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The White Tiger | 
| Author: Aravind Adiga
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 17
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.5
ISBN: 1843547201
EAN: 9781843547204
ASIN: 1843547201
Publication Date: March 1, 2008
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Winning the Man Booker prize is something that most authors dream of, although -- ironically -- the reputation of the prize itself was under siege a few years ago. Books that won the award were acquiring a reputation of being difficult and inaccessible, but those days appear to be over -- and unarguable proof may be found in the 2008 winner, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. Apart from its considerable literary merit, the novel is the most compelling of pageturners (in the old-fashioned sense of that phrase) and offers a picture of modern India that is as evocative as it is unflattering. The protagonist, too, is drawn in the most masterly of fashion.Balram Halwai, the eponymous `white tiger', is a diminutive, overweight ex-teashop worker who now earns his living as a chauffeur. But this is only one side of his protean personality; he deals in confidence scams, over-ambitious business promotions (built on the shakiest of foundations) and enjoys approaching life with a philosophical turn of mind. But is Balram also a murderer? We learn the answer as we devour these 500 odd pages. Born into an impoverished family, Balram is removed from school by his parents in order to earn money in a thankless job: shop employee. He is forced into banal, mind-numbing work. But Balram dreams of escaping -- and a chance arises when a well-heeled village landlord takes him on as a chauffeur for his son (although the duties involve transporting the latter's wife and two Pomeranian dogs). From the rich new perspective offered to him in this more interesting job, Balram discovers New Delhi, and a vision of the city changes his life forever. His learning curve is very steep, and he quickly comes to believe that the way to the top is by the most expedient means. And if that involves committing the odd crime of violence, he persuades himself that this is what successful people must do. The story of the amoral protagonist at the centre of this fascinating narrative is, of course, what keeps the reader comprehensively gripped, but perhaps the real achievement of the book is in its picture of two Indias: the bleak, soul-destroying poverty of village life and the glittering prizes to be found in the big city. The book cleverly avoids fulfilling any of the expectations a potential reader might have -- except that of instructing and entertaining. The White Tiger will have many readers anxious to see what Adiga will do next. --Barry Forshaw
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 A decent read but a disappointing Booker. November 17, 2008
We agreed to read the Booker winner for book club, and this book was exactly what I expected. Far from sensationally exposing the little-known 'dark underbelly' of modern India, it is exactly the same as the all the other books exposing the little-known dark underbelly of modern India - we read Q&A last year and this book is pretty much the same, even inferior. In fact, exposing the little-known dark underbelly of modern India seems to be the most popular genre currently in print.
Having said that, this is not a terrible book, although I also didn't find it at all humourous. It is well paced and easy to read and if the author wanted to convey the utter hopelessness of everyone alive in India today, he did this well. Again though, and this is my criticism of all the other books like this, it is hard to believe that nearly everyone in India, rich or poor, is so lacking in empathy and compassion, is driven purely by greed and social status, living a kind of kill-or-be-killed solitary frontier existence. 'Family Matters' by Rohinton Mistry gives a far less obviously sensational portrait of a modern Indian family who happen to find themselves in a country rife with corruption and dead ends, rather than making this sensationalism the point of the book.
Nothing new, nothing outstanding - if I hadn't read this story dozens of times already I might have been more impressed. And was it really better than Rushdie's 'Enchantress' or Ghosh's 'Poppies'? Not for me.
 Booker beware. November 15, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
I am with A. M. Dell Munro. If this is the best then? I don't even think it was a particularly clever story. I was glad to finish it only just before putting it in the bin. What do you clever Booker boys look for in a book? Bah bah Humbug.
 The White Tiger - Journey into the Light... November 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoyed reading this book, the storyline was straightforward and easy to follow and having never been to India myself, I found it refreshing to read about it the way it really is, without having to sit through fantastical descriptions with no correlation to the real world.
I noticed that many have said they found the character two dimensional. On the contrary, I found him to have quite an interesting character, and as I read along I couldn't help but wish he finds what he is looking for, that he manages to escape the 'cage' holding him in (be it due to lack of education, of money, or simply due to the difficulties he is faced with, born in the Darnkess but straining to move into the Light).
I also think that the fact that it is written as a series of 'letters' to the Chinese premier shouldn't be taken seriously, it could just be taken to be directed straight at us, as readers...
If this is the best then.... November 5, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
This won the Booker prize - if it the best then the worst must have been pretty awful. The book never felt as if it got any momentum going. Yes it was descriptive, but at times I wished that Balram would slit my throat too. I am sure that the portrayal of India is probably accurate and the author will not be Mr. Popular back home, but don't you sometimes wish that a story could win one of these prizes instead of some "clever satirical tale"
A readable Booker Prize winner! October 29, 2008
I saw the author on tv recently say that he wanted to write about the 'real India' and if he has succeeded (I've not visited the county) I'm not surprised the novels's jacket suggests that India's tourist board won't be pleased with the result.
The coutry is aflow with sewage and dirt and only money and ruthless ambition will keep you out of it: very Dickensian. Adiga portrays an India where everyone in authority welcomes a backhander and the only way for a poor person to succeeed is through murder, ar at the very least by allowing themselves to be corrupted (like the fellow villager who finds end up with an important government job).
The narrator is writing to China's premier to tell him about the 'real' India in the run up to his visiting the country. He wants to lift the veil on the country and tell the man how things really are. I found what he described shocking and depressing. His take on Indian culture was illuminating and he seems to conclude that whilst India may soon emerge as a super power few of the country's problems are likely to be addressed for its ordinary citizens. Like China found during the Olympics, India may also have to deal with increased criticism of it's social structure as its international profile increases.
A lot of people refer to the novels humour but I didn't find any of it particularly funny. What I did find was a great read, a readable Booker winner (!),a book that showed me another world and one that made me think. Read it!
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