Semi-autobiographical phenomenon. (Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts)

Member Name: supermanj

Product:	Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
Date:	16/09/08 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: vivid, well written, original, thrilling, descriptive, educative, great dialogue

Disadvantages: sometimes painfully real, shows a very dark side, quite long

The groundbreaking novel 'Shantaram' spans the world between fact and fiction seamlessly. Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and Heroin addict escaped from an Australian prison. After adopting the name Lin he eventually fled to India, a country he fell in love with. Embracing the wonderful culture Robert's learned Hindi and Marathi, the majority of the latter was learned in a remote village. He returned to Mumbai and began living in a slum, establishing a free health clinic for the slum dwellers. The epic novel follows his entrancing life in India, detailing his involvement with the mafia as a money launderer, forger and street soldier before being thrown in an Indian prison. The novel follows him to Afghanistan where he fought with the Mujahadeen.

This gripping novel, which is substantial to hold, is a breeze to read. You won't want to put it down. The writing style is clever and descriptive enough t immerse you in a story where you quickly move from adventure to adventure, top of the world to heartache. This novel which Robert's wrote 3 times due to it being repeatedly destroyed in prison is worth the wait. Not only is it an education about India and its culture, it shows the unseen Bombay underworld and takes you on a roller coaster ride of literary brilliance.

Phenomenal.

Summary: a thrilling read, rollercoaster of emotions