DLR LIBRARY BLOG

Shantaram

Gregory David Roberts

This is a wonderful, massive, slightly over the top book. What people would call "a thumping good read". The story is based on the author's real life experiences and my god the man has lived enough to ensure that this novel is a sensational read.

I adored this book and often made a complete fool of myself by roaring with irrepressible laughter while reading it in public. I shed a tear or two but thankfully this was in private!!!!

Crime, punishment, passion, loyalty, betrayal amd redemption are only a few of the ingredients in Shantaram. However the outstanding feature for me was the author's love for the city of Bombay and her citizens, and this shines out of his writing.

At the start of the novel we meet a young Australian man arriving in Bombay. Lin is  travelling on a false New Zealand passport, and has escaped from an Australian prison.
On his first day in Bombay Lin meets a young Indian tour guide Prabaker.( In my opinion the outstanding character of the book.) Through Prabaker, Lin learns to speak Marathi, lives for six months in a small rural village, and sets up a free medical clinic for the impoverished people living in one of Bombay's shantytowns.

The characters in this novel are all memorable and remarkable, especially Karla, an enigmatic Swiss-American woman, with whom Lin swiftly falls in love, Abel Khader Khan, the head of the Bombay mafia, who becomes a guru and a father like figure to Linbaba, Johnny Cigar, his friend and neighbour in the slums, Lisa, a young prostitute and heroin addict. And of course the previously mentioned Prabaker, whose character literally bounces off the pages and into your heart.

I would recommend this book to anyone. Roberts who wrote the original draft for the book in prison, pours his heart and soul into the writing and it shows. His story is irresistible. Enjoy!!!!

Elaine