“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 by Gregory David Roberts, set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who … 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.
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Now that I travel to India fairly regularly, appreciate the insights and perspective of this book, as it is mostly a memoir that has been fictionalized to protect both the innocent and the guilty, while giving good insights into the multi-tier society that is India. I like my books big and long which may not be for everyone, but the characters, prose and interlocking stories kept my interest to the end, which I did not want to come. Worth the investment of time and brain energy if you want to know how an outsider gets embedded in India society, rich, poor, good, & bad.
Unrealistic. I doubt it is historical. I don’t recommend it.
This book was amazing. When I was reading it, I felt I actually was in Mumbai. It was one of the most amazing books, I have read in a long tim
Semi-autobiographical epic adventure that invites you along to tour the mean streets of modern Bombay. Magical and gritty, frightening and romantic.
There are only a few books that I read more than once; Shantaram is one of them. Because I first read Shantaram about five years ago, I wanted to refresh the story in my mind before starting Mountain Shadow, the sequel. It is still one of the best, most profound books I’ve ever experienced.
Best book I’ve ever read!
Magic
Well-written, always a pleasure to read. Incredibly long, so I’m taking a break to read fluff. The only criticism I can think of is that the author sometimes makes heavy, meaningful-seeming observations. I have to stop and consider if a pronouncement is really as deep as it appears. Also, are residents of India really as open and child-like as the author portrays them? Probably not, but it makes for engaging characters.
Shantaram is a fantastically original book. A lot of it takes place in a dreadful slum in India. The author is on the run from the law and takes shelter in the slum. Amidst all the poverty and scarcity, he learns to see the wealth of love and connection the people share there. It’s just wonderful.
The rest of the book is a more normal, but still interesting action story about criminals and running from the law. There’s no way to tell how much of the book is autobiographical and how much is made up – I think it’s both.
It’s one of my favorite books.
Mesmerizing. A spellbinding story, beautifully written. It’s unbelievable that this is a first book for the author. I didn’t want it to end. His writing is so captivating I found myself reading passages over again.
I had a hard time putting down this book
I will never think about India the same way after reading this book. One of my favorites.
This book was engrossing.
Thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a few years since I read it but engrossing and I would recommend
This is one of those rare books that stays with you forever. I was fascinated by the portrayal of life in an Indian slum neighborhood. I highly recommend it.
I read this book before a trip to India – it helped me to understand the poverty and the joy and difference one man made in the stark realities in India.
I loved what I read. I read to the part where he went to war, and skipped to the end. It was enjoyable, but he could have stopped where I stopped. His writing was well done!
Fantastic tale, makes you wonder how much of it is true. And totally makes you want to explore the world. A must read for those with wanderlust. A movie is on the works. Could be great.
Wonderful One of my all time favourites
Completely fake. Pompous. Plain stupid.
And this from someone who also lived in India.