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Rating: 4 stars


This is the story about a formerly corrupt tourist guide turned holy man, via mistaken identity. The book takes place in the fictitious town of Malgudi in southern India. Apparently, many of Narayan's novel take place in this make-believe locality.

Narayan is a great storyteller. His storytelling is reminiscent of that seen in the retelling of traditional folklore. The book is rich in cultural references and traditions of southern India. Also, the book is a light read compared to the more heavy Indian novels (and most of the novels in general) on the 1001 list.

4 stars. Read in 2013

Raju was a much sought after guide but through a series of events he lands himself in prison. Upon his release from prison and having no place to go he ends up at a Temple. He is mistaken as a holy man and embraces his new character. “The essence of sainthood seemed to lie in one's ability to utter mystifying statements��. The story is told in both past and present. We learn about Raju as he is growing up and how he got into his current predicament. This is a humorous story and it was exactly the kind of book I wanted to read. Sometimes it is finding the right book at the right time.

This is the second Narayan book I’ve read: I found a collection of short stories of his called “Malgudi Days�� at a second hand shop years ago and read it on the beach. So, I’m well acquainted with Malgudi already. While I liked The Guide, I thought the short stories were actually stronger and years later many of them have stayed with me in a way I don’t think this book will. Raju’s life story is amusing enough, and I liked how this book explored the themes of farce in spirituality, but ironically this book about a guru was missing the special something that made it transcendent for me. Would recommend Malgudi Days though. I gave this one 3 stars.

Charming novel set in the fictional Indian town of Malgudi. We meet Raju, the guide of the title, as he leaves prison and seeks refuge in an abandoned temple. As he gradually makes contact with the outside world through Velan, a peasant who takes Raju for a holy man, he reveals his past life as a tourist guide and the events (and people) that brought him to where he is.

I love R K Narayan’s novels - so sweet and simple on the surface, but packed full of perceptive observations on human nature and encompassing myths and cultural themes into his view of a modernising India. There is humour and irony in Raju’s story, but also poignant moments and episodes of surprising intensity. And when this ordinary man comes to face his past delusions and his present destiny, it is handled with beautiful subtlety and understated charm.

The novel combines past and present timelines that tantalisingly reveal Raju’s story - the former is told in the first person by Raju as a kind of confessional and the latter in a third person narrative. The approach is easy to follow and helps engage the reader with Raju who is always at the centre of events. I also enjoyed the way Indian culture and society forms the backdrop to the story - particularly the art of traditional dance, and the figure of the Swami.

After Raju is released from prison in southern India, he takes up residence in a deserted temple and soon finds himself being treated as a holy man. As we hear how this develops, he tells in the first person the tale of how he went from being a small-time shopkeeper to a people-pleasing tour guide fascinated by a traditional Indian dancer called Rosie, and how that led him into prison.

It's a wonderful comedy of errors with a very obtuse anti-hero. All the characters seem to fall into every trap that life lays for them, but Raju falls harder than most.