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** spoiler alert ** Wow.

That was my initial thought on finishing this book. I can't even begin to put into words my feelings about the author and the story of his life.

Shantaram made for some heavy, yet mesmerizing, reading. It took me an age to finish, because I wanted to absorb all of it, and therefore felt like I wasn't doing the book justice if I simply rushed it.

Roberts has been through much more than your average person. Granted, a lot of it was because of things he had done, however even he didn't deserve the cruel beatings he was forced to endure in the Arthur Road prison. On the flip side of this, he also experienced a lot of love. This book shows the kind-hearted nature of the Indian population - even down to the hardest criminals.

I found this book inspirational. Roberts talks openly about the crimes he committed, and their consequences. Yes, he should have served his time in prison instead of running. After breaking out, however, a lot of the things he did in India (for example the free health clinic in the slums) went towards repaying those dues. He rebuilt his life, even though his past meant that he was constantly on the run, and proved that people really can change.

I liked the philosophical side to this book, and found that there were many passages which spoke to me. I especially liked Khader's take on life, the reasons for us being here and people's moivations for the things they do and the choices they make.

The friendships built within the book were heartwarming. I was particularly touched by the author's relationship with Prabakar. I cried like a baby when he died. The author does such a wonderful job of capturing the essences of all the people referred to in the book, and I felt like I really knew some of them.

This account of the author's incredible journey made for compelling reading and I was sad to finish the book. I know that the story and its lessons will stay with me for a very long time.