Customer Reviews

Shantaram (1st British Edition)

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This has to one of the best books that i have read. The pace that it moves along at and the detail and storytelling ability of the author hints at a talent nurtured over many years of experience.
Its a hefty 900 odd pages (in hardback), but very hard to put down. Its one of those rare books that have you laughing and thinking from the first page, totally involving and utterly compelling.
The novel is about the Indian mafia, scrapes and skirmishes, love & friendships and a view of the wilder side of life by real life Australian prison escapee Gregory Roberts. This is not really a review but a recommendation for a very worthwhile read.

This is quite simply one of the most sublime books I have ever read. Undeniably it is a large book, but I was devastated when it ended. From the outset this book is heavily descriptive yet in an enlightening and unpretentious fashion. The characters are well developed and highly plausible. This book is essential for everyone to read because it shows courage over adversity, strength, wisdom and the pleasures of life found in the most unexpected context. We get a realistic commentary on how a westerner managed to metamorphosise into an accepted member of a foreign culture. It has moments of conduct that we can all learn from.
As the review from The Age says; 'a masterpiece'.

I just love this book. Its beautiful, moving and illuminating in every one of its 900 pages. Its simply un-put-down-able. I havent read such an engaging book for a long long time.

I loved looking at Bombay through his eyes. The little things he notices and sees deeply is fantastic! Also, he is so compassionate and kind in his writings.

Its the first favorite book of mine now. :)

"Shantaram" is a book that will stay with you long after your eyes pass over the last words on the last page. In all my years reading, I have never come across a book that has touched me so deeply, and shook the very core of my beliefs. Roberts recalls his adventures, to put it lightly, with such descriptive power that you feel you are there beside him the entire way. It is hard not to fall in love with his Bombay and the characters found within. It is the most honest, heartfelt and gut wrenching book I have ever read, and I fear, will ever read. For a book of this length it is a marvel that Roberts has paced it so well, moving gracefully from scenes of horrific prison torture and neglect to personal reflections on his failures and on the undeniable powers of fate and love.
There is so much more I could say about this book, but I find it best summed up in the authors own words:
"May the journey, through these pages, as in life, always bring you to peace, joy and love." - Greg Roberts September 2003.

This book is a stunning achievement. I was captivated from the opening paragraph and six days later when I finished this book I felt like a masterpiece was in my hands, my mind and had forever touched my life. This is a work of peace, forgiveness, compassion and for me as a reader inspiration. Roberts work is a tribute to the capacity of man for all things good and evil and offers a "western" view of India that is considered, open minded, articulate and intellectual.

Others have written it more concisely than I can, but to repeat: this is a very exciting, engaging and deeply moving book. It covers the depth of real, pure friendships, devotion and sincerity. As well as plenty of danger, laughter and tragedy. It's an honest journey of discovery and adventure. Roberts remains true to himself. He certainly has lived a very full life and makes me wonder just what I'm doing.
I couldn't put the book down and still rate it as the best I've ever read.

Words can barely describe how incredible Shantaram is - I was completely blown away with this incredible journey. It's inspiring, horrifying, uplifting, moving and completely unputdownable - don't think I've ever been affected by a book as much. While some friends commented that they'd be daunted by a book of this size, it's so engrossing that you're devastated to discover that you've finished the last page before you know it. Roberts weaves his amazing experiences in India with really powerful musings on his own failings, life philosophies and thoughts on freedom and love. His writing is so soulful and powerful you end up falling in love both with India itself and with the characters that fill his page. I can't recommend this book enough. I'm dying to get in contact with Roberts to let him know what an impact his writing has had.

This book really makes a big impression. The characters are unforgetable, the pacing is exciting and sustained and most of all the narrative has a very authentic quality to it. Assuming that much of this experience is autobiographical, then to say the authors life has been intense would be an understatement. He has lived a few hundred lifetimes in the span of ten years. Well worth reading.