White Tiger, etc.

I am new to the site (and to this sort of online discussion group in general), so I'm hoping my post won't seem awkward by some set of standards I haven't learned yet.

My basic question is has anyone yet read Aravind Adiga's White Tiger? Thumbs up or down?

My primary interest is Indian fiction, especially fiction set in Bombay. (I published a novel in 2007 set in Bombay, and I have visited there to do research.)

If anyone wants to trade recommendations for Bombay writers, fiction or non-fiction, I would love that.

It's on my list, but I haven't got to it yet.

I really enjoyed A Fine Balance when I read it a few years ago. I believe it's set mostly in Mumbai/Bombay, though I don't think the city is named in the book.

Yep, I read and liked that one. I also liked his Swimming Lessons.

i have read it. Thumbs up. The perspective from which it is written - is interesting - an 'underdog's' perspective.

I've read it. I'm glad I read it because it gave me insight into an area of Indian life that I hadn't previously encountered in a fair amount of reading of Indian literature. However, I didn't really enjoy it, and I don't think it holds up to other Booker winners.

PS It isn't set in Mumbai, which was one of the reasons I was interested in it, since I've read other works centered on Mumbai, e.g., the great Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra.

Tell me why you liked the Chandra book (not criticizing, just deciding whether to get it or not).

Here are some of my favorite Bombay books: Mistry's A Fine Balance, Ardashir Vakil's Beach Boy, and Shashi Tharoor's Show Business.

Thumbs up.
It's a different perspective from most Indian literature, and has its own voice. It's a quick read, and I enjoyed it for the most part.

My book club read White Tiger and the majority (including myself) liked it. This is probably the first Indian book I have read so I can't compare it to anything else. What I liked is the main character. He was complex and I liked his style of humor. I did not know the author had another book. Will have to try it.

#6, Sacred Games is a complex and at times frustrating book, because Chandra is trying to do so much in it. What I admired was the scope and the ambition, and the story-telling was pretty compelling too. Despite its flaws, Chandra brings some diverse and intriguing worlds to life.

Thumbs up for The White Tiger. Absolutely fascinating.

You posted this message a month ago, so hopefully you read the book and enjoyed it. I loved White Tiger. I travel to India (mostly Bombay) frequently for work (up to 6-7 times per year) and have been reading Indian fiction for a number of years. I think White Tiger was right on. Loved the writing style, the story, the message. A very easy and quick read. It is set in New Delhi and a village, so no Bombay there. I don't recall any fiction set in Bombay but I loved Maximum City for an excellent non-fiction overview of Bombay. My favorite Indian author right now is Amitav Gosh - especially The Hungry Tide.

Unfortunately, no, I haven't yet read White Tiger; I'm a high school teacher gasping through the last few weeks of the year and putting off most of my personal reading.

I also liked Maximum City. I've only been to Bombay once, but the book captured a lot of how the city felt to me for the two weeks I was there. I tried to locate Mehta to send him a letter (and a copy of my book), but even his publisher doesn't have a valid address for him. . . .

Have you read Once Was Bombay by Pinki Virani?

White Tiger was excellent. 'A chutney mix of Crime and Punishment, The Jungle and The Vendor of Sweets.