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Shantaram | 
| Author: Gregory David Roberts
Publisher: Abacus
Category: Book
New (31) Used (7) from £5.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  102 reviews
Sales Rank: 483
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 944
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.2 x 2
ISBN: 0349117543
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780349117546
ASIN: 0349117543
Publication Date: March 24, 2005
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| Customer Reviews: Read 97 more reviews...
 A Curried Curate's Egg November 18, 2008
Having successfully extricated himself and his huge ego from an Australian prison, heroin addict and armed robber Gregory David Roberts flees to Bombay. This powerful but flawed book documents the following 8 years during which GDR rises from the slums and embarks on an impressive portfolio of work experience including unofficial doctor, gangster, bollywood actor and jihadist. Along the way he amasses a wonderful array of friends and admirers, enriches many peoples lives, falls in love and gains deep and profound insights into the meaning of life. The first few chapters describing his arrival and early days in Bombay are superb; I was enthralled by GDR's vivid depiction of the sights, sounds and smells of his new city and the character Prabaker is a delight. However, as the story powers forward cracks begin to appear. The authenticity of the events and people he describes begin to sound suspect and his constant self promotion starts to grate as do the mangled metaphors about his love for the distinctly unlovable Karla. None of this is made any easier to swallow by the sickly dollops of cod-philosophy he serves up at regular intervals. I have since found out that a lot of his experiences have been significantly "embellished" for the book and this leaves me feeling somewhat deceived as the book is supposed to be a "true story". I suppose I am even more disappointed by the fact that this deception is unnecessary; there is undoubtedly a tremendous story at the heart of this book and GDR shows in places that he really can write.
3 stars seems a bit harsh for this book but I can't give it 4 for the above reasons. Despite its flaws I would recommend this book to anyone - it's not a book you can easily put down or forget. I hope he finds a good editor and develops a confidence in the truth behind his writing as there is a potential 5 star book in him somewhere and should he ever find it, I would love to read it.
 Great story but let down by some awful prose November 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a fantastically engaging story, and although over 900 pages long it keeps you turning the pages to see the outcome of his latest escapade. However I agree with some reviewers in that sometimes the descriptive abilities of the author, especially with regards to love scenes are pretty appalling. Phrases like `I was her chariot and she rode me into the sun' just leave you agape thinking "Did I REALLY just read that right??" Its like something from a rejected Mills and Boons novel. He seems far more confortable when dealing with scenes of vioplence and `adventure' which is understandable given his background. This is the books main strength; these parts of the story are brilliantly written and clearly come from experience.
This brings me to my 2nd little niggle with this book, you have no idea what really happened to the author beyond the fact that he was in the Bombay mafia, went to Afganistan etc. Ok so its meant to be fiction, but I would have loved a little chapter explaining who he based his characters on, which events actually happened as he wrote them, would have made the book that much more interesting. As for the moral aspect, clearly the guy is no saint, but its not down to the reader to judge a semi fictional account of the author, its his own.
So those two things aside I would highly recommend this book, it gives a unique insight into India's underworld, and is a great story as well. Im reading it for the second time and losing sleep rapidly.
Walter Mitty with violence November 6, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Oh poor, poor, me! I am an educated person , but got hooked on drugs! I just had to rob and terrify innocent people using threats and violence. I ruined my wife's, family's and community's lives and turned my back on them. Not too much insight in this book on how he could have taken a different path. He glosses over his violence and torture, ("persuading" the 3 Africans to tell who had sent them), sets himself up as a Florence Nightingale, wallows in his own suffering, accepts a return to violent and extortionate crime and in turn abandons the people who came to love and rely on him. Spouts flowery prose one minute, gouges an eye out the next and expects the reader to empathise with him. Good read about a dangerous criminal who obviously adores himself. I believe he is a vain, delusional and dangerous character. Unfortunately, for my self-righteous rant, he is a good storyteller.
 Appalling October 3, 2008
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was appalled by this book on several levels: the abysmal writing, the complete lack of editorial judgement (it could have been cut by at least 50%), the author's vastly inflated opinion of himself and his views on life, but most of all by the awful glorification of crime. For those who have submitted rave reviews of this book did they forget the fact that this man was convicted af armed robbery and sentenced to 19 years in prison? Despite his claims that he is "born again" in India and becomes a "Man of Peace" (the meaning of Shantaram) he goes on to join the Bombay Mafia, becoming involved in drug smuggling and passport forgery!! And yet his experiences are held up as examples of "what the human spirit can endure." Mr Roberts tells us on his website that he has learnt to "love and to forgive." He is very good at portraying himself as a victim but does he ever seek forgiveness from those who are the victims of his own crimes?? I find it remarkable that readers seem to be able to "gloss over" the fact that through choice he returns to the world of crime again and again. Why is this an "incredible journey"??! Don't bother reading this and don't BUY it - the man has made enough money out of this already!
 Powerful and stunning read October 1, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was a truly amazing read. It hooks you in and then will not let go. You live and breathe Bombay in the '80's and all the vibrant and diverse people who lived there. Gregory David Roberts is on a journey and you are right there with him whether you want to be at that particular moment or not. You find yourself living in a different world with people of many different experiences and mind sets, and yet you realise that there is always something to learn. I suppose that is what makes the book so appealing, it is dealing with the real world good and bad, dignified and shabby. Gregory David Roberts is obviously a deep thinker and is clearly drawn to philosophy and he captures in his writing the ability to portray the world on his terms warts and all. Highly recommended.
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