BOOK REVIEW: THE WHITE TIGER BY ARAVIND ADIGA

TITLE: THE WHITE TIGER

AUTHOR: ARAVIND ADIGA

GENRE: SATIRE, FICTION

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Introducing a major literary talent, The White Tiger offers a story of coruscating wit, blistering suspense, and questionable morality, told by the most volatile, captivating, and utterly inimitable narrator that this millennium has yet seen.

Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life—having nothing but his own wits to help him along.

Born in the dark heart of India, Balram gets a break when he is hired as a driver for his village’s wealthiest man, two house Pomeranians (Puddles and Cuddles), and the rich man’s (very unlucky) son. From behind the wheel of their Honda City car, Balram’s new world is a revelation. While his peers flip through the pages of Murder Weekly (“Love — Rape — Revenge!”), barter for girls, drink liquor (Thunderbolt), and perpetuate the Great Rooster Coop of Indian society, Balram watches his employers bribe foreign ministers for tax breaks, barter for girls, drink liquor (single-malt whiskey), and play their own role in the Rooster Coop. Balram learns how to syphon gas, deal with corrupt mechanics, and refill and resell Johnnie Walker Black Label bottles (all but one). He also finds a way out of the Coop that no one else inside it can perceive.

Balram’s eyes penetrate India as few outsiders can: the cockroaches and the call centres; the prostitutes and the worshippers; the ancient and Internet cultures; the water buffalo and, trapped in so many kinds of cages that escape is (almost) impossible, the white tiger. And with a charisma as undeniable as it is unexpected, Balram teaches us that religion doesn’t create virtue, and money doesn’t solve every problem — but decency can still be found in a corrupt world, and you can get what you want out of life if you eavesdrop on the right conversations.

The White Tiger recalls The Death of Vishnu and Bangkok 8 in ambition, scope, and narrative genius, with a mischief and personality all its own. Amoral, irreverent, deeply endearing, and utterly contemporary, this novel is an international publishing sensation —and a startling, provocative debut.

MY REVIEW:

“The White Tiger” is a Man Booker Prize-winning satirical novel setup in India. You can read an uncensored and raw chronicle of real India through the perspective of the protagonist who belongs to the working class. The author has deeply dug into the dark realities of the country. I didn’t know about that part of India which still works as slaves and lead a miserable life, the dark segments.

People who live in darkness, the poor and illiterate get looted by the corrupted authorities while rich having a comfortable life. This book reminds me of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984.

It criticises a popular political party which continuously won elections by offering false promises. The realistic plot is the beauty of this book. Adiga’s writing style is simple yet commendable. He has drawn a picture of real India in his book.

It was very insightful at the same time entertaining read for me.

According to the latest reports, around 364 million Indians continue to experience deprivation in health, nutrition, schooling and sanitation.

Amid all these, the ruling government has built the world’s tallest statue of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel, which cost $430 million. Isn’t it awful? Why wouldn’t they spend a fraction of that money to the welfare of starving children?

A majority of our citizens are still reluctant to a change in their life entirely out of inertia.

This book is a must read. If you haven’t read this yet, please do it.

Neslin Reads