'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga is a modern and eye-opening novel that delves into the harsh realities of Indian society. The story is narrated by Balram Halwai, a former servant turned entrepreneur, who writes a series of letters to the Premier of China detailing his rise from poverty to wealth through acts of violence and corruption. The book provides a satirical and candid look at the deep-rooted issues of poverty, corruption, and social injustice in India, while also exploring themes of power struggles, oppression, and the impact of globalization on the caste system.
Adiga's writing style in 'The White Tiger' is raw, honest, and darkly humorous, capturing the complexities of Balram's character and the stark realities of Indian society. The narrative unfolds through Balram's distinctive voice, portraying a vivid picture of a country grappling with economic growth, inequality, and moral decay. The book weaves together elements of satire, social commentary, and personal reflection to offer a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by individuals striving for success in a corrupt and oppressive system.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book discusses themes of murder, corruption, and social injustice, which may be triggering for some readers.
From The Publisher:
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The stunning Booker Prize-winning novel from the author of Amnesty and Selection Day that critics have likened to Richard Wright's Native Son, The White Tiger follows a darkly comic Bangalore driver through the poverty and corruption of modern India's caste society. "This is the authentic voice of the Third World, like you've never heard it before" (John Burdett, Bangkok 8).
The white tiger of this novel is Balram Halwai, a poor Indian villager whose great ambition leads him to the zenith of Indian business culture, the world of the Bangalore entrepreneur. On the occasion of the president of China's impending trip to Bangalore, Balram writes a letter to him describing his transformation and his experience as driver and servant to a wealthy Indian family, which he thinks exemplifies the contradictions and complications of Indian society.
Recalling The Death of Vishnu and Bangkok 8 in ambition, scope, The White Tiger is 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.
Ratings (22)
Loved It (10) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (48):
Read It (22) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (16) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (8) |
1 comment(s)
The judges for the Man Booker and I are, quite frankly, almost never on the same wavelength. I've read a lot of the winners and frequently find that I prefer something else on the short list far more than the winner. So it was with trepidation, along with a little annoyance that I declined to read the galley when it was offered to me in January, that I picked up The White Tiger.
The White Tiger is the assumed name of our protagonist Balram, born to the candymaker caste, ambitious chauffeur, loyal servent, traveller from the dark to the light, entrepreneur and murderer, and his epistolary tale is written over 9 nights to Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao, preceding his visit to India. Balram uses his personal history and insights to point out the strengths and weaknesses of modern Indian society. Along the way, he skewers family traditions, religion, government corruption, the rich and the poor.
I thought this was a good first novel, with lots of social satire and some poignant indictments of the gap between India's wealthy and impoverished. However, I'm not sure it falls in my top 10 books of 2008, and it is half the book (both literally and figuratively) that the Booker shortlisted A Fraction of the Whole is.
What can you read after
The White Tiger?
About the Author:
Aravind Adiga was born in India in 1974 and attended Columbia and Oxford universities. He is the author of the novels Amnesty; Selection Day, now a series on Netflix; The White Tiger, which won the Man Booker Prize; and the story collection Between the Assassinations. He lives in Mumbai, India.
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