Shantaram : A Novel by Gregory David Roberts Paperback - $10.19 'It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me...

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"A perfect foil for Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance"
by kjphenix (see profile) 10/20/06
If you liked A Fine Balance, you will love this book, too. It is a wonderful inside look at the slums of India, and the beauty and kindness and humor of the people is so uplifing, even in the middle, especially in the middle of all that poverty. The fact that the author's life so closely parallels the story in the book lends it credibility. I highly recommend this book to any book club willing to tackle its size and depth. Not particularly literary, but totally enthralling.

"Vivid tale from India. great book club selection"
by PEP2312 (see profile) 01/20/07
dramatic story written with humor and wonderful detail.

"Best book I ever read!"
by clota60621 (see profile) 03/16/07

"One of My Favorite Reads"
by jamstein (see profile) 06/02/07
Loved this book. Couldn't put it down. I have passed it on to several people and each come back and tell me what a great read it is. Don't hesitate, pick it up and start reading. You will not be sorry. I understand that the author is writing another book, possibly a sequel. I cannot wait!

"scintillating story"
by samarth (see profile) 06/05/07
it left a very profound impact on me.. touching story

"good book, but a little lengthy"
by ellentambo (see profile) 09/05/07
Good book, but it took too long to tell the story. Parts of it dragged. LOts of very accurate descriptions of Indian people and their personalities. Characters were well-drawn, but there were a lot of them and hard to keep straight. I think it might be a little daunting to read for a book club since it is over 900 pages.

"Beautifully written book but not for everyone"
by chrissie60ca (see profile) 11/05/07
This is a remarkable book. It gives tremendous insight into life in India and I loved the characters that Gregory Roberts created. I think the fact that he lived through prison gave his writing about prison great credibility. I found the book interesting but long and in places it was too violent.

"too wordy. Takes too long to tell a story. Could have been a much better book"
by mcdotreader (see profile) 05/30/08
This book had a lot of potential, but it too WAY too long to tell the story...that you lost the main point of the story. Someone should re-edit this and republish it, because some of it is really good. Might make a good movie. Very descriptive of the "Indian" cultural character.

"A novel based on the life of the author. Crime, passion, and exotic location."
by christymg (see profile) 08/01/08
A very entertaining read filled with crime and drama. Long, but engrossing.

"Escaped Australian convict does good and bad in Bombay."
by susieburch (see profile) 08/27/08
Fascinating story. Definitely needed pruning however almost everyone in our club finished. Lots of discussion topics.

"An epic tale set in India"
by donnadeleon (see profile) 02/13/09
This was one of my favorite books...very rich in details of both characters and setting. The author's appreciation of the varied people, religions, customs and terrain of India is absolutely contagious. Although this is a very long book, it is a fascinating story, well worth the time. The topics for a book club discussion are numerous and the characters' thoughts on life, love and justice are bound to generate some debate.

"THis fascinating epic entertains and informs about the life and lives of the residents of the inside Bombay. Fascinating narration and character development are prime for book club discussions."
by nichole (see profile) 02/15/09

"One of My Favorite All-Time Books!!"
by gmmoreno (see profile) 12/29/09
Unbelievably compelling story, beautifully written with insightful dialogue and rich detail. Must read!