕 賲丕 鬲禺亘兀賴 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱丨丕卅夭丞 毓賱賶 噩丕卅夭丞 亘賵賰乇 賱毓丕賲 2008貙 丕賱賳丕賯丿丞 丕賱賱丕匕毓丞 賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱賮賵囟賶 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 毓賱賷賴丕 丨丕賱 丕賱賴賳丿貙 賮賴賷 乇賵丕賷丞 睾囟亘 賲賳 丕賱賱丕毓丿丕賱丞貙 賵丿毓賵丞 氐丕丿賯丞 賱賱鬲睾賷賷乇貙 賮賷 亘賱丿 乇賮毓鬲 賮賷賴 丕賱卮毓丕乇丕鬲 丕賱胤賳丕賳丞 丕賱夭丕卅賮丞 賱賲賳 賷爻賲賵賳 兀賳賮爻賴賲 亘丕賱丕卮鬲乇丕賰賷賷賳貙 賱賱丿賮丕毓 毓賳 丨賯賵賯 丕賱卮毓亘 賵丕賱賲賵丕胤賳 丕賱賴賳丿賷 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇貙 賮毓亘賾乇 毓賳 匕賱賰 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 "丌乇丕賮賷賳丿 兀丿賷賮丕" 兀氐丿賯 鬲毓亘賷乇
311 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2008
5245 people are currently reading
87205 people want to read
About the author
Aravind Adiga
21听books2,397听followersAravind Adiga was born in 1974 in Madras (now called Chennai), and grew up in Mangalore in the south of India. He was educated at Columbia University in New York and Magdalen College, Oxford. His articles have appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, the Sunday Times, the Financial Times, and the Times of India. His debut novel, The White Tiger, won the Man Booker Prize for fiction in 2008. Its release was followed by a collection of short stories in the book titled Between the Assassinations. His second novel, Last Man in the Tower, was published in 2011. His newest novel, Selection Day, was published in 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,387 reviews
January 21, 2021
This review contains what may be spoilers. Even though I do not think it will spoil your reading experience, I am putting the warning here because one reader pointed it out.
--------------------------------------
Before I begin my review, a statutory warning to all my patriotic Indian brothers and sisters... this is India-bashing, large scale. If you are the sort of person who gets all worked up when any aspect of India is criticised, this book is not for you.
That said, Arvind Adiga bashes India where it has to be bashed. No honest reader will be able to dispute that the picture of India he paints is a true one. You will find the majority of Indians embarassedly changing the topic when Bihar (the state Adiga names "Darkness") enters the conversation. Most of the things he mentions are not only possible, but probable and even likely. You only have to read any Indian newspaper over the period of a week to know it.
But I believe the author fails in the creation of Munna alias Balram Halwai, the protagonist, because his voice is totally out of character with the person. It is the supercilious voice of a Westernised Indian, detached from his home country by education and station in life that comes through. The street smart Munna who murdered his employer and set up his business in Bangalore will talk in an entirely different way (for example, he will never say "five hundred thousand rupees" - he'll say "five lakhs"). Here, the character just becomes a mouthpiece for the author.
Secondly, Adiga goes overboard in criticising India, so that some of his examples become rather extreme (the immediate one that comes to mind is the schoolteacher boozing and sleeping in the classroom). In some other cases, they are downright silly (Balram buys a dosa and throws out all the potatoes before giving to Mukesh, whereas he could have bought a dosa easily without the potatoes: these are two varieties). It also confirms the opinion I formed of Adiga from his bio that he is that type of Indian Lord Macaulay wanted to create: Indian only by birth but English in spirit.
Lastly, the story failed to hold my interest. Take out all the social criticism and it is nothing but a hollow shell. And the gimmicks, like framing it as a letter to the Chinese premier, are trite to the point of being nauseating.
The only thing that forced me to give two stars to this work is some of the pithy statements Adiga makes about Indian society. Especially the ones about how caste-ridden India was a zoo, with all animals in separate cages when the British let them all out, so now only the ones with the big bellies and the ones with the small bellies are left; about automobile horns during a traffic jam joining together to form a single wail like a lost calf wailing for its mother; and the one about how the major diseases India faces are cholera, typhoid and election fever (though I would also include cricket).
--------------------------------------
Before I begin my review, a statutory warning to all my patriotic Indian brothers and sisters... this is India-bashing, large scale. If you are the sort of person who gets all worked up when any aspect of India is criticised, this book is not for you.
That said, Arvind Adiga bashes India where it has to be bashed. No honest reader will be able to dispute that the picture of India he paints is a true one. You will find the majority of Indians embarassedly changing the topic when Bihar (the state Adiga names "Darkness") enters the conversation. Most of the things he mentions are not only possible, but probable and even likely. You only have to read any Indian newspaper over the period of a week to know it.
But I believe the author fails in the creation of Munna alias Balram Halwai, the protagonist, because his voice is totally out of character with the person. It is the supercilious voice of a Westernised Indian, detached from his home country by education and station in life that comes through. The street smart Munna who murdered his employer and set up his business in Bangalore will talk in an entirely different way (for example, he will never say "five hundred thousand rupees" - he'll say "five lakhs"). Here, the character just becomes a mouthpiece for the author.
Secondly, Adiga goes overboard in criticising India, so that some of his examples become rather extreme (the immediate one that comes to mind is the schoolteacher boozing and sleeping in the classroom). In some other cases, they are downright silly (Balram buys a dosa and throws out all the potatoes before giving to Mukesh, whereas he could have bought a dosa easily without the potatoes: these are two varieties). It also confirms the opinion I formed of Adiga from his bio that he is that type of Indian Lord Macaulay wanted to create: Indian only by birth but English in spirit.
Lastly, the story failed to hold my interest. Take out all the social criticism and it is nothing but a hollow shell. And the gimmicks, like framing it as a letter to the Chinese premier, are trite to the point of being nauseating.
The only thing that forced me to give two stars to this work is some of the pithy statements Adiga makes about Indian society. Especially the ones about how caste-ridden India was a zoo, with all animals in separate cages when the British let them all out, so now only the ones with the big bellies and the ones with the small bellies are left; about automobile horns during a traffic jam joining together to form a single wail like a lost calf wailing for its mother; and the one about how the major diseases India faces are cholera, typhoid and election fever (though I would also include cricket).
August 28, 2022
No country and human being in this world are perfect. There are negatives in every country and its people, and it should be criticized. I am happy that the author, who happens to be an Indian by birth, was brave enough to criticize some of these in this book. But there is a big difference between criticism and outright lambasting. If you are a patriotic Indian, there is a high probability that this book will permanently damage your feelings.
The amount of grandiosity that the protagonist possesses is preposterous.
I am wondering how can a human being write such a negative book. Everything is criticized in a harsh negative manner in the disguise of sarcasm in it like- Americans, Hospitals, Doctors, caste, vegetarians, Delhi and its people, drivers, law, court, millennials, and even books are shown negatively.
I can understand that the author was trying to create a dark humorous picture of modern India. But in my opinion, he utterly failed to connect it with a normal reader like me. The fact that this book is a Booker prize winner makes it more complicated. If you are a fan of dark humor, please try reading at least ten pages at random, and if it connects with you, you can go for this book. Otherwise, please keep yourself away from it- the farther, the better.
The amount of grandiosity that the protagonist possesses is preposterous.
鈥淒on鈥檛 waste your money on those American books. They saw yesterday. I am tomorrow鈥�
鈥淚 love my startup. I will get bored with it sooner or later. I will sell this start-up to other morons and head into a new line. I am thinking of real estate next. You see, I am always a man who sees tomorrow when others see today.鈥�
I am wondering how can a human being write such a negative book. Everything is criticized in a harsh negative manner in the disguise of sarcasm in it like- Americans, Hospitals, Doctors, caste, vegetarians, Delhi and its people, drivers, law, court, millennials, and even books are shown negatively.
鈥淪trange thoughts brew in your heart when you spend too much time with old books鈥�
I can understand that the author was trying to create a dark humorous picture of modern India. But in my opinion, he utterly failed to connect it with a normal reader like me. The fact that this book is a Booker prize winner makes it more complicated. If you are a fan of dark humor, please try reading at least ten pages at random, and if it connects with you, you can go for this book. Otherwise, please keep yourself away from it- the farther, the better.
September 5, 2021
The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga
The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the 40th Man Booker Prize in the same year.
The novel provides a darkly humorous perspective of India鈥檚 class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospective narration from Balram Halwai, a village boy.
In detailing Balram's journey first to Delhi, where he works as a chauffeur to a rich landlord, and then to Bangalore, the place to which he flees after killing his master and stealing his money, the novel examines issues of religion, caste, loyalty, corruption and poverty in India.
Ultimately, Balram transcends his sweet-maker caste and becomes a successful entrepreneur, establishing his own taxi service. In a nation proudly shedding a history of poverty and underdevelopment, he represents, as he himself says, "tomorrow."
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 蹖讴賲 賲丕賴 丐丕賳賵蹖賴 爻丕賱 2009賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賳丕夭賳蹖賳 賲蹖乇氐丕丿賯蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕蹖乇丕賳亘丕賳貙 1387貙 亘丿賵賳 卮賲丕乇賴 诏匕丕乇蹖貙 卮丕亘讴 9789642980673貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳 - 爻丿賴 21賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲跇丿賴 丿賯蹖賯蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳賷賱賵賮乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 286氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789644484377貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丌夭丕丿賴 賳賵乇蹖 乇賵夭亘賴丕賳蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇诏爻鬲乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 271氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789645544902貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丕賲讴 亘賴丕丿乇夭丕丿賴貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丌賵蹖賳貙 1389貙 丿乇 344氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789648148428貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕亘賵丕賱賮囟賱 乇卅賵賮貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 乇賵夭诏丕乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 334氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789643742713貨
賳禺爻鬲鈥屬堌槽屫� 芦趩蹖賳禄 亘賴 芦賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳禄 爻賮乇 賰乇丿賴貙 鬲丕 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 賰丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳丕賳 芦賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳禄 倬跇賵賴卮 賰賳丿貨 蹖賰蹖 丕夭 賰丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳丕賳 芦賴賳丿賵禄貙 賳丕賲賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘賴 賳禺爻鬲鈥� 賵夭蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫池� 賵 丿乇 丌賳 丕夭 鬲噩乇亘蹖丕鬲 禺賵丿 爻禺賳 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 丕賵 賰賴 丕夭 賮賯蹖乇鬲乇蹖賳 胤亘賯丕鬲 芦賴賳丿禄 亘賵丿賴貙 亘丕 氐丿丕賯鬲 賰丕賲賱貙 賲爻蹖乇 乇爻蹖丿賳 禺賵蹖卮 亘賴 孬乇賵鬲 賵 賯丿乇鬲 乇丕 亘蹖丕賳 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗀� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥� 丕蹖 丕夭 賳丕賲賴鈥� 賴丕爻鬲貙 賵 賳诏丕乇賳丿賴 丿乇 胤賵賱 丌賳貙 禺賵丕賳卮诏乇 乇丕 亘丕 賲乇丿賲丕賳貙 丿蹖賳貙 丌蹖蹖賳 賵 爻丕禺鬲丕乇 爻蹖丕爻蹖 芦賴賳丿禄貙 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗀�
賳賯賱 丕夭 賲鬲賳: (芦爻乇诏匕卮鬲 蹖讴 賴賳丿蹖 禺丕賲.禄 丕賷賳 毓賳賵丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 乇賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з� 亘诏匕丕乇賲貨 賲賳 賵 賴夭丕乇丕賳 賳賮乇 丿蹖诏乇 賲孬賱 賲賳 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 禺丕賲 賴爻鬲蹖賲貙 趩賵賳 賴乇诏夭 亘賴 賲丕 丕噩丕夭賴 賳丿丕丿賴 丕賳丿 鬲丨氐蹖賱丕鬲鈥屬呚з� 乇丕 鬲賲丕賲 讴賳蹖賲貨 讴丕爻賴 爻乇賲丕賳 乇丕 亘丕夭 讴賳蹖丿貙 亘丕 趩乇丕睾 賯賵賴 賯賱賲蹖 丿丕禺賱卮 乇丕 賳诏丕賴 讴賳蹖丿貙 賵 賲賵夭賴 毓噩蹖亘 賵 睾乇蹖亘蹖 丕夭 賮讴乇賴丕 乇丕 禺賵丕賴蹖丿 丿蹖丿: 噩賲賱丕鬲蹖 丕夭 鬲丕乇蹖禺 蹖丕 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲 讴賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丿乇爻蹖 賲丿乇爻賴 丿乇 禺丕胤乇賲丕賳 賲丕賳丿賴 -賴蹖趩 倬爻乇亘趩賴 丕蹖 亘賴 丕賳丿丕夭賴 倬爻乇亘趩賴 丕蹖 讴賴 丕賵 乇丕 丕夭 賲丿乇爻賴 亘蹖乇賵賳 丌賵乇丿賴 丕賳丿貙 鬲丨氐蹖賱丕鬲卮 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 賳丿丕乇丿貙 亘丕賵乇 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿-貙 噩賲賱丕鬲蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 爻蹖丕爻鬲 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丿乇 丕丿丕乇賴鈥� 丕蹖 賲賳鬲馗乇 丌賲丿賳 讴爻蹖 亘賵丿賴 丕蹖賲貨 丿乇 乇賵夭賳丕賲賴 丕蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕蹖賲貙 賲孬賱孬賴丕 賵 賴乇賲賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 氐賮丨丕鬲 倬丕乇賴 卮丿賴 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖 賴賳丿爻賴 賯丿蹖賲蹖 丿蹖丿賴 丕蹖賲貙 讴賴 賴賲賴 丕睾匕蹖賴 賮乇賵卮蹖賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 賴賱賴 賴賵賱賴 賴丕蹖卮丕賳 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 丌賳賴丕 賲蹖倬蹖趩賳丿貙 鬲讴賴 賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丕禺亘丕乇 乇爻賲蹖 芦乇丕丿蹖賵 丌賱 丕蹖賳丿蹖丕禄貙 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 賳蹖賲 爻丕毓鬲蹖 讴賴 胤賵賱 賲蹖讴卮丿 鬲丕 禺賵丕亘鬲丕賳 亘亘乇丿 亘賴 匕賴賳鬲丕賳 禺胤賵乇 賲蹖讴賳丿貙 賲孬賱 賲丕乇賲賵賱讴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 丕夭 爻賯賮 乇賵蹖 爻乇鬲丕賳 賲蹖丕賮鬲賳丿貨 賴賲賴 蹖 丕蹖賳 賮讴乇賴丕 讴賴 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 卮讴賱 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕賳丿 賵 丿乇讴 卮丿賴 丕賳丿 賵 賳蹖賲賴 丿乇爻鬲 丕賳丿貙 亘丕 亘賯蹖賴 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳蹖賲趩賴 禺丕賲 鬲賵蹖 爻乇鬲丕賳 賯丕鬲蹖 賲蹖卮賵賳丿貙 賵 亘賴 诏賲丕賳賲 丕蹖賳 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 丕夭 乇丕賴 亘賴 丿乇 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 丿蹖诏乇蹖 倬爻 賲蹖丕賳丿丕夭賳丿 賵 亘乇丕爻丕爻 賴賲蹖賳 賮讴乇鈥屬囏ж池� 讴賴 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屫� 賵 亘丕 賴賲蹖賳 賮讴乇鈥屬囏ж池� 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屫� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賵 鬲乇亘蹖鬲 賲賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 卮讴賱 诏乇賮鬲賳 蹖讴 丌丿賲 禺丕賲 丕爻鬲貨 賵賱蹖貙 丌賯丕蹖 賳禺爻鬲 賵夭蹖乇貙 丿賯鬲 讴賳蹖丿! 丌丿賲賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賵 鬲乇亘蹖鬲卮丕賳 鬲賲丕賲 賵 讴賲丕賱 亘賵丿賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 丿賵丕夭丿賴 爻丕賱 賲丿乇爻賴 賵 爻賴 爻丕賱 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 讴鬲 賵 卮賱賵丕乇賴丕蹖 卮蹖讴 賲蹖倬賵卮賳丿貙 丿乇 卮乇讴鬲賴丕 賲卮睾賵賱 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖卮賵賳丿 賵 亘賯蹖賴 蹖 毓賲乇卮丕賳 丕夭 丌丿賲賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 丿爻鬲賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭屫辟嗀� 讴丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳賴丕 丕夭 诏賽賱賽 禺丕賲 爻丕禺鬲賴 賲蹖卮賵賳丿.)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 03/08/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 13/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the 40th Man Booker Prize in the same year.
The novel provides a darkly humorous perspective of India鈥檚 class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospective narration from Balram Halwai, a village boy.
In detailing Balram's journey first to Delhi, where he works as a chauffeur to a rich landlord, and then to Bangalore, the place to which he flees after killing his master and stealing his money, the novel examines issues of religion, caste, loyalty, corruption and poverty in India.
Ultimately, Balram transcends his sweet-maker caste and becomes a successful entrepreneur, establishing his own taxi service. In a nation proudly shedding a history of poverty and underdevelopment, he represents, as he himself says, "tomorrow."
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 蹖讴賲 賲丕賴 丐丕賳賵蹖賴 爻丕賱 2009賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賳丕夭賳蹖賳 賲蹖乇氐丕丿賯蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕蹖乇丕賳亘丕賳貙 1387貙 亘丿賵賳 卮賲丕乇賴 诏匕丕乇蹖貙 卮丕亘讴 9789642980673貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳 - 爻丿賴 21賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲跇丿賴 丿賯蹖賯蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳賷賱賵賮乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 286氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789644484377貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丌夭丕丿賴 賳賵乇蹖 乇賵夭亘賴丕賳蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇诏爻鬲乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 271氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789645544902貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賲丕賲讴 亘賴丕丿乇夭丕丿賴貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丌賵蹖賳貙 1389貙 丿乇 344氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789648148428貨
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘亘乇 爻賮蹖丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌乇丕賵賷賳丿 丌丿賷诏丕貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕亘賵丕賱賮囟賱 乇卅賵賮貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 乇賵夭诏丕乇貙 1389貙 丿乇 334氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9789643742713貨
賳禺爻鬲鈥屬堌槽屫� 芦趩蹖賳禄 亘賴 芦賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳禄 爻賮乇 賰乇丿賴貙 鬲丕 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 賰丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳丕賳 芦賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳禄 倬跇賵賴卮 賰賳丿貨 蹖賰蹖 丕夭 賰丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳丕賳 芦賴賳丿賵禄貙 賳丕賲賴鈥� 丕蹖 亘賴 賳禺爻鬲鈥� 賵夭蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫池� 賵 丿乇 丌賳 丕夭 鬲噩乇亘蹖丕鬲 禺賵丿 爻禺賳 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 丕賵 賰賴 丕夭 賮賯蹖乇鬲乇蹖賳 胤亘賯丕鬲 芦賴賳丿禄 亘賵丿賴貙 亘丕 氐丿丕賯鬲 賰丕賲賱貙 賲爻蹖乇 乇爻蹖丿賳 禺賵蹖卮 亘賴 孬乇賵鬲 賵 賯丿乇鬲 乇丕 亘蹖丕賳 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗀� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥� 丕蹖 丕夭 賳丕賲賴鈥� 賴丕爻鬲貙 賵 賳诏丕乇賳丿賴 丿乇 胤賵賱 丌賳貙 禺賵丕賳卮诏乇 乇丕 亘丕 賲乇丿賲丕賳貙 丿蹖賳貙 丌蹖蹖賳 賵 爻丕禺鬲丕乇 爻蹖丕爻蹖 芦賴賳丿禄貙 丌卮賳丕 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗀�
賳賯賱 丕夭 賲鬲賳: (芦爻乇诏匕卮鬲 蹖讴 賴賳丿蹖 禺丕賲.禄 丕賷賳 毓賳賵丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 乇賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з� 亘诏匕丕乇賲貨 賲賳 賵 賴夭丕乇丕賳 賳賮乇 丿蹖诏乇 賲孬賱 賲賳 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 禺丕賲 賴爻鬲蹖賲貙 趩賵賳 賴乇诏夭 亘賴 賲丕 丕噩丕夭賴 賳丿丕丿賴 丕賳丿 鬲丨氐蹖賱丕鬲鈥屬呚з� 乇丕 鬲賲丕賲 讴賳蹖賲貨 讴丕爻賴 爻乇賲丕賳 乇丕 亘丕夭 讴賳蹖丿貙 亘丕 趩乇丕睾 賯賵賴 賯賱賲蹖 丿丕禺賱卮 乇丕 賳诏丕賴 讴賳蹖丿貙 賵 賲賵夭賴 毓噩蹖亘 賵 睾乇蹖亘蹖 丕夭 賮讴乇賴丕 乇丕 禺賵丕賴蹖丿 丿蹖丿: 噩賲賱丕鬲蹖 丕夭 鬲丕乇蹖禺 蹖丕 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲 讴賴 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丿乇爻蹖 賲丿乇爻賴 丿乇 禺丕胤乇賲丕賳 賲丕賳丿賴 -賴蹖趩 倬爻乇亘趩賴 丕蹖 亘賴 丕賳丿丕夭賴 倬爻乇亘趩賴 丕蹖 讴賴 丕賵 乇丕 丕夭 賲丿乇爻賴 亘蹖乇賵賳 丌賵乇丿賴 丕賳丿貙 鬲丨氐蹖賱丕鬲卮 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 賳丿丕乇丿貙 亘丕賵乇 亘賮乇賲丕蹖蹖丿-貙 噩賲賱丕鬲蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 爻蹖丕爻鬲 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丿乇 丕丿丕乇賴鈥� 丕蹖 賲賳鬲馗乇 丌賲丿賳 讴爻蹖 亘賵丿賴 丕蹖賲貨 丿乇 乇賵夭賳丕賲賴 丕蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賴 丕蹖賲貙 賲孬賱孬賴丕 賵 賴乇賲賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 氐賮丨丕鬲 倬丕乇賴 卮丿賴 讴鬲丕亘賴丕蹖 賴賳丿爻賴 賯丿蹖賲蹖 丿蹖丿賴 丕蹖賲貙 讴賴 賴賲賴 丕睾匕蹖賴 賮乇賵卮蹖賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 賴賱賴 賴賵賱賴 賴丕蹖卮丕賳 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 丌賳賴丕 賲蹖倬蹖趩賳丿貙 鬲讴賴 賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丕禺亘丕乇 乇爻賲蹖 芦乇丕丿蹖賵 丌賱 丕蹖賳丿蹖丕禄貙 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丌賳 賳蹖賲 爻丕毓鬲蹖 讴賴 胤賵賱 賲蹖讴卮丿 鬲丕 禺賵丕亘鬲丕賳 亘亘乇丿 亘賴 匕賴賳鬲丕賳 禺胤賵乇 賲蹖讴賳丿貙 賲孬賱 賲丕乇賲賵賱讴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 丕夭 爻賯賮 乇賵蹖 爻乇鬲丕賳 賲蹖丕賮鬲賳丿貨 賴賲賴 蹖 丕蹖賳 賮讴乇賴丕 讴賴 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 卮讴賱 诏乇賮鬲賴 丕賳丿 賵 丿乇讴 卮丿賴 丕賳丿 賵 賳蹖賲賴 丿乇爻鬲 丕賳丿貙 亘丕 亘賯蹖賴 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳蹖賲趩賴 禺丕賲 鬲賵蹖 爻乇鬲丕賳 賯丕鬲蹖 賲蹖卮賵賳丿貙 賵 亘賴 诏賲丕賳賲 丕蹖賳 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 丕夭 乇丕賴 亘賴 丿乇 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 賮讴乇賴丕蹖 賳氐賮賴 賳蹖賲賴 丿蹖诏乇蹖 倬爻 賲蹖丕賳丿丕夭賳丿 賵 亘乇丕爻丕爻 賴賲蹖賳 賮讴乇鈥屬囏ж池� 讴賴 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屫� 賵 亘丕 賴賲蹖賳 賮讴乇鈥屬囏ж池� 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屫� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賵 鬲乇亘蹖鬲 賲賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 卮讴賱 诏乇賮鬲賳 蹖讴 丌丿賲 禺丕賲 丕爻鬲貨 賵賱蹖貙 丌賯丕蹖 賳禺爻鬲 賵夭蹖乇貙 丿賯鬲 讴賳蹖丿! 丌丿賲賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 鬲毓賱蹖賲 賵 鬲乇亘蹖鬲卮丕賳 鬲賲丕賲 賵 讴賲丕賱 亘賵丿賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 丿賵丕夭丿賴 爻丕賱 賲丿乇爻賴 賵 爻賴 爻丕賱 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 讴鬲 賵 卮賱賵丕乇賴丕蹖 卮蹖讴 賲蹖倬賵卮賳丿貙 丿乇 卮乇讴鬲賴丕 賲卮睾賵賱 亘賴 讴丕乇 賲蹖卮賵賳丿 賵 亘賯蹖賴 蹖 毓賲乇卮丕賳 丕夭 丌丿賲賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 丿爻鬲賵乇 賲蹖鈥屭屫辟嗀� 讴丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳賴丕 丕夭 诏賽賱賽 禺丕賲 爻丕禺鬲賴 賲蹖卮賵賳丿.)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 03/08/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 13/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
December 23, 2021
They remain slaves because they can鈥檛 see what is beautiful in this world. That鈥檚 the truest thing anyone said鈥ven as a boy I could see what was beautiful in the world: I was destined not to stay a slave.The White Tiger is a grim, biting, unsubtle look at 21st Century India, stuck in the mire of a corrupt, cynical past, and debauching and slaughtering its way into a corrupt and cynical future, told by a working class fellow who, through ambition, intelligence, and a willingness to be utterly ruthless is clawing his way up the rungs of the Indian class ladder. It paints a bleak picture, offering little optimism for an India that will be any cleaner, fairer or more humane than the India it is replacing.
Aravind Adiga - image from The Guardian
While the subject matter is dark, the novel is fast-paced and engaging, drawing the reader in to the cares and concerns of the servant class. The narrator, Balran, may not be the most well written character in literature, but he will do as a vehicle for showing an India in transition from one form of bad to another.
Adiga paints a sharp line between Darkness and Light. The first is represented by rivers, particularly the Ganges, fouled with filth of diverse sorts, while the ocean is considered The Light, pure, cleansing. This seems to correspond to internal versus external. What is Indian in origin is dark and corrupt while what comes in from the outside is pure. Does Adiga really think the product of India is a black muck of corruption and the incoming tides of social change is pure light? I doubt it. His entrepreneurial hotspot of Bangalore is clearly just as corrupt as the traditional world it is replacing.
Adiga goes into some specifics on the sociopolitical structures in India. His narrator鈥檚 village was essentially owned by four rich men, feudalism in effect, each named for an animal, each taking a piece of every bit of labor and product in their respective domains.
their children were gone but the Animals stayed and fed on the village, and everything that grew in it, until there was nothing left for anyone else to feed on.Class is written in flesh
A rich man鈥檚 body is like a premium cotton pillow, white and soft and blank. Ours are different. My father鈥檚 spine was a knotted rope, the kind that women use in villages to pull water from wells; the clavicle curved around his neck in high relief, like a dog鈥檚 collar; cuts and nicks and scars, like little whip marks in his flesh, ran down his chest and waist, reaching down below his hip bones into his buttocks. The story of a poor man鈥檚 life is written on his body, in a sharp pen.The old ways are a drag on the people of India - [regarding the cremation of his mother and the attempt to move her remains into the Ganges]
The mud was holding her back: this big, swelling mound of black ooze. She was trying to fight the mud; her toes were flexed and resisting; but the mud was sucking her in, sucking her in. It was so thick, and more of it was being created every moment as the river washed into the ghat. Soon she would become part of the black mound and the pale-skinned dog would start licking her.
And then I understood: this was the real god of Benaras鈥攖his black mud of the Ganga into which everything died and decomposed, and was reborn from, and died into again. The same would happen to me when I died and they brought me here. Nothing would be liberated here.
Rajkummar Rao as Ashok Shah, Priyanka Chopra as Pinky Madam and Adarsh Gourav asa Balram Halwal from the 2021 Netflix film - image from Radio Times
Class is seen as slavery, but how to cast off those chains, even if one sees what is beautiful? The Great Socialist is the only name of a party leader who proclaims his devotion to the working people but who is merely another corrupt politician. Still, he retains a certain appeal to the proles.
That was the positive side of The Great Socialist. He humiliated all our masters鈥攖hat鈥檚 why we kept voting him back.Sounds like something with applicability across many nations and cultures. Adiga shows his sharp satirical sense, toward the use of religion in Indian life again and again. After Balram gains an advantage over another servant, the servant is forced to flee.
When I woke up he was gone鈥攈e had left all his images of gods behind, and I scooped them into a bag. You never know when those things can come in handy.And religion is not the only opiate of the masses.
just because drivers and cooks in Delhi are reading Murder Weekly it doesn鈥檛 mean that they are all about to slit their masters鈥� necks. Of course they鈥檇 like to. Of course, a billion servants are secretly fantasizing about strangling their bosses鈥攁nd that鈥檚 why the government of India publishes this magazine and sells it on the streets for just four and a half rupees so that even the poor can buy it. you see, the murderer in the magazine is so mentally disturbed and sexually deranged that not one reader would want to be like him鈥攁nd in the end he always gets caught by some honest, hardworking police officer (ha!), or goes mad and hangs himself by a bedsheet after writing a sentimental letter to his mother or primary school teacher, or is chased, beaten, buggered, and garroted by the brother of the woman he has done in. So if your driver is busy flicking through the pages of Murder Weekly, relax. No danger to you. Quite the contrary. It鈥檚 when your driver starts to read about Ghandi and the Buddha that it鈥檚 time to wet your pants.There are upstairs/downstairs refrains as well. When Balram and his employer are living in Delhi, the master lives in a nice apartment in the high rise, while Balram is relegated to a tiny, roach-infested space in the basement.
Adiga sums up the have vs have-not relationship
Never before in human history have so few owed so much to so many鈥 handful of men in this country have trained the remaining 99.9 percent鈥攁s strong, as talented, as intelligent in every way鈥攖o exist in perpetual servitude; a servitude so strong that you can put the key of his emancipation in a man鈥檚 hands and he will throw it back at you with a curse.After Balram has committed his large crime, he takes care of his young cousin, but sees that their relationship is less one of kin than one of necessity:
Oh, he鈥檚 got it all figured out, I tell you. Little blackmailing thug. He鈥檚 going to keep quiet as long as I keep feeding him. If I go to jail, he loses his ice cream and milk, doesn鈥檛 he? That must be his thinking. The new generation, I tell you, is growing up with no morals at all.It is clear that while family is a glue that binds Indian together, Balram has abandoned his. In Balram鈥檚 brave new world, it is every man for himself.
There is more imagery of class fixity, but enough already. It might have been nice to have seen some rays of light, however faint, in this Stygian gloom. Alas. At least the old India offered some comfort in family and clan. The new India is, in this take, spinning individuals off from even those bases into separate cells, each one striving against all the others for the available scraps. We can only hope that Adiga is wrong.
Published 2008
Review first posted in 2008
September 11, 2024
It is only fitting that the novel which (momentarily) took me out of a reading slump was one of the less appreciated winners of the Booker prize (2008). Who cares though, I loved it.
鈥淭he story of a poor man's life is written on his body, in a sharp pen.鈥�
Prompted by the Chinese Premier鈥檚 visit to India, Balram Halwai decides to write a (very) long letter to the politician, in which he shares his success story. Somewhere in the beginning, he confesses that he was an entrepreneur. 鈥淎pparently, sir you Chinese are far ahead of us in every respect, except that you don鈥檛 have entrepreneurs. And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy, or punctuality, 鈥樷€檇oes鈥欌€� have entrepreneurs. Thousands and thousands of them. Especially in the field of technology. And these entrepreneurs鈥�"we" entrepreneurs鈥攈ave set up all these outsourcing companies that virtually run America now.鈥� Balram continues with his childhood, the death of his mother at an early age and of his father, a rickshaw driver, of TB. We learn about several jobs he held and that, at some point, he became a driver/servant for a rich Indian called Ashok and for his wife, Pinky Madam. He moves with them in New Delhi and there he discovers a new world full of corruption and crime. 鈥淚t's amazing. The moment you show cash, everyone knows your language.鈥� Balram learns to navigate that environment and to finally take what he wants, through nefarious ways.
The novel is a perfectly written satire. It is laugh out loud funny, until it is not funny anymore but becomes quite tragic. It is a novel about the Indian caste system, its family values, corruption , politics, crime, poverty and all that is wrong in that country. Or others as the following quote seems pretty valid in many places: 鈥淗e can read and write, but he doesn't get what he's read. He's half-baked. The country is full of people like him, I'll tell you that. And we entrust our glorious parliamentary democracy鈥�
I also loved the narration of Kerry Shale. He made the voice of Balram sound perfect. Even now, after 3 months, I still read the name of the characters in his accent.
鈥淪ee, the poor dream all their lives of getting enough to eat and looking like the rich. And what do the rich dream of?? Losing weight and looking like the poor.鈥�
鈥淭he story of a poor man's life is written on his body, in a sharp pen.鈥�
Prompted by the Chinese Premier鈥檚 visit to India, Balram Halwai decides to write a (very) long letter to the politician, in which he shares his success story. Somewhere in the beginning, he confesses that he was an entrepreneur. 鈥淎pparently, sir you Chinese are far ahead of us in every respect, except that you don鈥檛 have entrepreneurs. And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy, or punctuality, 鈥樷€檇oes鈥欌€� have entrepreneurs. Thousands and thousands of them. Especially in the field of technology. And these entrepreneurs鈥�"we" entrepreneurs鈥攈ave set up all these outsourcing companies that virtually run America now.鈥� Balram continues with his childhood, the death of his mother at an early age and of his father, a rickshaw driver, of TB. We learn about several jobs he held and that, at some point, he became a driver/servant for a rich Indian called Ashok and for his wife, Pinky Madam. He moves with them in New Delhi and there he discovers a new world full of corruption and crime. 鈥淚t's amazing. The moment you show cash, everyone knows your language.鈥� Balram learns to navigate that environment and to finally take what he wants, through nefarious ways.
The novel is a perfectly written satire. It is laugh out loud funny, until it is not funny anymore but becomes quite tragic. It is a novel about the Indian caste system, its family values, corruption , politics, crime, poverty and all that is wrong in that country. Or others as the following quote seems pretty valid in many places: 鈥淗e can read and write, but he doesn't get what he's read. He's half-baked. The country is full of people like him, I'll tell you that. And we entrust our glorious parliamentary democracy鈥�
I also loved the narration of Kerry Shale. He made the voice of Balram sound perfect. Even now, after 3 months, I still read the name of the characters in his accent.
鈥淪ee, the poor dream all their lives of getting enough to eat and looking like the rich. And what do the rich dream of?? Losing weight and looking like the poor.鈥�
April 9, 2009
The perfect companion piece to Slumdog Millionaire, and if you didn't like that movie, you won't like this book for the same reasons. It's a no-nonsense bulldozing mordant splenetic jackhammer of a story written as a tough slangy 300 page fast-reading monologue. It's a novel of information, not art. It tells you all about modern India with a traditional rags-to-riches fable. Our hero murders his employer unapologetically, and that's how he gets his riches. This is not rocket science. This is smashing a guy over the head with a broken bottle of Johnny Walker.
But 90% of the book is not really the story, it's an anguished howl of rage about a distance of eighteen inches. In India, and indeed in other places too, the Rich and the Poor inhabit different universes. But the rich hire some of the poor as servants. This novel is the story of a servant who was a driver. In the car, the driver is separated from his employer (the word used here is Master) by the short distance of 18 inches. But economically, psychologically, medically, it's really 400 light years, as we know. And yet, every day, there they are, cheek by jowl, 18 inches apart, the one regarding the other with irritated amusement or annoyance or contempt, depending on mood, and being reciprocated with fawning fear and even awe. Our hero Balram is the rare beast (white tiger) who does not succumb to this fear and awe. But it's a struggle, and I was glad to be along for the ride.
In the London Review of Books, Sanjay Subrahmanyam almost trashes The White Tiger. His main beef is the language of the novel :
"What of Balram Halwai? What does he sound like? Despite the odd namaste, daal, paan and ghat, his vocabulary is not sprinkled with North Indian vernacular terms. His sentences are mostly short and crudely constructed, apparently a reflection of the fact that we鈥檙e dealing with a member of the 鈥榮ubaltern鈥� classes. He doesn鈥檛 engage in Rushdian word-play. But he does use a series of expressions that simply don鈥檛 add up. He describes his office as a 鈥榟ole in the wall鈥�. He refers to 鈥榢issing some god鈥檚 arse鈥�, an idiomatic expression that doesn鈥檛 exist in any North Indian language. 鈥楬alf-formed ideas bugger one another, and make more half-formed ideas鈥� and the Chinese prime minister is advised never to 鈥榣et that blasphemous idea into your yellow skull鈥�. On another matter, he sneers: 鈥楾hey鈥檙e so yesterday.鈥� A clever little phrase appears: 鈥楢 statutory warning 鈥� as they say on cigarette packs 鈥� before we begin.鈥� Dogs are referred to as 鈥榤utts鈥�. Yet whose vocabulary and whose expressions are these? On page after page, one is brought up short by the jangling dissonance of the language and the falsity of the expressions. This is a posh English-educated voice trying to talk dirty, without being able to pull it off. This is not Salinger speaking as Holden Caulfield, or Joyce speaking as Molly Bloom. It is certainly not Ralph Ellison or James Baldwin, whom Adiga has claimed as his models in speaking for the underdog. What we are dealing with is someone with no sense of the texture of Indian vernaculars, yet claiming to have produced a realistic text."
and then devastatingly:
"The paradox is that for many of this novel鈥檚 readers, this lack of verisimilitude will not matter because for them India is and will remain an exotic place. This book adds another brick to the patronising edifice it wants to tear down."
He's right, it didn't matter to me that a guy who doesn't speak English is represented as using hundreds of idiomatic English phrases. But for me that problem is the same as the one posed by the question "how can this first person narrator remember conversations in detail which happened years ago and anyway, who the hell is she talking to?" - i.e. it's a device, we suspend our disbelief, we do it all the time : every time we watch a movie we could be asking ourselves (but don't) "whose point of view is this all from?". Who gathered all those documents together to form the text known as the novel "Dracula"? Well, no one, because Bram Stoker made it all up. How could Clarissa have found the time to write all those long, long letters in "Clarissa"? And so on. (note : Subrahmanyam was the only really dissident voice I found regarding The White Tiger so I thought his argument was worth considering.)
Postscript
The White Tiger is the 9th Booker Prize Winner I've read and redresses the balance between the Splendid (this one, Midnight's Children, Remains of the Day and Sacred Hunger) and the What Were They Thinking (Life & Times of Michael K, Hotel Du Lac, Possession, Life of Pi and especially, remarkably, horrendously, Vernon God Little).
But 90% of the book is not really the story, it's an anguished howl of rage about a distance of eighteen inches. In India, and indeed in other places too, the Rich and the Poor inhabit different universes. But the rich hire some of the poor as servants. This novel is the story of a servant who was a driver. In the car, the driver is separated from his employer (the word used here is Master) by the short distance of 18 inches. But economically, psychologically, medically, it's really 400 light years, as we know. And yet, every day, there they are, cheek by jowl, 18 inches apart, the one regarding the other with irritated amusement or annoyance or contempt, depending on mood, and being reciprocated with fawning fear and even awe. Our hero Balram is the rare beast (white tiger) who does not succumb to this fear and awe. But it's a struggle, and I was glad to be along for the ride.
In the London Review of Books, Sanjay Subrahmanyam almost trashes The White Tiger. His main beef is the language of the novel :
"What of Balram Halwai? What does he sound like? Despite the odd namaste, daal, paan and ghat, his vocabulary is not sprinkled with North Indian vernacular terms. His sentences are mostly short and crudely constructed, apparently a reflection of the fact that we鈥檙e dealing with a member of the 鈥榮ubaltern鈥� classes. He doesn鈥檛 engage in Rushdian word-play. But he does use a series of expressions that simply don鈥檛 add up. He describes his office as a 鈥榟ole in the wall鈥�. He refers to 鈥榢issing some god鈥檚 arse鈥�, an idiomatic expression that doesn鈥檛 exist in any North Indian language. 鈥楬alf-formed ideas bugger one another, and make more half-formed ideas鈥� and the Chinese prime minister is advised never to 鈥榣et that blasphemous idea into your yellow skull鈥�. On another matter, he sneers: 鈥楾hey鈥檙e so yesterday.鈥� A clever little phrase appears: 鈥楢 statutory warning 鈥� as they say on cigarette packs 鈥� before we begin.鈥� Dogs are referred to as 鈥榤utts鈥�. Yet whose vocabulary and whose expressions are these? On page after page, one is brought up short by the jangling dissonance of the language and the falsity of the expressions. This is a posh English-educated voice trying to talk dirty, without being able to pull it off. This is not Salinger speaking as Holden Caulfield, or Joyce speaking as Molly Bloom. It is certainly not Ralph Ellison or James Baldwin, whom Adiga has claimed as his models in speaking for the underdog. What we are dealing with is someone with no sense of the texture of Indian vernaculars, yet claiming to have produced a realistic text."
and then devastatingly:
"The paradox is that for many of this novel鈥檚 readers, this lack of verisimilitude will not matter because for them India is and will remain an exotic place. This book adds another brick to the patronising edifice it wants to tear down."
He's right, it didn't matter to me that a guy who doesn't speak English is represented as using hundreds of idiomatic English phrases. But for me that problem is the same as the one posed by the question "how can this first person narrator remember conversations in detail which happened years ago and anyway, who the hell is she talking to?" - i.e. it's a device, we suspend our disbelief, we do it all the time : every time we watch a movie we could be asking ourselves (but don't) "whose point of view is this all from?". Who gathered all those documents together to form the text known as the novel "Dracula"? Well, no one, because Bram Stoker made it all up. How could Clarissa have found the time to write all those long, long letters in "Clarissa"? And so on. (note : Subrahmanyam was the only really dissident voice I found regarding The White Tiger so I thought his argument was worth considering.)
Postscript
The White Tiger is the 9th Booker Prize Winner I've read and redresses the balance between the Splendid (this one, Midnight's Children, Remains of the Day and Sacred Hunger) and the What Were They Thinking (Life & Times of Michael K, Hotel Du Lac, Possession, Life of Pi and especially, remarkably, horrendously, Vernon God Little).
June 12, 2017
I'm not sure what I expected going into this book but it wasn't really this. The book was very tongue in cheek and I could completely sympathize with our narrator even at the end. The idealistic part of me was a little horrified and upset by a lot of it but I think it's pretty realistic and really made me think about the servant/master dynamic in a way I hadn't considered before. I'm just torn about whether to rate it four stars or five because the ending felt a little anticlimactic but at the same time I feel that endings are always the hardest to write and a lot of times end up falling short so...
September 24, 2023
- 賲丕 丕乇賵毓 鬲乇噩賲鬲賰 賷丕 "爻賴賷賱 賳噩賲"貙 賱賵 睾賷乇賳丕 丕賱兀爻賲丕亍 (丕賱賲丿賳 賵丕賱賳丕爻) 丕賱賶 丕爻賲丕亍 毓乇亘賷丞 賱賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱 毓賱賶 丕丨丿 丕賳 賷毓乇賮 丕賳賴丕 鬲乇噩賲丞 賱賳氐 丌禺乇 (亘毓囟 丕賱賰鬲賾丕亘 丕賱賲卮賴賵乇賷賳 賮毓賱賵丕 匕賱賰 亘丕賱賲賳丕爻亘丞 賵丕賮鬲囟丨 丕賲乇賴賲 賱丕丨賯丕賸).. 鬲乇噩賲丞 賲賯鬲丿乇丞.
- 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞... 丕賱賮賯乇 賷鬲賰賱賲 賲賳 噩丿賷丿貙 賵賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丞 賲賳 丕賱賴賳丿... 賳賵毓 噩丿賷丿貙 賷鬲卮丕亘賴 賲毓 賮賯乇賳丕 丕賱毓乇亘賷貙 賱賰賳 賱丿賷賴 賲賲賷夭丕鬲賴 丕賱禺丕氐丞 鬲亘毓丕賸 賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 賲噩鬲賲毓 賱丕 鬲卮亘賴 鬲賯丕賱賷丿賳丕貙 賱賰賳 丕賱乇丕亘胤 丕賱賲卮鬲乇賰 賷亘賯賶 丨丕囟乇丕賸 賮賷 丕賱兀賲毓丕亍 丕賱禺丕賵賷丞 賵丕賱匕賱!!!
- 賷毓乇囟 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 亘爻禺乇賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞貙 賱丕匕毓丞 賮賷 丕賲丕賰賳 賵鬲賴賰賲賷丞 賮賷 丕賲丕賰賳 丕禺乇賶貙 賯氐丞 胤賮賱 賲賳 丕賱賲爻鬲賳賯毓丕鬲 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞貙 賰賷賮 鬲毓賱賾賲 賳氐賮 鬲毓賱賷賲貙 賵毓賲賱 賮賷 毓丿丞 丕賲丕賰賳 亘丕賱匕賱 賵丕賱賴賵丕賳貙 丕賱賶 丕賳 賮賴賲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 噩賷丿丕賸 賵丕賳鬲賯賱 賲賳 賮卅丞 "丕賱賲賯鬲賵賱" 丕賱賶 賮卅丞 "丕賱賯丕鬲賱"!!
- 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賵丕賱鬲丿乇噩 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 賵丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賲爻鬲毓賲賱貙 賰賱賴丕 丕鬲鬲 賱鬲卮賰賱 乇賵丕賷丞 賰亘賷乇丞 丕賱丨噩賲 賱賰賳賴丕 賲鬲爻賱爻賱丞 賵爻賴賱丞 丕賱賮賴賲 賵賱丕 鬲亘毓孬 丕賱賲賱賱!
---
丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賯丿 賲乇賾鬲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 丨鬲賶 賵氐賱鬲 賱禺丕鬲賲鬲賴丕:
"賷賲賰賳賴 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞貙 賱賰賳賴 賱丕 賷爻鬲賵毓亘 賲丕 賷賯乇兀. 丕賳賴 賳氐賮 賲禺亘賵夭"
"丕鬲爻兀賱 丕匕丕 賰丕賳 亘賵匕丕 賯丿 賲卮賶 賮賷 賱丕賰爻賲丕賳睾丕乇貙.. 丕丨爻丕爻賷 賷胤丕賱毓賳賷 丕賳賴 賯丿 乇賰囟 賮賷賴丕- 亘丕賱爻乇毓丞 丕賱賲賲賰賳丞- 賵賵氐賱 丕賱賶 丕賱噩賴丞 丕賱兀禺乇賶貙 賵賱賲 賷賳馗乇 禺賱賮賴"
" 丕賳 賯氐丞 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱賮賯賷乇 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 毓賱賶 噩爻丿賴 亘賯賱賲 丨丕丿"
" 賮賷 丕賱兀賷丕賲 丕賱禺賵丕賱賷 賰丕賳鬲 賴賳丕賱賰 丕賱賮 胤丕卅賮丞 賵賲氐丕卅乇 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿. 丕賲丕 賴匕賴 丕賱兀賷丕賲 賮賱賷爻 賴賳丕賰 丕賱丕 胤丕卅賮鬲丕賳: 胤丕卅賮丞 匕賵賷 丕賱賰乇賵卮 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 賵胤丕卅賮丞 匕賵賷 丕賱亘胤賵賳 丕賱囟丕賲乇丞"
"賱賷爻 賴賳丕賱賰 丕賱丕 賲氐賷乇丕賳: 丕賳 鬲兀賰賱 丕賵 鬲丐賰賱"
"賲孬賱賲丕 賷賳丕賯卮 丕賱賲禺氐賷賵賳 賮賳 丕賱丨亘貙 賰丕賳 丕賱賲氐賵鬲賵賳 賷賳丕賯卮賵賳 丕賱丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲"
"丕賳賴 賱賷爻 睾丕賳丿賷貙 丕賳賴 亘卮乇貙 賵賱賰賳賴 賮賷 賯賮氐 丕賱丿噩丕噩. 廿賳 丕賲丕賳丞 丕賱禺丿賲 (丕賱毓亘賵丿賷丞) 賴賷 丕爻丕爻 丕賱廿賯鬲氐丕丿 丕賱賴賳丿賷 亘乇賲鬲賴"
"賴賱 賳卮賲卅夭 賲賳 爻丕丿鬲賳丕 禺賱賮 賵丕噩賴丞 賲賳 丕賱丨亘貙 丕賲 丕賳賳丕 賳丨亘賴賲 禺賱賮 賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱廿卮賲卅夭丕夭責"
"賰丕賳 賱丿賷 卮毓賵乇 亘兀賳賴 賷鬲丨鬲賲 毓賱賷賾 丕賳 丕賰賵賳 賯乇賷亘丕賸 賲锟斤拷 賯丿賲賷賴" (丕賱丿賵賳賷丞 賵丕賱丕爻鬲毓亘丕丿)
"賰丕賳 賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩 賷賮毓賱 賮毓賱賴. 賱丕 亘丿 賱賱禺丿賲 賲賳 賷賲賳毓賵丕 丕賱禺丿賲 丕賱丌禺乇賷賳 賲賳 賷氐亘丨賵丕 賲亘丿毓賷賳 丕賵 毓賲賱賷賷賳 丕賵 乇噩丕賱 丕毓賲丕賱"
" 丕賱賯賳 賲丨乇賵爻 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱"
" 賰賳鬲 丕亘丨孬 毓賳 賲賮鬲丕丨 賱爻賳賵丕鬲 賵賱賰賳 丕賱亘丕亘 賰丕賳 賲賵氐丿丕賸 丿丕卅賲丕賸"
"丕賳 賰鬲丕亘 孬賵乇鬲賰 丕賷賴丕 丕賱賴賳丿賷 丕賱卮丕亘 賷賰賲賳 賮賷 亘胤賳賰. 丕亘乇夭賴 賵丕賯乇兀"
"賲丿乇爻丞 賱丕 賷爻賲丨 賱賰 賮賷賴丕 亘廿賮爻丕丿 乇兀爻 丕賷 丕丨丿 亘丕賱賯氐氐 毓賳 睾丕賳丿賷"
"賱賯丿 賮毓賱鬲賴丕! 賱賯丿 丨胤賲鬲 丕賱賯賳"
"爻兀賯賵賱 丕賳 賷丿乇賰 丕賱賲乇亍貙 賵賱賵 賱賷賵賲貙 丕賵 爻丕毓丞貙 丕賵 丨鬲賶 賱丿賯賷賯丞貙 賲丕匕丕 賷毓賳賷 丕賱丕 賷賰賵賳 禺丕丿賲丕賸貙 丕賲乇 賷爻鬲丨賯 匕賱賰"
"丕馗賳賳賷 賲爻鬲毓丿 賱賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷 丕胤賮丕賱貙 爻賷丿賷 乇卅賷爻 丕賱賵夭乇丕亍"
- 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞... 丕賱賮賯乇 賷鬲賰賱賲 賲賳 噩丿賷丿貙 賵賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丞 賲賳 丕賱賴賳丿... 賳賵毓 噩丿賷丿貙 賷鬲卮丕亘賴 賲毓 賮賯乇賳丕 丕賱毓乇亘賷貙 賱賰賳 賱丿賷賴 賲賲賷夭丕鬲賴 丕賱禺丕氐丞 鬲亘毓丕賸 賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿 賲噩鬲賲毓 賱丕 鬲卮亘賴 鬲賯丕賱賷丿賳丕貙 賱賰賳 丕賱乇丕亘胤 丕賱賲卮鬲乇賰 賷亘賯賶 丨丕囟乇丕賸 賮賷 丕賱兀賲毓丕亍 丕賱禺丕賵賷丞 賵丕賱匕賱!!!
- 賷毓乇囟 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 亘爻禺乇賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞貙 賱丕匕毓丞 賮賷 丕賲丕賰賳 賵鬲賴賰賲賷丞 賮賷 丕賲丕賰賳 丕禺乇賶貙 賯氐丞 胤賮賱 賲賳 丕賱賲爻鬲賳賯毓丕鬲 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞貙 賰賷賮 鬲毓賱賾賲 賳氐賮 鬲毓賱賷賲貙 賵毓賲賱 賮賷 毓丿丞 丕賲丕賰賳 亘丕賱匕賱 賵丕賱賴賵丕賳貙 丕賱賶 丕賳 賮賴賲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 噩賷丿丕賸 賵丕賳鬲賯賱 賲賳 賮卅丞 "丕賱賲賯鬲賵賱" 丕賱賶 賮卅丞 "丕賱賯丕鬲賱"!!
- 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賵丕賱鬲丿乇噩 丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 賵丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賲爻鬲毓賲賱貙 賰賱賴丕 丕鬲鬲 賱鬲卮賰賱 乇賵丕賷丞 賰亘賷乇丞 丕賱丨噩賲 賱賰賳賴丕 賲鬲爻賱爻賱丞 賵爻賴賱丞 丕賱賮賴賲 賵賱丕 鬲亘毓孬 丕賱賲賱賱!
---
丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賯丿 賲乇賾鬲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱丕賮賰丕乇 丨鬲賶 賵氐賱鬲 賱禺丕鬲賲鬲賴丕:
"賷賲賰賳賴 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞貙 賱賰賳賴 賱丕 賷爻鬲賵毓亘 賲丕 賷賯乇兀. 丕賳賴 賳氐賮 賲禺亘賵夭"
"丕鬲爻兀賱 丕匕丕 賰丕賳 亘賵匕丕 賯丿 賲卮賶 賮賷 賱丕賰爻賲丕賳睾丕乇貙.. 丕丨爻丕爻賷 賷胤丕賱毓賳賷 丕賳賴 賯丿 乇賰囟 賮賷賴丕- 亘丕賱爻乇毓丞 丕賱賲賲賰賳丞- 賵賵氐賱 丕賱賶 丕賱噩賴丞 丕賱兀禺乇賶貙 賵賱賲 賷賳馗乇 禺賱賮賴"
" 丕賳 賯氐丞 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱賮賯賷乇 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 毓賱賶 噩爻丿賴 亘賯賱賲 丨丕丿"
" 賮賷 丕賱兀賷丕賲 丕賱禺賵丕賱賷 賰丕賳鬲 賴賳丕賱賰 丕賱賮 胤丕卅賮丞 賵賲氐丕卅乇 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿. 丕賲丕 賴匕賴 丕賱兀賷丕賲 賮賱賷爻 賴賳丕賰 丕賱丕 胤丕卅賮鬲丕賳: 胤丕卅賮丞 匕賵賷 丕賱賰乇賵卮 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 賵胤丕卅賮丞 匕賵賷 丕賱亘胤賵賳 丕賱囟丕賲乇丞"
"賱賷爻 賴賳丕賱賰 丕賱丕 賲氐賷乇丕賳: 丕賳 鬲兀賰賱 丕賵 鬲丐賰賱"
"賲孬賱賲丕 賷賳丕賯卮 丕賱賲禺氐賷賵賳 賮賳 丕賱丨亘貙 賰丕賳 丕賱賲氐賵鬲賵賳 賷賳丕賯卮賵賳 丕賱丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲"
"丕賳賴 賱賷爻 睾丕賳丿賷貙 丕賳賴 亘卮乇貙 賵賱賰賳賴 賮賷 賯賮氐 丕賱丿噩丕噩. 廿賳 丕賲丕賳丞 丕賱禺丿賲 (丕賱毓亘賵丿賷丞) 賴賷 丕爻丕爻 丕賱廿賯鬲氐丕丿 丕賱賴賳丿賷 亘乇賲鬲賴"
"賴賱 賳卮賲卅夭 賲賳 爻丕丿鬲賳丕 禺賱賮 賵丕噩賴丞 賲賳 丕賱丨亘貙 丕賲 丕賳賳丕 賳丨亘賴賲 禺賱賮 賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱廿卮賲卅夭丕夭責"
"賰丕賳 賱丿賷 卮毓賵乇 亘兀賳賴 賷鬲丨鬲賲 毓賱賷賾 丕賳 丕賰賵賳 賯乇賷亘丕賸 賲锟斤拷 賯丿賲賷賴" (丕賱丿賵賳賷丞 賵丕賱丕爻鬲毓亘丕丿)
"賰丕賳 賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩 賷賮毓賱 賮毓賱賴. 賱丕 亘丿 賱賱禺丿賲 賲賳 賷賲賳毓賵丕 丕賱禺丿賲 丕賱丌禺乇賷賳 賲賳 賷氐亘丨賵丕 賲亘丿毓賷賳 丕賵 毓賲賱賷賷賳 丕賵 乇噩丕賱 丕毓賲丕賱"
" 丕賱賯賳 賲丨乇賵爻 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱"
" 賰賳鬲 丕亘丨孬 毓賳 賲賮鬲丕丨 賱爻賳賵丕鬲 賵賱賰賳 丕賱亘丕亘 賰丕賳 賲賵氐丿丕賸 丿丕卅賲丕賸"
"丕賳 賰鬲丕亘 孬賵乇鬲賰 丕賷賴丕 丕賱賴賳丿賷 丕賱卮丕亘 賷賰賲賳 賮賷 亘胤賳賰. 丕亘乇夭賴 賵丕賯乇兀"
"賲丿乇爻丞 賱丕 賷爻賲丨 賱賰 賮賷賴丕 亘廿賮爻丕丿 乇兀爻 丕賷 丕丨丿 亘丕賱賯氐氐 毓賳 睾丕賳丿賷"
"賱賯丿 賮毓賱鬲賴丕! 賱賯丿 丨胤賲鬲 丕賱賯賳"
"爻兀賯賵賱 丕賳 賷丿乇賰 丕賱賲乇亍貙 賵賱賵 賱賷賵賲貙 丕賵 爻丕毓丞貙 丕賵 丨鬲賶 賱丿賯賷賯丞貙 賲丕匕丕 賷毓賳賷 丕賱丕 賷賰賵賳 禺丕丿賲丕賸貙 丕賲乇 賷爻鬲丨賯 匕賱賰"
"丕馗賳賳賷 賲爻鬲毓丿 賱賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷 丕胤賮丕賱貙 爻賷丿賷 乇卅賷爻 丕賱賵夭乇丕亍"
December 11, 2008
Well the stories of murderers and psychopaths are generally like cakes to most of us(and i am no exception). I either love such protagonists or hate them whole-heartedly. Coming to Balaram, the situation is different. I had never felt anything for him even after reading 300 pages. I didn鈥檛 even hate him and I was completely indifferent towards him mainly because I felt that his character is artificial and inconsistent.
Every time I read a cynical work or a satire I feel that I have become a bit more intelligent. But coming to White Tiger, the situation is again different. I don鈥檛 think I have become intelligent by reading the book鈥檚 take on corruption and class inequalities in India.
Though I didn鈥檛 like the book much, the one thing I really liked about it is the author鈥檚 keen observations and it is the only thing which kept me going. In my view I don鈥檛 think his social commentary on Contemporary India comes as surprising to any Indian. Maybe Westerners may find it interesting reading about the so called 鈥渞eal India鈥� or 鈥淭he Other Side of India鈥�.
P.s:- Why is it that the authors who overplay the negatives of India are so popular? Maybe because they write books about India for foreign senses and maybe it鈥檚 because they are doing a social service by bringing the 鈥渞eal unknown India鈥� into limelight. Then why is Satyajit Ray accused of 鈥渆xporting poverty鈥� by the Indians for his lively and real Indian works
Every time I read a cynical work or a satire I feel that I have become a bit more intelligent. But coming to White Tiger, the situation is again different. I don鈥檛 think I have become intelligent by reading the book鈥檚 take on corruption and class inequalities in India.
Though I didn鈥檛 like the book much, the one thing I really liked about it is the author鈥檚 keen observations and it is the only thing which kept me going. In my view I don鈥檛 think his social commentary on Contemporary India comes as surprising to any Indian. Maybe Westerners may find it interesting reading about the so called 鈥渞eal India鈥� or 鈥淭he Other Side of India鈥�.
P.s:- Why is it that the authors who overplay the negatives of India are so popular? Maybe because they write books about India for foreign senses and maybe it鈥檚 because they are doing a social service by bringing the 鈥渞eal unknown India鈥� into limelight. Then why is Satyajit Ray accused of 鈥渆xporting poverty鈥� by the Indians for his lively and real Indian works
August 16, 2020
The "White Tiger of Bangalore" is cunning, fast, intrepid-- the perfect symbol for this perfect novel that reminds the reader of characters like Scarface & friends-- Antiheroes all. Adiga's yarn is utterly engrossing; it's a mystery unraveled in the purest tradition of classic storytelling. It has that picaresque quality (which is one of the hardest tricks for a novelist to pull off, truly, really) needed to balance out all the heaviness of a constant train of melancholic events (violence and tenderness masterfully intermingled), an oppressive setting (modern day India), & a tale that when stripped of its resplendent coat of heavy whites and blacks, is all pulpy, red, meaty, nasty-- still retaining a beauty that is more than the reader expected or felt entitled to. Coincidentally, it has hints of some of my favorite books/film: Ishiguro's "Remains of the Day", Indra Sinha's "Animal's People" & Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire."
I wholly give FULL endorsement to this marvelously universal yet blissfully irreverent novel.
I wholly give FULL endorsement to this marvelously universal yet blissfully irreverent novel.
July 16, 2009
Balram Halwai grew up in the Darkness -- the immense swath of rural India where the poor vastly outnumber the rich and where the right of the rich to oppress the poor is rarely questioned.
By dint of his intelligence and ambition, he becomes the No. 2 driver to a local landlord nicknamed The Stork, and when he discovers the No. 1 driver has been hiding a secret, is able to displace him and eventually move to Delhi with the landlord's Westernized son, Mr. Ashok, and his modern wife, Pinky Madam.
Quite early in this debut novel, Balram -- writing a long letter to Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who is about to visit India -- confesses that he has murdered Mr. Ashok, a crime that enabled him to move to Bangalore and set himself up as an entrepreneur.
The flashback journey he relates in his letter describes how he came to that point, and in the process, it lays out a sardonic, seriocomic saga of the plight of India's poor. At one point, Balram tries to explain why the poor don't rise up to overwhelm their masters, and the best metaphor he can come up with is the chicken market in old Delhi, where live roosters sit powerless in cages beneath the carcasses of their freshly slaughtered brothers. He writes:
"Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that suitcase is a million, two million rupees; more money than that chauffeur will see in his lifetime. If he took the money he could go to America, Australia, anywhere, and start a new life. He could go inside the five-star hotels he has dreamed about all his life and only seen from the outside. He could take his family to Goa, to England. Yet he takes that black suitcase where his master wants. He puts it down where he is meant to, and never touches a rupee. Why?
"Because Indians are the world's most honest people, like the prime minister's booklet will inform you? No. It's because 99.9 percent of us are caught in the Rooster Coop just like those poor guys in the poultry market."
This novel won the Booker Prize this year, sparked outrage among many in India, but more than anything else, it tells an entertaining tale with the strong, distinctive voice of a man whose soul has had to move from servitude to independence, and who, despite his horrific deed, finds the freedom to live by his own standard of decency.
By dint of his intelligence and ambition, he becomes the No. 2 driver to a local landlord nicknamed The Stork, and when he discovers the No. 1 driver has been hiding a secret, is able to displace him and eventually move to Delhi with the landlord's Westernized son, Mr. Ashok, and his modern wife, Pinky Madam.
Quite early in this debut novel, Balram -- writing a long letter to Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who is about to visit India -- confesses that he has murdered Mr. Ashok, a crime that enabled him to move to Bangalore and set himself up as an entrepreneur.
The flashback journey he relates in his letter describes how he came to that point, and in the process, it lays out a sardonic, seriocomic saga of the plight of India's poor. At one point, Balram tries to explain why the poor don't rise up to overwhelm their masters, and the best metaphor he can come up with is the chicken market in old Delhi, where live roosters sit powerless in cages beneath the carcasses of their freshly slaughtered brothers. He writes:
"Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that suitcase is a million, two million rupees; more money than that chauffeur will see in his lifetime. If he took the money he could go to America, Australia, anywhere, and start a new life. He could go inside the five-star hotels he has dreamed about all his life and only seen from the outside. He could take his family to Goa, to England. Yet he takes that black suitcase where his master wants. He puts it down where he is meant to, and never touches a rupee. Why?
"Because Indians are the world's most honest people, like the prime minister's booklet will inform you? No. It's because 99.9 percent of us are caught in the Rooster Coop just like those poor guys in the poultry market."
This novel won the Booker Prize this year, sparked outrage among many in India, but more than anything else, it tells an entertaining tale with the strong, distinctive voice of a man whose soul has had to move from servitude to independence, and who, despite his horrific deed, finds the freedom to live by his own standard of decency.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2020
Really enjoyed this book and it goes in my top five favorite in a very cramped literary category, along with City of Thieves. Highly recommend this one.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson Series.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson Series.
February 4, 2011
Why would a book like this win any award whatsoever? Sigh...
July 29, 2020
Ambition
The White Tiger is a contemporary fictional account of ambition in an unbridled corrupt Indian society, where rigid social class dictates what options are available. Aravind Adiga arrived with the wave of fantastic Indian authors providing insights into their country and the restraints that shackle them to their caste system. As India transitions from a developing country to a world leader in science and technology output, it is struggling to modernise with regards equal opportunity, and equal quality of life for many of its citizens. An interesting statistic is that by 2025 it is estimated that India will surpass China as the largest populated country in the world. India鈥檚 transformation in technology, population and equality is on a major societal collision. A collision where dispassionate and amoral exploitation and hardship festers and grows.
Balram Halwai, known as The White Tiger, writes a series of letters to the Chinese President on the eve of his visit to India. In the letters he explains the differences between the two countries in terms of democracy and economic vision, then his letters unfold into a confessional statement of how he has tried to advance his career.
Balram is a chauffeur to a rich businessman in Delhi where he is exposed to wealth and a lifestyle that he believes he can only obtain if he commits certain crimes. The extremes of wealth and opportunities are so clearly presented and the book does not hide from these disparities. The story is cleverly written with great dialogue that treats us to dark humour with striking rawness. The characters and backdrop are vividly written to create sympathy and encouragement for the entrepreneurial Balram in a narrative that pulls no punches.
The White Tiger is the 2008 Booker Prize Winner and while many may feel it doesn鈥檛 deserve that accolade, including me, it is still a book well worth reading. It portrays an India in its rudimentary form, and its polarised societal structure illustrates how ambition, corruption, and values attributed to life, are so unique. It is a powerful contemporary story that I would recommend.
The White Tiger is a contemporary fictional account of ambition in an unbridled corrupt Indian society, where rigid social class dictates what options are available. Aravind Adiga arrived with the wave of fantastic Indian authors providing insights into their country and the restraints that shackle them to their caste system. As India transitions from a developing country to a world leader in science and technology output, it is struggling to modernise with regards equal opportunity, and equal quality of life for many of its citizens. An interesting statistic is that by 2025 it is estimated that India will surpass China as the largest populated country in the world. India鈥檚 transformation in technology, population and equality is on a major societal collision. A collision where dispassionate and amoral exploitation and hardship festers and grows.
Balram Halwai, known as The White Tiger, writes a series of letters to the Chinese President on the eve of his visit to India. In the letters he explains the differences between the two countries in terms of democracy and economic vision, then his letters unfold into a confessional statement of how he has tried to advance his career.
Balram is a chauffeur to a rich businessman in Delhi where he is exposed to wealth and a lifestyle that he believes he can only obtain if he commits certain crimes. The extremes of wealth and opportunities are so clearly presented and the book does not hide from these disparities. The story is cleverly written with great dialogue that treats us to dark humour with striking rawness. The characters and backdrop are vividly written to create sympathy and encouragement for the entrepreneurial Balram in a narrative that pulls no punches.
The White Tiger is the 2008 Booker Prize Winner and while many may feel it doesn鈥檛 deserve that accolade, including me, it is still a book well worth reading. It portrays an India in its rudimentary form, and its polarised societal structure illustrates how ambition, corruption, and values attributed to life, are so unique. It is a powerful contemporary story that I would recommend.
March 2, 2018
乇賵丕賷丞 丨丕卅夭丞 毓賱賶 噩丕卅夭丞 丕賱亘賵賰乇
卮乇丨 賲賮氐賱 賱丕賵囟丕毓 丕賱胤亘賯丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿 賵賳丨賳 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱丨丕丿賷 賵丕賱毓卮乇賵賳.
丕毓噩亘賳賷 賵氐賮 丕賱胤亘賯丕鬲 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞 亘兀賳 賵囟毓賴丕 賲孬賱 "賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩" 賱丕 鬲禺乇噩 賲賳賴 丕賱丕 賱賱匕亘丨.
賮丕賱毓丕卅賱丞 賲賳匕 丕賳 鬲賵賱丿 賷丨丿丿 賱賴丕 賲爻丕乇賴丕 賵賱丕 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賳 鬲禺乇噩 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱丕 亘卮賷亍 禺丕乇賯.
賵乇賰夭 毓賱賶 賳賯胤丞 丕賳 丕賱丕丿賷丕賳 丕賱毓丿賷丿丞 賵丕賱賲鬲賳賵毓丞 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿 鬲爻鬲睾賱 賱鬲賰乇賷爻 賴匕賴 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞 丕賵 丕賱毓亘賵丿賷丞.
氐乇丕毓 亘賷賳 丕賱馗賱丕賲 "丕賱賲賳丕胤賯 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞丕賵 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 賲丕" 賵丕賱賳賴丕乇 "賲賳丕胤賯 丕賱兀睾賳賷丕亍" 賮丕賱賴賳丿 禺賱賷胤 毓噩賷亘 亘賷賳 丕賱馗賱丕賲 賵丕賱賳賴丕乇. 賮禺賱賮 毓賲丕乇丕鬲 賵賮賳丕丿賯 乇丕賯賷丞. 鬲噩丿 丕賱毓卮賵丕卅賷丕鬲 賵亘賷賵鬲 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 丕賱匕賷賳 睾丕丿乇賵丕 賯乇丕賴賲 賱賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賳.
丕賱賳賲乇 丕賱兀亘賷囟 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷鬲賰乇乇 丕賱丕 賰賱 毓賯丿 . 禺乇噩 賲賳 賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩 賵賱賰賳 亘丕賳 丿賮毓 孬賲賳丕 賰亘賷乇丕 亘丕乇鬲賰丕亘 噩乇賷賲丞 賯鬲賱 賵爻乇賯丞 賵囟丨賶 亘毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賲賳 丕噩賱 賴匕丕 丕賱禺乇賵噩.
乇賵丕賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 賲賲鬲毓丞
卮乇丨 賲賮氐賱 賱丕賵囟丕毓 丕賱胤亘賯丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿 賵賳丨賳 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱丨丕丿賷 賵丕賱毓卮乇賵賳.
丕毓噩亘賳賷 賵氐賮 丕賱胤亘賯丕鬲 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞 亘兀賳 賵囟毓賴丕 賲孬賱 "賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩" 賱丕 鬲禺乇噩 賲賳賴 丕賱丕 賱賱匕亘丨.
賮丕賱毓丕卅賱丞 賲賳匕 丕賳 鬲賵賱丿 賷丨丿丿 賱賴丕 賲爻丕乇賴丕 賵賱丕 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賳 鬲禺乇噩 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱丕 亘卮賷亍 禺丕乇賯.
賵乇賰夭 毓賱賶 賳賯胤丞 丕賳 丕賱丕丿賷丕賳 丕賱毓丿賷丿丞 賵丕賱賲鬲賳賵毓丞 賮賷 丕賱賴賳丿 鬲爻鬲睾賱 賱鬲賰乇賷爻 賴匕賴 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞 丕賵 丕賱毓亘賵丿賷丞.
氐乇丕毓 亘賷賳 丕賱馗賱丕賲 "丕賱賲賳丕胤賯 丕賱賮賯賷乇丞丕賵 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 賲丕" 賵丕賱賳賴丕乇 "賲賳丕胤賯 丕賱兀睾賳賷丕亍" 賮丕賱賴賳丿 禺賱賷胤 毓噩賷亘 亘賷賳 丕賱馗賱丕賲 賵丕賱賳賴丕乇. 賮禺賱賮 毓賲丕乇丕鬲 賵賮賳丕丿賯 乇丕賯賷丞. 鬲噩丿 丕賱毓卮賵丕卅賷丕鬲 賵亘賷賵鬲 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 丕賱匕賷賳 睾丕丿乇賵丕 賯乇丕賴賲 賱賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賳.
丕賱賳賲乇 丕賱兀亘賷囟 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷鬲賰乇乇 丕賱丕 賰賱 毓賯丿 . 禺乇噩 賲賳 賯賳 丕賱丿噩丕噩 賵賱賰賳 亘丕賳 丿賮毓 孬賲賳丕 賰亘賷乇丕 亘丕乇鬲賰丕亘 噩乇賷賲丞 賯鬲賱 賵爻乇賯丞 賵囟丨賶 亘毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賲賳 丕噩賱 賴匕丕 丕賱禺乇賵噩.
乇賵丕賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 賲賲鬲毓丞
July 16, 2020
Another one of those books that I never would have read without 欧宝娱乐 reviewers.
Told in the first person, this was an engaging, funny, at times not funny, and an interesting read throughout. I read it in two sittings. After the first sitting I was thinking 4 stars just because the writing was so damn good, and after I finished I couldn鈥檛 give it anything less than 5 stars. My compliments to Aravind Adiga! 馃槉
An interesting gaggle of characters. This novel is nothing about white tigers鈥t鈥檚 a nickname given to the chief protagonist, Balram. He鈥檚 in his twenties. His mother dies early in the novel, his father is a rickshaw driver and dies of TB. He lives in the slums of Laxmangarh (northeast India). He ends up rising out of that misery by being employed in Bangalore and then New Delhi as a chauffeur/servant of rich Indians, Ashok and his wife Pinky Madam. Ashok and his brother (The Mongoose) and his father (The Stork) make money by doing shady things. Corruption is an accepted way of life in this novel. Everybody is corrupt, even Balram鈥檚 grandmother. The Stork knows where Balram鈥檚 family lives so in case Balram tries to hoodwink the clan that he works for, the clan will kill every member of his family. But somehow and someway Balram manages to make for himself a better life when all is said and done, and now we can add him to those who are corrupt, but at least he has a little more heart than those other corrupt folks around him. At least I think so. 馃
The book is divided into 7 chapters, The First Night through The Seventh Night. He is writing a letter (pretty damn long!) to the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, because the premier is visiting India and he wants to give the premier a heads up about life in India before hears a lot of propaganda from the Indian leaders on his official visit. Balram keeps on getting interrupted by this or that and ends up writing the letter over a week.
The back of the book has praise for the book from a number of other authors and reviewers and several of them comment on the wittiness, sarcasm, and hilarious aspect of the book but at the same time you are introduced to abject poverty that exists in different sections of India in cringing detail. Remind me not to bathe in the River Ganges, okay?
This novel won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
Something that stuck with me: 鈥淭he dreams of the rich, and the dreams of the poor鈥攖hey never overlap, do they? See, the poor dream all their lives of getting enough to eat and looking like the rich. And what to the rich dream of? Losing weight and looking like the poor. (p.191)
Reviews:
Wow, so much for my review. This reviewer from The Kenyon Review and a History Professor at Kenyon College lambasted the novel:
Hmm, another lukewarm review from The New York Times:
Told in the first person, this was an engaging, funny, at times not funny, and an interesting read throughout. I read it in two sittings. After the first sitting I was thinking 4 stars just because the writing was so damn good, and after I finished I couldn鈥檛 give it anything less than 5 stars. My compliments to Aravind Adiga! 馃槉
An interesting gaggle of characters. This novel is nothing about white tigers鈥t鈥檚 a nickname given to the chief protagonist, Balram. He鈥檚 in his twenties. His mother dies early in the novel, his father is a rickshaw driver and dies of TB. He lives in the slums of Laxmangarh (northeast India). He ends up rising out of that misery by being employed in Bangalore and then New Delhi as a chauffeur/servant of rich Indians, Ashok and his wife Pinky Madam. Ashok and his brother (The Mongoose) and his father (The Stork) make money by doing shady things. Corruption is an accepted way of life in this novel. Everybody is corrupt, even Balram鈥檚 grandmother. The Stork knows where Balram鈥檚 family lives so in case Balram tries to hoodwink the clan that he works for, the clan will kill every member of his family. But somehow and someway Balram manages to make for himself a better life when all is said and done, and now we can add him to those who are corrupt, but at least he has a little more heart than those other corrupt folks around him. At least I think so. 馃
The book is divided into 7 chapters, The First Night through The Seventh Night. He is writing a letter (pretty damn long!) to the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, because the premier is visiting India and he wants to give the premier a heads up about life in India before hears a lot of propaganda from the Indian leaders on his official visit. Balram keeps on getting interrupted by this or that and ends up writing the letter over a week.
The back of the book has praise for the book from a number of other authors and reviewers and several of them comment on the wittiness, sarcasm, and hilarious aspect of the book but at the same time you are introduced to abject poverty that exists in different sections of India in cringing detail. Remind me not to bathe in the River Ganges, okay?
This novel won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
Something that stuck with me: 鈥淭he dreams of the rich, and the dreams of the poor鈥攖hey never overlap, do they? See, the poor dream all their lives of getting enough to eat and looking like the rich. And what to the rich dream of? Losing weight and looking like the poor. (p.191)
Reviews:
Wow, so much for my review. This reviewer from The Kenyon Review and a History Professor at Kenyon College lambasted the novel:
Hmm, another lukewarm review from The New York Times:
February 12, 2021
3.5 Stars
I have had this book on my real life bookshelf for the past 10 years and although it came highly recommended to me the premise or the cover just never drew me in enough to actually read it. However lockdown does funny things to a reader and forgotten books are getting dusted off and finally read.
Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008, The White Tiger is Aravind Amiga鈥檚 first novel and it is quirky, heartbreaking and witty and you cant help but get drawn into this story.
Born into horrendous poverty in rural India, Balham Halwai sees his hopes of a scholarship dashed. Orphaned at a young age, Balham wants to escape his village for the city and make something of himself . He become the driver for the son and daughter-in-law of the village landlord. His time in employment creates resentment in Balham and he cant help but get drawn into the world of crime.
A fiction story that manages to engage the reader while also highlighting the poverty and corruption that is a reality for many of India鈥檚 poor.
This could have been a very depressing and difficult book had it not been for the humour. I enjoyed the characters and the bizarre situations they found themselves in. It is well written, engaging, dark and disturbing and yet a somewhat witty read. A short novel that manages to transport the reader to another world.
I just watched the Netflix movie and it was excellent and stays very true to the book, but without the humour.
While not a book for my favourites shelf I did enjoy the read and will return this one to my real life bookshelf.
I have had this book on my real life bookshelf for the past 10 years and although it came highly recommended to me the premise or the cover just never drew me in enough to actually read it. However lockdown does funny things to a reader and forgotten books are getting dusted off and finally read.
Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2008, The White Tiger is Aravind Amiga鈥檚 first novel and it is quirky, heartbreaking and witty and you cant help but get drawn into this story.
Born into horrendous poverty in rural India, Balham Halwai sees his hopes of a scholarship dashed. Orphaned at a young age, Balham wants to escape his village for the city and make something of himself . He become the driver for the son and daughter-in-law of the village landlord. His time in employment creates resentment in Balham and he cant help but get drawn into the world of crime.
A fiction story that manages to engage the reader while also highlighting the poverty and corruption that is a reality for many of India鈥檚 poor.
This could have been a very depressing and difficult book had it not been for the humour. I enjoyed the characters and the bizarre situations they found themselves in. It is well written, engaging, dark and disturbing and yet a somewhat witty read. A short novel that manages to transport the reader to another world.
I just watched the Netflix movie and it was excellent and stays very true to the book, but without the humour.
While not a book for my favourites shelf I did enjoy the read and will return this one to my real life bookshelf.
January 24, 2021
It is about stark poverty and unbridled opportunism,a wonderful story,brilliantly told.
Balram Halwai,the protagonist is a dark character,with sinister motives He comes from a background of desperate poverty,starts off as a servant,ends up as a criminal but gets what wants.
It is disturbing,and all too realistic, because there are plenty of real life parallels in the stories of servants turned criminals in the subcontinent.
This book won the Booker Prize and is a worthy winner.Usually,I'm not too keen on Booker winners,but I loved this one.It is clever,funny and very inventive.
While reviewing Mohsin Hamid's How to get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia,which is on a similar theme,I was reminded of The White Tiger.Adiga has clearly done a better job than Hamid.
While living in Pakistan,where domestic servants commit all kinds of crimes,reading The White Tiger made me shudder.
And the newspaper here are full of incidents where the worst kinds of crimes including murder and armed robbery are committed by domestic servants.
Still,labour is so cheap here that most middle class households cannot resist the temptation of hiring servants,regardless of the potential security risk they pose.
Balram Halwai,the protagonist is a dark character,with sinister motives He comes from a background of desperate poverty,starts off as a servant,ends up as a criminal but gets what wants.
It is disturbing,and all too realistic, because there are plenty of real life parallels in the stories of servants turned criminals in the subcontinent.
This book won the Booker Prize and is a worthy winner.Usually,I'm not too keen on Booker winners,but I loved this one.It is clever,funny and very inventive.
While reviewing Mohsin Hamid's How to get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia,which is on a similar theme,I was reminded of The White Tiger.Adiga has clearly done a better job than Hamid.
While living in Pakistan,where domestic servants commit all kinds of crimes,reading The White Tiger made me shudder.
And the newspaper here are full of incidents where the worst kinds of crimes including murder and armed robbery are committed by domestic servants.
Still,labour is so cheap here that most middle class households cannot resist the temptation of hiring servants,regardless of the potential security risk they pose.
March 11, 2017
To begin with, let me tell you first, of my association with this novel. I had never finished any contemporary novel, to put it bluntly, Who cares!..was my attitude towards the contemporary writers, by the time I had bought this novel.
This was my first ever contemporary novel, mainly of an Indian origin author, which I read complete. This had got that years Booker and was getting highlighted in the media. I used to think by that time that writers, worthy of reading, were only those, who were either Dickens or Shakespeares (I mean only greats of past). I constantly ignored writers of present time. I remember I had finished this book quite fast. This book was simple in language but catchy in flow.
When I talk about this book today, I鈥檒l say, it鈥檚 a dark novel, without any interesting and exciting story, written in a first person narration, addressing to Chinese Premier. A long monologue, I can say. The theme of novel is class conflict in an emerging nation, embroidered with evergreen issues of disparity, poverty and corruption. Narrator of Novel, the protagonist, Balram Halwai, comes from the region of Darkness, He defines India as鈥�
鈥淧lease understand your excellency, that India is two countries in one; an India of Light and an India of Darkness. The ocean brings life to my country, every place on the map of India near the ocean is well-off, but river brings the Darkness to India-The black river.鈥�
His disliking for the river Ganga is clear from the passage when body of his dead mother was lying on the pyre at the bank of Ganga in Benaras鈥�
鈥淎s then fire ate away the satin, a pale foot jerked out, like a living thing; the toes , which were melting in the heat, began to curl up, offering resistance to what was being done to them, Kusum shoved the foot into the fire, but it would not burn. My heart began to race, My mother was not going to let them destroy her.鈥�
Sunday Telegraph said about this book, 鈥淏lazingly savage and brilliant鈥�.
I鈥檒l say only blazingly savage but never a brilliant book, because being an Indian, I could not really recognize, Balram as someone who was from the region of darkness and deprived. Like many other readers, I also found his voice and tone superfluous and that of an outsider鈥檚.
Otherwise book is good and can influence the reader strongly with its flow and pace!
This was my first ever contemporary novel, mainly of an Indian origin author, which I read complete. This had got that years Booker and was getting highlighted in the media. I used to think by that time that writers, worthy of reading, were only those, who were either Dickens or Shakespeares (I mean only greats of past). I constantly ignored writers of present time. I remember I had finished this book quite fast. This book was simple in language but catchy in flow.
When I talk about this book today, I鈥檒l say, it鈥檚 a dark novel, without any interesting and exciting story, written in a first person narration, addressing to Chinese Premier. A long monologue, I can say. The theme of novel is class conflict in an emerging nation, embroidered with evergreen issues of disparity, poverty and corruption. Narrator of Novel, the protagonist, Balram Halwai, comes from the region of Darkness, He defines India as鈥�
鈥淧lease understand your excellency, that India is two countries in one; an India of Light and an India of Darkness. The ocean brings life to my country, every place on the map of India near the ocean is well-off, but river brings the Darkness to India-The black river.鈥�
His disliking for the river Ganga is clear from the passage when body of his dead mother was lying on the pyre at the bank of Ganga in Benaras鈥�
鈥淎s then fire ate away the satin, a pale foot jerked out, like a living thing; the toes , which were melting in the heat, began to curl up, offering resistance to what was being done to them, Kusum shoved the foot into the fire, but it would not burn. My heart began to race, My mother was not going to let them destroy her.鈥�
Sunday Telegraph said about this book, 鈥淏lazingly savage and brilliant鈥�.
I鈥檒l say only blazingly savage but never a brilliant book, because being an Indian, I could not really recognize, Balram as someone who was from the region of darkness and deprived. Like many other readers, I also found his voice and tone superfluous and that of an outsider鈥檚.
Otherwise book is good and can influence the reader strongly with its flow and pace!
September 5, 2021
讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲. 毓丕賱蹖 亘賵丿. 倬爻 丕夭 禺賵丕賳丿賳 賲鬲賵噩賴 卮丿賲 蹖讴 賮蹖賱賲 丕賯鬲亘丕爻蹖 噩丿蹖丿 鬲賵爻胤 "乇丕賲蹖賳 亘丨乇丕賳蹖" 丕夭 丌賳 爻丕禺鬲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲 讴賴 亘賱丕賮丕氐賱賴 丌賳 賮蹖賱賲 乇丕 賴賲 丿蹖丿賲 賵 賮蹖賱賲 賳爻亘鬲丕 禺賵亘蹖 亘賵丿. 丕诏乇 毓賱丕賯賲賳丿 亘賵丿蹖丿 亘亘蹖賳蹖丿:
The white tiger (2021) 7.1 Meta: 76
讴卮賵乇 賲賳 丕夭 丌賳 讴卮賵乇賴丕爻鬲 讴賴 氐乇賮 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 丌丿賲 丿賵丿賵夭賴 亘丕夭蹖 讴賳丿: 讴丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳 賴賳丿蹖 亘丕蹖丿 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丿乇爻鬲讴丕乇 亘賵丿賳 賲鬲賯賱亘 亘丕卮丿貙 賴賲 亘賴 爻禺乇賴 亘诏蹖乇丿 賵 賴賲 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿貙 賴賲 丌亘 夭蹖乇 讴丕賴 亘丕卮丿 賵 賴賲 氐丕丿賯. 氐 11 讴鬲丕亘
丿乇 乇賵夭诏丕乇 賯丿蹖賲 賴夭丕乇 讴丕爻鬲 賵 鬲賯丿蹖乇 賲禺鬲賱賮 丿乇 賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳 賵噩賵丿 丿丕卮鬲賴. 丕蹖賳 乇賵夭賴丕 丿賵 讴丕爻鬲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賳丿丕乇蹖賲: 卮讴賲 诏賳丿賴鈥屬囏� 賵 卮讴賲 讴賵趩讴鈥屬囏�. 賵 賮賯胤 丿賵 鬲賯丿蹖乇: 禺賵乇丿賳- 蹖丕 禺賵乇丿賴 卮丿賳. 氐 60 讴鬲丕亘
鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 爻賴 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 賲賴賲 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇丿: 丨氐亘賴貙 賵亘丕 賵 鬲亘 丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲. 丕蹖賳 丌禺乇蹖 丕夭 賴賲賴 亘丿鬲乇 丕爻鬲貨 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賲乇丿賲 賲丿丕賲 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 賲爻丕卅賱蹖 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賳丿 讴賴 賴蹖趩 丕禺鬲蹖丕乇蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丌賳賴丕 賳丿丕乇賳丿. 氐 90 讴鬲丕亘
趩乇丕 倬丿乇賲 賴蹖趩 賵賯鬲 蹖丕丿賲 賳丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿 丿賳丿丕賳鈥屬囏й屬� 乇丕 胤賵乇蹖 賲爻賵丕讴 讴賳賲 讴賴 賲孬賱 卮蹖乇 讴賮 讴賳丿責 趩乇丕 賲乇丕 賲孬賱 丨蹖賵丕賳 亘丕乇 丌賵乇丿賴 亘賵丿責 趩乇丕 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 賴賲賴 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 讴孬丕賮鬲貙 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 夭卮鬲蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�
賲爻賵丕讴. 賲爻賵丕讴. 鬲賮.
賲爻賵丕讴. 賲爻賵丕讴. 鬲賮.
讴丕卮 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 诏匕卮鬲賴鈥屫ж� 乇丕 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 乇丕丨鬲蹖 鬲賮 讴賳蹖 亘蹖乇賵賳. 氐賮丨丕鬲 136-137 讴鬲丕亘
亘乇賵蹖丿 亘賴 丿賴賱蹖 讴賴賳賴 倬卮鬲 賲爻噩丿 噩丕賲毓 賵 亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 丌賳噩丕 賲乇睾 賵 禺乇賵爻鈥屬囏� 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 亘丕夭丕乇 趩胤賵乇 賳诏賴 賲蹖鈥屫ж辟嗀�. 氐丿賴丕 賲乇睾 倬乇蹖丿賴 乇賳诏 賵 禺乇賵爻 乇賳诏 賵 賵丕乇賳诏 乇丕 鬲賳诏賽 賴賲 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賵乇 爻蹖賲蹖 趩倬丕賳丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵 賲孬賱 讴乇賲鈥屬囏й� 丿丕禺賱 卮讴賲 鬲賵蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屬勝堎勝嗀� 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 賳賵讴 賲蹖鈥屫操嗁嗀� 賵 乇賵蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屫臂屬嗁嗀� 賵 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 賴購賱 賲蹖鈥屫囐嗀� 鬲丕 亘賱讴賴 噩丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賳賮爻鈥屭┴篡屫� 亘丕夭 卮賵丿貨 鬲賲丕賲 賯賮爻 亘賵蹖 诏賳丿 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖 賲蹖鈥屫囏�- 亘賵蹖 诏賳丿 诏賵卮鬲賽 倬賻乇丿丕乇賽 賵丨卮鬲 夭丿賴. 乇賵蹖 賲蹖夭 趩賵亘蹖 亘丕賱丕蹖 丕蹖賳 賯賮爻 賯氐丕亘 噩賵丕賳蹖 亘丕 賳蹖卮 亘丕夭 賲蹖鈥屬嗀篡屬嗀� 賵 诏賵卮鬲 賵 丿賱 賵 噩诏乇 賲乇睾蹖 乇丕 讴賴 鬲丕夭賴 鬲讴賴鈥屫┵� 卮丿賴 賵 賴賳賵夭 丌睾卮鬲賴 亘賴 禺賵賳賽 鬲蹖乇賴 乇賳诏 丕爻鬲 亘丕 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏�. 禺乇賵爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻 亘賵蹖 禺賵賳 乇丕 丕夭 亘丕賱丕蹖 爻乇卮丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�. 丿賱 賵 噩诏乇賽 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕蹖卮丕賳 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀� 讴賴 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇卮丕賳 乇蹖禺鬲賴. 賲蹖鈥屫з嗁嗀� 亘毓丿 賳賵亘鬲 禺賵丿卮丕賳 丕爻鬲 賵賱蹖 卮賵乇卮 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�. 爻毓蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 丕夭 賯賮爻 亘蹖乇賵賳 亘蹖丕蹖賳丿. 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 丿賯蹖賯丕 賴賲蹖賳 亘賱丕 乇丕 爻乇 丌丿賲鈥屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫①堌辟嗀�. 氐 155 讴鬲丕亘
丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 蹖讴 賲卮鬲 丌丿賲 9/99 丿乇氐丿 亘丕賯蹖賲丕賳丿賴 乇丕- 讴賴 丕夭 賴乇 賳馗乇 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿貙 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 亘丕 丕爻鬲毓丿丕丿貙 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 亘丕賴賵卮鈥屫з嗀�- 胤賵乇蹖 鬲乇亘蹖鬲 讴乇丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 讴賴 丿乇 亘賳丿诏蹖 丕亘丿蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴賳賳丿貨 賵 丕蹖賳 乇丕亘胤賴鈥屰� 亘賳丿诏蹖 趩賳丕賳 賲丨讴賲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 讴賱蹖丿 丌夭丕丿蹖 蹖讴 賳賮乇 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 丿爻鬲卮 亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 賵 丕賵 賳丕爻夭丕蹖蹖 亘诏賵蹖丿 賵 丌賳 乇丕 倬乇鬲 讴賳丿 鬲賵蹖 氐賵乇鬲鈥屫з�. 氐賮丨丕鬲 157-158 讴鬲丕亘
丌蹖丕 賲丕 倬卮鬲 氐賵乇鬲 馗丕賴乇 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賳 丕夭 丕乇亘丕亘鈥屬囏й屬呚з� 賲鬲賳賮乇蹖賲- 蹖丕 倬卮鬲 氐賵乇鬲 馗丕賴乇 賳賮乇鬲 丿賵爻鬲鈥屫簇з� 丿丕乇蹖賲責 氐 168 讴鬲丕亘
毓丕賱蹖鈥屫嗀жㄘ� 丌丿賲 賵賯鬲蹖 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏ж� 丨鬲蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 禺丕乇噩蹖貙 賲蹖鈥屬举勞┴� 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 蹖讴 噩賵乇 丕賱讴鬲乇蹖爻蹖鬲賴 賵夭賵夭讴賳丕賳 丕夭 倬丕蹖蹖賳 亘賴 爻賵蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫�. 倬蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 丿蹖诏乇貙 賲孬賱 賵賯鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇 丿禺鬲乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屬举勞┷屫�. 賲賳鬲賴丕 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳噩丕 賲蹖鈥屫з佖� 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲睾夭鬲丕賳 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 亘賴 賵夭賵夭 讴乇丿賳. 氐 185 讴鬲丕亘
Standing around books, even books in a foreign language, you feel a kind of electricity buzzing up toward you, Your Excellency. It just happens, the way you get erect around girls wearing tight jeans. Except here what happens is that your brain starts to hum.
禺賵丕亘 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 賵 禺賵丕亘 賮賯蹖乇賴丕- 賴乇诏夭 亘丕 賴賲 鬲丿丕禺賱 賳丿丕乇丿貙 丿丕乇丿責
亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 鬲賲丕賲 毓賲乇卮丕賳 禺賵丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀� 讴賴 睾匕丕蹖 讴丕賮蹖 诏蹖乇卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 賵 卮亘蹖賴 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 賵 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 趩賴 禺賵丕亘蹖 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀�
讴賴 賵夭賳 讴賲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵 卮亘蹖賴 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 氐 201 讴鬲丕亘
賲乇丿賲 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 賴賳賵夭 賲賳鬲馗乇賳丿 賳亘乇丿 丌夭丕丿蹖鈥屫簇з� 丕夭 噩丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇蹖 亘蹖丕蹖丿- 丕夭 噩賳诏賱鈥屬囏ж� 讴賵賴鈥屬囏ж� 丕夭 趩蹖賳貙 丕夭 倬丕讴爻鬲丕賳. 趩賳蹖賳 趩蹖夭蹖 賴乇诏夭 丕鬲賮丕賯 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖�. 賴乇 讴爻蹖 亘丕蹖丿 亘賳丕乇爻 禺賵丿卮 乇丕 亘爻丕夭丿. 氐 271 讴鬲丕亘
The white tiger (2021) 7.1 Meta: 76
讴卮賵乇 賲賳 丕夭 丌賳 讴卮賵乇賴丕爻鬲 讴賴 氐乇賮 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 丌丿賲 丿賵丿賵夭賴 亘丕夭蹖 讴賳丿: 讴丕乇丌賮乇蹖賳 賴賳丿蹖 亘丕蹖丿 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丿乇爻鬲讴丕乇 亘賵丿賳 賲鬲賯賱亘 亘丕卮丿貙 賴賲 亘賴 爻禺乇賴 亘诏蹖乇丿 賵 賴賲 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮丿貙 賴賲 丌亘 夭蹖乇 讴丕賴 亘丕卮丿 賵 賴賲 氐丕丿賯. 氐 11 讴鬲丕亘
丿乇 乇賵夭诏丕乇 賯丿蹖賲 賴夭丕乇 讴丕爻鬲 賵 鬲賯丿蹖乇 賲禺鬲賱賮 丿乇 賴賳丿賵爻鬲丕賳 賵噩賵丿 丿丕卮鬲賴. 丕蹖賳 乇賵夭賴丕 丿賵 讴丕爻鬲 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賳丿丕乇蹖賲: 卮讴賲 诏賳丿賴鈥屬囏� 賵 卮讴賲 讴賵趩讴鈥屬囏�. 賵 賮賯胤 丿賵 鬲賯丿蹖乇: 禺賵乇丿賳- 蹖丕 禺賵乇丿賴 卮丿賳. 氐 60 讴鬲丕亘
鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 爻賴 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 賲賴賲 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇丿: 丨氐亘賴貙 賵亘丕 賵 鬲亘 丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲. 丕蹖賳 丌禺乇蹖 丕夭 賴賲賴 亘丿鬲乇 丕爻鬲貨 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賲乇丿賲 賲丿丕賲 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 賲爻丕卅賱蹖 丨乇賮 亘夭賳賳丿 讴賴 賴蹖趩 丕禺鬲蹖丕乇蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 丌賳賴丕 賳丿丕乇賳丿. 氐 90 讴鬲丕亘
趩乇丕 倬丿乇賲 賴蹖趩 賵賯鬲 蹖丕丿賲 賳丿丕丿賴 亘賵丿 丿賳丿丕賳鈥屬囏й屬� 乇丕 胤賵乇蹖 賲爻賵丕讴 讴賳賲 讴賴 賲孬賱 卮蹖乇 讴賮 讴賳丿責 趩乇丕 賲乇丕 賲孬賱 丨蹖賵丕賳 亘丕乇 丌賵乇丿賴 亘賵丿責 趩乇丕 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 賴賲賴 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 讴孬丕賮鬲貙 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 夭卮鬲蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�
賲爻賵丕讴. 賲爻賵丕讴. 鬲賮.
賲爻賵丕讴. 賲爻賵丕讴. 鬲賮.
讴丕卮 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 诏匕卮鬲賴鈥屫ж� 乇丕 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 乇丕丨鬲蹖 鬲賮 讴賳蹖 亘蹖乇賵賳. 氐賮丨丕鬲 136-137 讴鬲丕亘
亘乇賵蹖丿 亘賴 丿賴賱蹖 讴賴賳賴 倬卮鬲 賲爻噩丿 噩丕賲毓 賵 亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 丌賳噩丕 賲乇睾 賵 禺乇賵爻鈥屬囏� 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 亘丕夭丕乇 趩胤賵乇 賳诏賴 賲蹖鈥屫ж辟嗀�. 氐丿賴丕 賲乇睾 倬乇蹖丿賴 乇賳诏 賵 禺乇賵爻 乇賳诏 賵 賵丕乇賳诏 乇丕 鬲賳诏賽 賴賲 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賵乇 爻蹖賲蹖 趩倬丕賳丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵 賲孬賱 讴乇賲鈥屬囏й� 丿丕禺賱 卮讴賲 鬲賵蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屬勝堎勝嗀� 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 賳賵讴 賲蹖鈥屫操嗁嗀� 賵 乇賵蹖 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屫臂屬嗁嗀� 賵 賴賲丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 賴購賱 賲蹖鈥屫囐嗀� 鬲丕 亘賱讴賴 噩丕蹖蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賳賮爻鈥屭┴篡屫� 亘丕夭 卮賵丿貨 鬲賲丕賲 賯賮爻 亘賵蹖 诏賳丿 賵丨卮鬲賳丕讴蹖 賲蹖鈥屫囏�- 亘賵蹖 诏賳丿 诏賵卮鬲賽 倬賻乇丿丕乇賽 賵丨卮鬲 夭丿賴. 乇賵蹖 賲蹖夭 趩賵亘蹖 亘丕賱丕蹖 丕蹖賳 賯賮爻 賯氐丕亘 噩賵丕賳蹖 亘丕 賳蹖卮 亘丕夭 賲蹖鈥屬嗀篡屬嗀� 賵 诏賵卮鬲 賵 丿賱 賵 噩诏乇 賲乇睾蹖 乇丕 讴賴 鬲丕夭賴 鬲讴賴鈥屫┵� 卮丿賴 賵 賴賳賵夭 丌睾卮鬲賴 亘賴 禺賵賳賽 鬲蹖乇賴 乇賳诏 丕爻鬲 亘丕 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏�. 禺乇賵爻鈥屬囏й� 鬲賵蹖 賯賮爻 亘賵蹖 禺賵賳 乇丕 丕夭 亘丕賱丕蹖 爻乇卮丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�. 丿賱 賵 噩诏乇賽 亘乇丕丿乇賴丕蹖卮丕賳 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀� 讴賴 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇卮丕賳 乇蹖禺鬲賴. 賲蹖鈥屫з嗁嗀� 亘毓丿 賳賵亘鬲 禺賵丿卮丕賳 丕爻鬲 賵賱蹖 卮賵乇卮 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�. 爻毓蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 丕夭 賯賮爻 亘蹖乇賵賳 亘蹖丕蹖賳丿. 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 丿賯蹖賯丕 賴賲蹖賳 亘賱丕 乇丕 爻乇 丌丿賲鈥屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫①堌辟嗀�. 氐 155 讴鬲丕亘
丿乇 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 蹖讴 賲卮鬲 丌丿賲 9/99 丿乇氐丿 亘丕賯蹖賲丕賳丿賴 乇丕- 讴賴 丕夭 賴乇 賳馗乇 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 賳蹖乇賵賲賳丿貙 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 亘丕 丕爻鬲毓丿丕丿貙 亘賴 賴賲丕賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 亘丕賴賵卮鈥屫з嗀�- 胤賵乇蹖 鬲乇亘蹖鬲 讴乇丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 讴賴 丿乇 亘賳丿诏蹖 丕亘丿蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴賳賳丿貨 賵 丕蹖賳 乇丕亘胤賴鈥屰� 亘賳丿诏蹖 趩賳丕賳 賲丨讴賲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 讴賱蹖丿 丌夭丕丿蹖 蹖讴 賳賮乇 乇丕 鬲賵蹖 丿爻鬲卮 亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 賵 丕賵 賳丕爻夭丕蹖蹖 亘诏賵蹖丿 賵 丌賳 乇丕 倬乇鬲 讴賳丿 鬲賵蹖 氐賵乇鬲鈥屫з�. 氐賮丨丕鬲 157-158 讴鬲丕亘
丌蹖丕 賲丕 倬卮鬲 氐賵乇鬲 馗丕賴乇 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賳 丕夭 丕乇亘丕亘鈥屬囏й屬呚з� 賲鬲賳賮乇蹖賲- 蹖丕 倬卮鬲 氐賵乇鬲 馗丕賴乇 賳賮乇鬲 丿賵爻鬲鈥屫簇з� 丿丕乇蹖賲責 氐 168 讴鬲丕亘
毓丕賱蹖鈥屫嗀жㄘ� 丌丿賲 賵賯鬲蹖 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏ж� 丨鬲蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 禺丕乇噩蹖貙 賲蹖鈥屬举勞┴� 丕丨爻丕爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 蹖讴 噩賵乇 丕賱讴鬲乇蹖爻蹖鬲賴 賵夭賵夭讴賳丕賳 丕夭 倬丕蹖蹖賳 亘賴 爻賵蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫�. 倬蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 丿蹖诏乇貙 賲孬賱 賵賯鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 丿賵乇 賵 亘乇 丿禺鬲乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屬举勞┷屫�. 賲賳鬲賴丕 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖 讴賴 丿乇 丕蹖賳噩丕 賲蹖鈥屫з佖� 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲睾夭鬲丕賳 卮乇賵毓 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 亘賴 賵夭賵夭 讴乇丿賳. 氐 185 讴鬲丕亘
Standing around books, even books in a foreign language, you feel a kind of electricity buzzing up toward you, Your Excellency. It just happens, the way you get erect around girls wearing tight jeans. Except here what happens is that your brain starts to hum.
禺賵丕亘 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 賵 禺賵丕亘 賮賯蹖乇賴丕- 賴乇诏夭 亘丕 賴賲 鬲丿丕禺賱 賳丿丕乇丿貙 丿丕乇丿責
亘亘蹖賳蹖丿 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 鬲賲丕賲 毓賲乇卮丕賳 禺賵丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀� 讴賴 睾匕丕蹖 讴丕賮蹖 诏蹖乇卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫③屫� 賵 卮亘蹖賴 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 賵 倬賵賱丿丕乇賴丕 趩賴 禺賵丕亘蹖 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁嗀�
讴賴 賵夭賳 讴賲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵 卮亘蹖賴 賮賯蹖乇賴丕 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀�. 氐 201 讴鬲丕亘
賲乇丿賲 丕蹖賳 賲賲賱讴鬲 賴賳賵夭 賲賳鬲馗乇賳丿 賳亘乇丿 丌夭丕丿蹖鈥屫簇з� 丕夭 噩丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇蹖 亘蹖丕蹖丿- 丕夭 噩賳诏賱鈥屬囏ж� 讴賵賴鈥屬囏ж� 丕夭 趩蹖賳貙 丕夭 倬丕讴爻鬲丕賳. 趩賳蹖賳 趩蹖夭蹖 賴乇诏夭 丕鬲賮丕賯 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖�. 賴乇 讴爻蹖 亘丕蹖丿 亘賳丕乇爻 禺賵丿卮 乇丕 亘爻丕夭丿. 氐 271 讴鬲丕亘
February 15, 2009
I have just this minute finished this book and I can already tell that it will be one of those books that I will think about often. It's not a book whose plot I can easily explain, or a book that I can easily fit into a particular genre on my shelves, but my God did it pack a powerful punch. I have hardly been able to put it down between sittings.
The books is narrated via a letter from Balram Halwai, a slum-dweller-turned-driver-turned-murderer-turned-entrepreneur, to the Chinese President before the latters' trip to India and it is here that we follow Balram on an amazing journey through his life (I say "amazing" but undoubtedly typical of many in India). Although the slums of India and the government / police etc curruption is nothing I haven't come across before in books or films I still found myself shocked on almost a page-by-page basis. I liked the fact that there was no real hero in this book. There are no winners in a society like this.
This book is engrossing, shocking, humbling and eye-opening but it is narrated in such a way that there were laugh-out-load moments too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I feel a little sad now it has come to an end. I will be watching for more of Adiga's work in the future.
The books is narrated via a letter from Balram Halwai, a slum-dweller-turned-driver-turned-murderer-turned-entrepreneur, to the Chinese President before the latters' trip to India and it is here that we follow Balram on an amazing journey through his life (I say "amazing" but undoubtedly typical of many in India). Although the slums of India and the government / police etc curruption is nothing I haven't come across before in books or films I still found myself shocked on almost a page-by-page basis. I liked the fact that there was no real hero in this book. There are no winners in a society like this.
This book is engrossing, shocking, humbling and eye-opening but it is narrated in such a way that there were laugh-out-load moments too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I feel a little sad now it has come to an end. I will be watching for more of Adiga's work in the future.
January 26, 2013
I've read this book while it was still unpublished manuscript and fell in love immediately... Because it gave me the same pleasure as Vikas Swarup's Q&A...
October 21, 2019
Couldn't put this down. It's engaging, endearing, and beautifully written. Such a fantastic read.
May 22, 2008
Best contemporary novel I've read this year. Antidote for the pastel lyricism of most mainstream novels coming out of India and a wonderful social satire with savage bit. Kind of like Terry Southern's best work if he hadn't been all weeded up and goofy.
An image from it that sticks with me is how Ghandi's image gets appropriated by the current Indian bureaucracy. Whenever the narrator encounters the hanging Ghandi portrait he sees it as a symbol of "bribes work here, corruption at work". Perhaps a statement that passive non-resistance is just what a huge corporate government wants to see in its citizenry.
Also poignantly captures the vast differences between the two Indias. The upper class world of Bangalore computer outsourcing money and the servant class that still lives in the middle ages.
An image from it that sticks with me is how Ghandi's image gets appropriated by the current Indian bureaucracy. Whenever the narrator encounters the hanging Ghandi portrait he sees it as a symbol of "bribes work here, corruption at work". Perhaps a statement that passive non-resistance is just what a huge corporate government wants to see in its citizenry.
Also poignantly captures the vast differences between the two Indias. The upper class world of Bangalore computer outsourcing money and the servant class that still lives in the middle ages.
December 28, 2020
**3.5 stars**
An Unpopular opinion about A Popular novel:
Before starting, it鈥檚 better to say that nothing in here is a reminiscence of what I felt about the book when I read it when it first came out. At that time, I was just beginning to read books by Indian authors in English, and was bluffed by it entirely and recommended it to everyone. It is still recommendable, with exception of the two types:
1) Those who love India so much that they can't tolerate a single word against the country's culture, economy, social and caste difference; or to summarize indiscrimination in every bloody aspect you can think of. (Personally, I hate those lousy patriots.)
2) Those who want to form an opinion about the entire of India by reading, say 2-3 books.Opinion: Image.
"I am India's most faithful voter, and I still have not seen the inside of a voting booth."
So let's now come to the novel. On the positive part there's hardly anything new to add. The story does serve, though I daresay not fully, the purpose that it supposedly intended to. On the aspect of satire, it receives 4 out of 5 stars. However, I don't know how some people find it humorous, for not a single topic in the entire novel is even slightly funny. So Satire: Flout( I don't know for sure if it's the correct term). Not with too much dark humor either, the book is quite a direct (and rightful) attack to the Indian Government, society, administration and all that. A perfect pace, with no bragging anywhere. And Balram isn't a psychopath, either. Whatever he did was only a consequence of how the society moulded his mind. And it does ignite a fire. Most of the time people are just too sucked in the
"Rooster coop"
, as the author explained.
"Being called a murderer: fine, I have no objection to that. It's a fact: I am a sinner, a fallen human. But to be called a murderer by the police!
What a fucking joke."
If it鈥檚 so praise-worthy, then why the 'low' rating?
Firstly the storytelling isn't good enough. Actually not good at all, I think. I'm not demanding some masterpiece or even a language on the par with , please understand that. But the way Balram speaks isn't just the way some 'half-baked' (nearly illiterate, poverty driven) halwai Indian talks. Also the illustration of the so-called photogenic poverty is extremely poor and bare of words. Poor, I say, for I have seen alike places. You talk with any member of any lower(economic) class of family, and you will know the depicted image here is only half-complete. In other words I have felt that the book could have been capable of (if the author wanted obviously) carrying a picturesque image of corrupted India and her browbeaten poor. The scope is so unutilized. Also the story is disgustingly sexist. That would have been digestible if it was only so for Balram, but it wasn't so.
If you read this as the first Indian novel on the concept, you are definitely going to love this. But the fact remains that there are numerous other better underrated books out there, sadly many of which haven't even been translated for the outer world. So just don't read this expecting to be entirely blown away with sheer brilliance. I did. I was disappointed. However I wasn't when I read it without knowing the hype or awards. Hope that makes sense.
"Keep yours ears open in Bangalore - in any city or town in India - and you will hear stirrings, rumours, threats of insurrection. Men sit under lampposts at nights and read. Men huddle together and discuss and point fingers to the heavens. One night, will they all join together - will they destroy the Rooster Coop?
Ha!"
An Unpopular opinion about A Popular novel:
Before starting, it鈥檚 better to say that nothing in here is a reminiscence of what I felt about the book when I read it when it first came out. At that time, I was just beginning to read books by Indian authors in English, and was bluffed by it entirely and recommended it to everyone. It is still recommendable, with exception of the two types:
1) Those who love India so much that they can't tolerate a single word against the country's culture, economy, social and caste difference; or to summarize indiscrimination in every bloody aspect you can think of. (Personally, I hate those lousy patriots.)
2) Those who want to form an opinion about the entire of India by reading, say 2-3 books.
"I am India's most faithful voter, and I still have not seen the inside of a voting booth."
So let's now come to the novel. On the positive part there's hardly anything new to add. The story does serve, though I daresay not fully, the purpose that it supposedly intended to. On the aspect of satire, it receives 4 out of 5 stars. However, I don't know how some people find it humorous, for not a single topic in the entire novel is even slightly funny. So
"Being called a murderer: fine, I have no objection to that. It's a fact: I am a sinner, a fallen human. But to be called a murderer by the police!
What a fucking joke."
If it鈥檚 so praise-worthy, then why the 'low' rating?
Firstly the storytelling isn't good enough. Actually not good at all, I think. I'm not demanding some masterpiece or even a language on the par with , please understand that. But the way Balram speaks isn't just the way some 'half-baked' (nearly illiterate, poverty driven) halwai Indian talks. Also the illustration of the so-called photogenic poverty is extremely poor and bare of words. Poor, I say, for I have seen alike places. You talk with any member of any lower(economic) class of family, and you will know the depicted image here is only half-complete. In other words I have felt that the book could have been capable of (if the author wanted obviously) carrying a picturesque image of corrupted India and her browbeaten poor. The scope is so unutilized. Also the story is disgustingly sexist. That would have been digestible if it was only so for Balram, but it wasn't so.
If you read this as the first Indian novel on the concept, you are definitely going to love this. But the fact remains that there are numerous other better underrated books out there, sadly many of which haven't even been translated for the outer world. So just don't read this expecting to be entirely blown away with sheer brilliance. I did. I was disappointed. However I wasn't when I read it without knowing the hype or awards. Hope that makes sense.
"Keep yours ears open in Bangalore - in any city or town in India - and you will hear stirrings, rumours, threats of insurrection. Men sit under lampposts at nights and read. Men huddle together and discuss and point fingers to the heavens. One night, will they all join together - will they destroy the Rooster Coop?
Ha!"
March 25, 2022
SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!!
Balram Halwai was just called Munna (boy) when he was a child, because his relatives were 'too busy' to give him a real name.
Balram was renamed by his school teacher, a dishonest man who taught almost nothing and stole the lunch money and uniforms provided for the students.
This conduct is emblematic of Balsam's village of Laxmangarh, which Balsam calls 'the darkness' - a part of India where the majority poor population is mercilessly exploited and misused, especially by corrupt landlords.
The landlords, who bribe authorities and rig elections, live in luxury.....
鈥�..while the poor have little money; bad hygiene; ramshackle homes; crappy schools; deplorable healthcare; and so on.
Moreover the downtrodden - who work as servants, rickshaw pullers, cleaners, etc. - seem to be trapped in what Balsam calls the 'Great Rooster Coop.'
They're unable to better themselves because outside forces keep them hemmed in AND they keep themselves hemmed in with lassitude and hopelessness.
As it happens Balram was a smart boy, one of the few students in his class who learned to read. However Balram's education was cut short by a family debt - money borrowed for a wedding. When the loan was called in.....
鈥�..part of the repayment was young Balram's services in a tea shop.
Ironically, this was a blessing in disguise because Balram used the opportunity to eavesdrop and spy on the patrons, learning things that (in time) helped him get a leg up.
As the story opens, Balram has come a long way from the streets of Laxmangarh. He's now an entrepreneur in Bangalore, running a taxi company that caters to call centers, whose schedules conform to business hours in the west.
Balram learns that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is coming to India to discuss business and entrepreneurship, so he decides to tell the Premier the story of his life. Balram narrates his biography in a long letter, written over seven evenings, under the light of a large chandelier.
Balram immediately confesses that he murdered his last employer and stole 700,000 rupees, which permitted his current success.
Though much of Balram's story is grim, he tells it with forthrightness and humor. Balram begins his tale by writing about his childhood - which is bleak, and his family - which is poor and under the thumb of his domineering grandmother Kusum.
Balram goes on to explain that he's an ambitious fellow who - by dint of his planning, scheming, and powers of persuasion - manages to become the junior driver for a rich family in Dhanbad. The family is composed of a father - the Stork; older son - the Mongoose; younger son - Mr. Ashok; and Mr. Ashok's wife - Pinky Madam.
The Mongoose is the most unpleasant of the bunch, frequently shouting orders and treating the servants like thieves.
Balram's duties in Dhanbad include chauffeuring, taking care of the car.....
鈥�..cooking, cleaning, buying liquor for his employers, and massaging the Stork's feet - an activity he describes in cringeworthy detail.
The family members aren't cruel, but they treat Balram like a low class serf. A moment's lethargy earns Balram a bonk on the head and harsh words; an invitation to 'make yourself comfortable' means Balram may squat on the floor; Pinky Madam derides Balram for his rotten black teeth and dirty clothes; Balram is instructed not to listen to music or use air conditioning when he's alone in the car - often for hours, while he's waiting for a family member; the Mongoose is infuriated when he thinks Balram found a one rupee coin on the car floor and kept it; Balram sleeps in a smelly hovel shared with the senior chauffeur; etc.
Worst of all, when a member of the Stork's family is involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident, Balram is told to sign a confession and take the blame. In the end the family is able to smooth things over with bribes, but if they couldn't, Balram would have gone to prison - which is chock full of servants 'taking the rap' for their bosses.
To add insult to injury, the 'lower classes' aren't allowed to enter malls or shop in 'nice' stores.
Instead, shopping areas for poor people are tucked out of sight, where beggars and knife sharpeners congregate.
Balram's situation improves a little when Mr. Ashok and Pinky Madam move to Delhi. Balram wants to go along as their chauffeur so he blackmails the family's senior driver - who's secretly a Muslim - into quitting. In Delhi, Mr. Ashok and Pinky live on the upper floor of a luxurious apartment building.....
.....while Balram sleeps in the basement, under a mosquito net, in a hot space crawling with cockroaches.
Balram does get a higher salary in Delhi, and the opportunity to scam money on the side. Coached by a friend Balram calls Vitiligo-lips (for a skin condition) Balram learns to siphon gas from Mr. Ashok's car and sell it; use Mr. Ashok's car as a taxi; sell Mr. Ashok's empty black label liquor bottles to people who re-use them; and more.
Balram also observes some of the family's more unsavory activities, like bribing politicians and public officials so their businesses won't have to pay taxes.
When Balram contrasts the hundreds of thousands of rupees the family gives away in bribes to the one rupee coin he supposedly stole, the inequity of his situation is very clear.
As we've known all along Balram finally commits homicide and theft, knowing this will be avenged on his entire family - who'll pay with their lives. Balram doesn't care, though, and happily uses the stolen money - and lessons he learned from the rich - to become a success.
In the course of the story we also learn about Indian marriage customs.....
gods.....
family responsibility.....
red light districts.....
eating habits; and more.
On the downside, we read about the massive corruption that permeates Indian society.
I'm sure there are many fine people in India, but none of them show up in this book, which presents an unflattering portrait of India and it's population. The country's inequities result, at least in part, from India's historical caste system, and change is probably inevitable as the country matures.
I found the book enlightening and engaging, and was on tenterhooks to see how Balram committed his dastardly crime and got away with it, all of which is quite dramatic. I'd recommend the book to readers who enjoy literary fiction.
This book won the 2008 Man Booker prize, which is awarded to the best original novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom.
Author Aravind Adiga won the 2008 Man Booker Prize
You can follow my reviews at
January 23, 2024
Winner of the 40th Booker Prize, 2008, the same year it got published; a debut novel by Aravind Adiga, it turns out as one of the best few books I have read in decades by an Indian author.
"The book of your revolution sits in the pit of your belly, young Indian. Crap it out and read."
In no way it's perfect perfect.
In no way it can be that easy for a nobody to become that crazy but yes, it happens in real. And crazier things keep happening like this everyday here.
The plot is nothing that dramatic or unheard of that would happen in the country but yes, the writing is filled with a sense of urgency, a thrill, a beating pulsation that makes you go for it until the book shuts up at your face when the last word it has to offer has done its job.
After a few so called 'popular, award nominated' disappointing boring reads, this book is the one that actually lived up to whatever award it had won.
The story is kind of suspense-triller to the minimum because we are going to read everything as it keeps happening.
What makes this book different is, of course, the writing style (that makes all the difference from the beginning till the end!). And then there's this morally grey character/narrator that made the plot so upbeat and fascinating.
Not quite your typical character in most Indian books and stories, this character comes from a 'lower caste, poor, village life background who by his wit and patience (and the guts to tolerate the actual human guts, spit, sweat and all the dirtiness imaginable from body secretions and excretion, facing with a row of squatting men defecating in the slums to the dirty politics and the overall working system, from relatives with ultimate motives to the worst level of greed a person could adopt).
For me, it's one great read. The story is the story. But what it gave me were the parts which made me think. Yes, think. To think about the general notions and assumptions that we all have about what's going on around us.
And for the stereotypes being mentioned or made in the story, I feel it is relevant and it just showcased the reality. It didn't harm to anyone in particular but yes, it showed if as what it is.
The writing is clever, fast-paced and totally entertaining.
"The book of your revolution sits in the pit of your belly, young Indian. Crap it out and read."
In no way it's perfect perfect.
In no way it can be that easy for a nobody to become that crazy but yes, it happens in real. And crazier things keep happening like this everyday here.
The plot is nothing that dramatic or unheard of that would happen in the country but yes, the writing is filled with a sense of urgency, a thrill, a beating pulsation that makes you go for it until the book shuts up at your face when the last word it has to offer has done its job.
After a few so called 'popular, award nominated' disappointing boring reads, this book is the one that actually lived up to whatever award it had won.
The story is kind of suspense-triller to the minimum because we are going to read everything as it keeps happening.
What makes this book different is, of course, the writing style (that makes all the difference from the beginning till the end!). And then there's this morally grey character/narrator that made the plot so upbeat and fascinating.
Not quite your typical character in most Indian books and stories, this character comes from a 'lower caste, poor, village life background who by his wit and patience (and the guts to tolerate the actual human guts, spit, sweat and all the dirtiness imaginable from body secretions and excretion, facing with a row of squatting men defecating in the slums to the dirty politics and the overall working system, from relatives with ultimate motives to the worst level of greed a person could adopt).
For me, it's one great read. The story is the story. But what it gave me were the parts which made me think. Yes, think. To think about the general notions and assumptions that we all have about what's going on around us.
And for the stereotypes being mentioned or made in the story, I feel it is relevant and it just showcased the reality. It didn't harm to anyone in particular but yes, it showed if as what it is.
The writing is clever, fast-paced and totally entertaining.
February 9, 2013
This was a great, darkly humorous book a friend recommended to me stating that it was her favourite book of 2012. I can definitely see why.
In this novel we find Balram Halwai, a sweetmaker from a small Indian village. He is from a low caste and finds a job working as a servant/driver to a rich Indian man. Halwai eventually escapes from his caste in a very unconventional way; by killing his boss. He then narrates his actions to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, whom he admires greatly.
This book is a satire, the narrator is hilarious at times. Underneath the satirical element is the fact that India has social issues. Adiga contrasts the "New India" with the "Old India", which he calls "the Darkness." He paints the Darkness as very gross and desperate, poverty-stricken, illiterate and superstitious. The new India isn't free from criticism either; it is labelled as being rife with corruption. I guess the point Adiga is trying to make is that despite the fact that India has reaped a lot of economic successes from globalization, not everyone is benefitting from it.
Perhaps some people may think Adiga was too harsh with his portrayal of India. However, I believe Adiga is giving a voice to the voiceless; the poor in India, those living in the Darkness, those people who are illiterate, suffering from leprosy etc., and it is important not to sweep societal problems under the rug.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
In this novel we find Balram Halwai, a sweetmaker from a small Indian village. He is from a low caste and finds a job working as a servant/driver to a rich Indian man. Halwai eventually escapes from his caste in a very unconventional way; by killing his boss. He then narrates his actions to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, whom he admires greatly.
This book is a satire, the narrator is hilarious at times. Underneath the satirical element is the fact that India has social issues. Adiga contrasts the "New India" with the "Old India", which he calls "the Darkness." He paints the Darkness as very gross and desperate, poverty-stricken, illiterate and superstitious. The new India isn't free from criticism either; it is labelled as being rife with corruption. I guess the point Adiga is trying to make is that despite the fact that India has reaped a lot of economic successes from globalization, not everyone is benefitting from it.
Perhaps some people may think Adiga was too harsh with his portrayal of India. However, I believe Adiga is giving a voice to the voiceless; the poor in India, those living in the Darkness, those people who are illiterate, suffering from leprosy etc., and it is important not to sweep societal problems under the rug.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
April 5, 2022
I very much enjoyed White Tiger and blew through it in two days. I was surprised to see negative reviews here and on Amazon from Adiga's countrymen, but I understand it. However, I read it as more of an attack on humanity than India. Every country has the struggle between have's and have nots. In the USA, we may not have as much outright bribery and corruption, but we have just as much injustice. We have huge prison populations and a major homeless crisis.
The novel traded in some pacing issues and plot holes to be quick moving and engaging. I was looking for the ending to be a bit more hopeful, but at least it wasn't total despair.
Having spent some time in India, I found it a fascinating reminder of misery and hope, not just of India, but for all of humanity. India has as much, if not more spirituality, beauty, and vitality of any country but unfortunately, like so much of the world, it also has poverty, racism, and despair. IMHO, an amazing debut novel worthy of it's many awards.
The novel traded in some pacing issues and plot holes to be quick moving and engaging. I was looking for the ending to be a bit more hopeful, but at least it wasn't total despair.
Having spent some time in India, I found it a fascinating reminder of misery and hope, not just of India, but for all of humanity. India has as much, if not more spirituality, beauty, and vitality of any country but unfortunately, like so much of the world, it also has poverty, racism, and despair. IMHO, an amazing debut novel worthy of it's many awards.
August 29, 2014
"If we were in India now, there would be servants standing in the corners of this room and I wouldn't notice them. That is what my society is like, that is what the divide is like."--Aravind Adiga
The White Tiger, The Man Booker Prize winner of 2008, has unsettled critics and readers alike. It is a provocative book as it paints an unflattering portrait of India as a society racked by corruption and servitude, exposing the country's dark side. This grim world is far removed from the glossy images of Bollywood stars and technology entrepreneurs.
--The author
The entire novel is narrated through seven letters by Balram Halwai, an exceedingly charming, egotistical admitted murderer, to the Premier of China, who will soon be visiting India.
Balram is an Indian man from an impoverished background, born into the 'darkness' of rural India. His family is from the Halwai caste, a caste that indicates sweet-makers. His village is dominated and oppressed by four landlords. Balram gets a break when he goes to work for one of the landlords, and then ends up moving to Delhi via a job as driver to Mr Ashok, the landlord's son. From behind the wheel of their Honda City car, Balram's new world is a revelation; crime, corruption, greed, adultery, prostitution and alcohol abuse.
I enjoyed this book. Caught up in Balram's world, and his wonderful turn of phrases, the pages turned themselves, brimming with idiosyncrasy, sarcasm, cunning, and often hilarious.
A splendid, perceptive book. A narrative genius.
The White Tiger, The Man Booker Prize winner of 2008, has unsettled critics and readers alike. It is a provocative book as it paints an unflattering portrait of India as a society racked by corruption and servitude, exposing the country's dark side. This grim world is far removed from the glossy images of Bollywood stars and technology entrepreneurs.
--The author
The entire novel is narrated through seven letters by Balram Halwai, an exceedingly charming, egotistical admitted murderer, to the Premier of China, who will soon be visiting India.
Balram is an Indian man from an impoverished background, born into the 'darkness' of rural India. His family is from the Halwai caste, a caste that indicates sweet-makers. His village is dominated and oppressed by four landlords. Balram gets a break when he goes to work for one of the landlords, and then ends up moving to Delhi via a job as driver to Mr Ashok, the landlord's son. From behind the wheel of their Honda City car, Balram's new world is a revelation; crime, corruption, greed, adultery, prostitution and alcohol abuse.
I enjoyed this book. Caught up in Balram's world, and his wonderful turn of phrases, the pages turned themselves, brimming with idiosyncrasy, sarcasm, cunning, and often hilarious.
"Apparently, sir, you Chinese are far ahead of us in every respect, except that you don't have entrepreneurs. And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewerage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy, or punctuality, does have entrepreneurs. Thousands and thousands of them. Especially in the field of technology."There was also a great deal of sadness in the book, especially the treatment of the underclass who built the city, and are trapped there, hidden from plain view, employed in poor conditions and at low grade jobs, and in some cases held in slavery conditions. Balram refers to this as the "rooster coop".
"Hundreds of pale hens and brightly coloured roosters, stuffed tightly into wire-mesh cages, packed as tightly as worms in a belly, pecking each other and shitting on each other, jostling just for breathing space; the whole cage giving off a horrible stench 鈥� the stench of terrified, feathered flesh."The White Tiger brilliantly portrays the emotions, sorrows, and aspirations of the poor. For Adiga, his achievement is capturing a stirring, a glimmer of a refusal by the poor to accept the fate ordained for them by their masters.
A splendid, perceptive book. A narrative genius.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,387 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.