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Shantaram
 
 

Shantaram [Kindle Edition]

Gregory David Roberts
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (462 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £9.99
Kindle Price: £4.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
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Product Description

Review

A literary masterpiece ... at once erudite and intimate, reflective and funny ... it has the grit and pace of a thriller (DAILY TELEGRAPH)

Powerful and original ... a remarkable achievement (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH)

Extraordinarily vivid ... a gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga (DAILY MAIL)

A publishing phenomenon (SUNDAY TIMES)

Sunday Telegraph

'Powerful and original ... a remarkable achievement'

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1526 KB
  • Print Length: 943 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0349117543
  • Publisher: Abacus; New Ed edition (28 Jun 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B008B8DY2O
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (462 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #656 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story 4 Jun 2012
Format:Paperback
I have had this book on my shelf for nearly five years and was always put off reading it due its size and weight (hardly the easiest thing to lug around on the daily commute).
Finally I made the effort to read it, and for me, it was a book of two halves (first half I loved, and the other half I found disappointing).
Overall, this is a great adventure-packed story. It's easy to read and a good book to immerse yourself in on holiday. But don't expect a literary masterpiece (as the cover claims), as it certainly is not.
I found the first half especially gripping, in fact I could hardly put the book down. From page 600 onwards, however, I found myself becoming really quite bored and frustrated with the poor quality of writing and by how much the story was being dragged out. As I progressed through the book, the poor writing and fluffy nonsense-philosophy resulted in many an eye rolling moment, or I'd find myself cringing at the pure cheesiness of it. Had it been 300 pages shorter, I don't think this would have been the case.
The disappointment for me came from the fact that Shantaram really got me hooked to begin with, but the last 200 pages I was genuinely willing it to end!
Still, I'm glad I've finally read it, and would recommend it to others provided they're not expecting prize winning literature (as some of the reviews on the inside cover make out)!
Also, note to the publisher - consider publishing Kindle version, would make it a lot more portable!
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Immersive and evocative read 11 April 2005
By dhbooks
Format:Paperback
Based on a true story, the tale of a wanted Australian ex-convict who moves to Bombay; sets up a medical clinic in the slums; joins the Indian mafia and even goes to war in Afghanistan is gripping stuff. Those looking for a thriller or fast-paced ride will be disappointed - whilst Roberts includes plenty of action, he also vividly describes not only his surroundings but also his personal interactions with the residents and foreign nationals in Bombay. It is in this way that Shantaram excels, as a tale of how Roberts fits into the hugely varied Bombay lifestyle. In one way, Shantaram is almost a love story, with many of Roberts' actions revolving around a woman he loves - however, his propensity for getting into various dangerous situations meant that I couldn't put the book down. Whilst it is quite long, almost 1,000 pages of small type, it will keep you entertained and fascinated throughout, with Roberts' descriptions of India totally immersing you in his experiences.
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170 of 187 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Confused? 3 April 2007
Format:Paperback
Hmmm...I've read with interest the reviews of this book and I think that you'll agree they are somewhat polarised!

My reading tastes are quite varied, from the Classics to Alex Garland and although I will try to be as objective as possible, the fact is that I really enjoyed this book.

Firstly, I am motivated to write a review for this book because I am at a loss as to how anyone could so vehemently be opposed to it without having an axe to grind with the author, (as opposed to reviewing the actual story), but predominantly because, like other reviewers here, I absolutely loved it and naturally want to share my enthusiasm and recommend it to others.

For me, Shantaram is a truly engaging read. It is exceptionally well paced and will take you on a journey that will, at times, leave you breathless and unable to turn the pages quickly enough. The authors' consummate depiction of character, place and drama will absorb you entirely in a relentless mêlée between the most noble and absolute base capabilities of human nature. Love, loathing, beauty, repugnance, tenderness and brutality - it's all here, in spades. However, there are two sections of this book which will enable you to catch up and assimilate, placed roughly at intervals between the first and second third of the narrative, and again between the second and third section. Believe me, you'll need these opportunities to relax a little.

The story of Lin, his travels, trials, dilemma and relationships with the individuals within the book are both enthralling and captivating in extremis. I would make claim that it is easily placed in my top five `you must read this' books.
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135 of 153 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars sometimes excellent but sometimes awful 8 Jun 2008
Format:Paperback
This book is less a story than an epic journey - with emphasis on 'epic'. At over 900 pages it requires some stamina and will power to finish. Luckily, much of the story is a joy to read: there are parts of this book that are brilliant, for example Lin's experiences in an Indian prison and as a soldier in Afghanistan are truly memorable. The descriptions of Bombay bring vividly to mind a colourful, lively, characterful place which borders on lawlessness but is held together by an 'Indian' warmth and love. Roberts' great respect for India shines through at every stage, even when describing its more ugly aspects.
However, the thing that really lets this book down is its huge sense of its own importance. If this novel were a person, I get the feeling it would be a David Brent style character, with an inflated sense of its own importance in the world, demanding the full attention of everyone like a party bore. It is full of purple prose, some so bad I winced to read it - for example, 'some things are so sad that only your soul can do the crying for you'. It is also full of philosophies on life, drawn out and irrelevant to the story line. The narrator is constantly describing himself as a 'tough man' which grates after a while: we get it, you're very macho and brave and intelligent but also soft and kind and noble. the narrator seems to have a very high opinion of himself. he even tries to put a noble spin on his past crimes by justifying his choice of armed robbery over other crimes such as house burglary.
this book could have been brilliant with a strict editor: if it was halved in length, lost the purple prose and the main character was occasionally weak or stupid (as all human beings are from time to time). it is still brilliant, sometimes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this
Amazing book, you have to read it. Thought provoking and touching, sad, happy, hundreds of emotions and really makes you think about life. Also makes you love India.
Published 17 hours ago by Sarah Southern
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Long
It took me ages to complete this epic book but I was determined to do so and glad I did.
I found the life in Bombay fascinating which kept me going to the end. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Jo.T
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE-I'm in LOVE
If you did't travel to India before - or if you know nothing about the culture etc. - you will now after reading Shantaram. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Maryann Kristensen
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible.....
What a great read. Just couldn't put it down. Well written and the fact that its based on a true story is amazing. Everyone should read this.
Published 5 days ago by solface
4.0 out of 5 stars Shantaram
As soon as you read the first page you are in the book. Bombay, you can feel the heat ,smell the smells , the characters are brought to life. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Diana Birch
5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
Written beautifully and truly heartfelt.
Gregory David Roberts is a gifted writer and storyteller. Definitely a must read before the Hollywood Film is created in its honor!
Published 8 days ago by Tania Rahman
5.0 out of 5 stars fall in love with India.
A great story, and an engaging read. You don't get the feel of the weight or length of the book when reading on a kindle, so you have to persist when it feels a bit too long. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Shaney
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great adventure, mesmerising !
From the first page to the last, I was engrossed in a world of color and adventure made more remarkable for being based on a real life experience. Highly recommended
Published 18 days ago by Larry V
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic
I lived in Bombay every moment of this book! Thank you for writing this book. It was quite fascination journey Linbaba goes through but this is how life is, there are ups and... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Virdi
5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down
This is a fantastic book about the crazy life of an Aussie guy living on the run in Bombay. I couldn't put it down! :-)
Published 22 days ago by Southampton girl
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