Shantaram

Gregory David Roberts

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Awards

Shortlisted for Nielsen BookData/ABA Book of the Year Award - Booksellers' Choice 2003.

Shortlisted for Commonwealth Writer's Best First Book for the Pacific Region 2004.

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Description

'It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured.' So begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter Bombay's hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere. As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city's poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals. The keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin are held by two people.
The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the underworld of the Golden City. The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful, whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and yet give her a terrible power. Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas - this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart. Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.

Discussion

dancingshoes rated this book

Agree, one of the best books I've ever read. Unbelievable that it is based on a true story. Took you on an amazing adventure, with some memorable characters ever.

4 months ago...

gracemj rated this book

I absolutely LOVED this book! One of the best books I've ever read. If you like The Kite Runner, this is probably a good book for you.

5 months ago...

Mimsy

Shantaram

A journey of immense proportions.

Chuck full of spoilers, so stop here if you like being surprised and are planning on reading the book yourself. If so, go for it – good book.

Shantaram is the story of a man’s journey from golden promise of youth with an endless horizon to quite possibly the lowest depths a man could descend and still return as human.

It starts at a point long past the golden era in the man’s life, perhaps; the old Victorian novels have covered the major a... more

Banjo likes this

halo commented:

It was, it just didn't seem to 'fit' with the flow of the story, but it's an essential part of the tale, as a whole. I just think I would have preferred it in the sequel...

1 year ago...

maggiegayle commented:

I read this book when it first came out and absolutely loved it. I passed it on 2 two of my sons and their wives and we all loved it. I was sad to finish the book as I felt like some of the characters were people in my life. We all still talk about it. There were some really beautiful moments as well as many sad and dark moments but would recommend it

1 year ago...

View 11 comments

Verns rated this book

Shantaram would be an extraordinary book as a novel, but is based on a true story, which makes it astonishing. It is part thriller, part romance, part travelogue, part autobiography, part philosophical treatise. Above all, it is a book about humanity. Add the fact that it is beautifully written, and you can see why so much praise has been heaped on the book. It's a long book, but I devoured every word and found it very difficult to put down. I have recommended it to everybody I know (as well as a complete stranger in W H Smith!).

2 years ago...

gemmastrevens rated this book

I am nearing the end of my first read of AMAZING book ... (that a friend recommended, and i 'm so grateful that she did) i just can't wait to begin again !! All my friends will be getting a copy for Christmas as i dare let mine out of my sight as it is now complete with post it notes, highlighter marks and dog eared pages. This book will take you on a roller coaster journey of love, lonliness, violence , determination and endurance...and is full of thought provoking thoughts and quotes that have made me re assess my whole life !!!! It has to be the best book i have EVER read. My only regret is that i did not read it before going to India myself ( i would have hot footed it to Leopolds for a beer right away ).However, having been on the ferry in Panjim city, Calangute, Anjuna and various other parts of Goa ,i can see why Gregory had developed such a strong passion for this incredible country. Gregory is a legend writer, and i could smell India as i turned the pages of this deep and very intricate book. I will be sad to reach the end and have pre ordered " the mountain shadow" the sequel due out 2010. I only hope they do not make this book into a motion picture ...as i just can't see how, or if they would ever be able to do this book and the characters the justice it deserves?

2 years ago...