Shantaram , I have just finished it and thought it was excellent

[travellingwilbury]

Has anybody else read this ?

I finished reading it a couple of days ago and just keep thinking about it .

It is the first book I have read and loved for a long time .

I loved this book. Took me about 3 months though.
But it was really, really good. I got really involved in it.

(I think I read something about Jonny Depp buying the film rights - so could be a film to look forward to)

I am glad someone else liked it as much as I did . It has really stuck with me .

It would make a brilliant film . And of course Johnny Depp would be good to watch .

Loved it - it stayed with me too, have recommended it to lots of friends who have loved it. It's a great story, whatever bits are true or made up.

Yup! really, really loved it and am waiting for a good moment to re-read.

yes, i really liked it too - and don't care what is true and what is not, it's a damn good read.

reading it currently enjoying it but wishing it was shorter, there are so many sub plots etc that I think it would make a very good normal length novel.

surreylady , I felt like that but by the end I was wishing it was longer .

Oh, i LOVED this book. I actually felt quite down when i finished it. I did feel it ended without "closure" though - but thats real life for you, although it was only "based on truth". I thought i wouldn't like it, thought it would be all arty farty and "finding yourself" type novel. I guess it was, but with quite a twist - it had quite an affect on me actually.

I loved all the sub plots.

I adored it too. I read it while I was in India which made it particularly gripping. Really good story-telling.

horton

Heh, sorry! It was pre-child. I don't anticipate going to India again for a very long time, if ever!

never say never horton!! that emoticon looks too grumpy, i meant it in a nice way!

Oh I loved Shantaram, I keep it in my room by the window so if I have a free half hour I sit and open at random.

I am sorry but I hated it. I found the language really forced and pretentious and stopped reading part way through. But perhaps I should give it another try. Tell me what you loved about it.

I know what you mean about the language chaya, i did struggle with this at first. I wonder if that is first novel syndrome? But what i loved about it was the characters - i adored Prabaker and Johnny Cigar. I did find some bits a bit "own trumpet blowing", but this was balanced by some pretty ugly home truths i guess. The guy i didn't like was Didier, i thought he was mercinary but perhaps that is because we didn't really get to know what made him tick.

That journey to Prabaker's home village (I think it was chap 5)..........I was crying laughing!

yes, that was good - really upbeat.

The bit I loved most (and maybe this was because I was actually in India so it really made sense) was the bit about the head-wobbling. I could see exactly what he meant.

maynotbeperfect, no worries! I didn't take it in a grumpy way. I'm rather jealous of the person who travelled to the jungle to meet elephants and lounged around on a beach fringed by coconut palms drinking fresh watermelon juice myself. Particularly as I have spent the day attempting to cool/calm down a very fractious and heat-stricken toddler.

oh yes, the head waggling, that cracked me up. But it seems to be quite a significant thing - what did me though was the thought of all those mafia bosses sitting around the table waggling their heads in agreement - a peaceful action. LMAO!

Yes, great image!