I am divided over this book. I didn't enjoy it much while reading it as it was quite draggy but it is quite a masterful depiction of human nature. People change in the blink of an eye because of greed and family; these people can even do things that sent a shiver down your spine. But there are those who have a conscience (though I was surprised that it was Ajwani). Then there is Masterji. He remained steadfast and refused to sell his unit because he wanted to prove to himself that he does not give in easily. There is no happy ending for Masterji. Adiga tried to end the book on a positive note but I find that it ended up superfluous. ( )

Master Writer

Aravind Adiga is a master writer. Having previously read and enjoyed "The White Tiger," I was pleased that "Last Man in Tower" maintained the same high quality writing while introducing new elements. I cannot speak highly enough about this book.

The characters all move in and around a cooperative housing project that could be sold, resulting in a windfall for the residents. When an old man opposes the sale, the plot is set in motion. It boils with anxiety and anticipation. However, just the exposition in itself is a fantastic read.

"Last Man in Tower" is excellent for several reasons. By keeping the story running, the book reads quickly. It nevertheless has profound depth in its messages and characters. The book is also a study in characters. They are all vivid and colorful, all with appropriate human motivation, though many of them change throughout the book. Lastly, the book acts almost as a travelogue for the city of Mumbai. ( )

(8.5)When real estate developer, Dharmen Shah offers to buy out the residents of Vishram society, planning to use the site to build a luxury apartment complex, his offer is more than generous. Yet not everyone wants to leave; many of them are no longer young. But none can benefit from the offer unless all agree to sell.
As tensions rise, one by one those who oppose the offer give int o the pressure of the majority, until only one man stands in the way of Shah's luxury high-rise: Masterji, a retired school teacher, once the most respected man in the building. Shah is a dangerous man to refuse, but as the demolition deadline looms, Masterji's neighbours - friends who have become enemies, acquaintances turned co-conspirators - may stop at nothing to score their payday.
Once again I have been captivated by the characters in an Indian novel. They are captured in all their complexities. The bustling suburb of modern Mumbai is brought to life and man's desire to better himself in life comes at a terrible price, the price of progress over human values. ( )

(Fiction, Literary, Indian)

When a real estate developer offers to buy out the residents of Bombay Co-operative Housing Society Tower A, planning to use the site to build a luxury apartment complex, initially not everyone wants to leave; many of the residents have lived in the tower for years, and many of them are no longer young. But it’s an everyone-or-no-one deal.

As tensions rise among the once civil neighbours, one by one those who oppose the offer give way to the majority, until only one man stands in Shah’s way: Masterji, a retired schoolteacher, once the most respected man in the building.

There are humourous moments but the story takes a dark turn as one by one the community turns on Masterji, and the suspense rises to an almost unbearable level. It’s a rich story peopled with a large cast of well-developed characters. I very much enjoyed this book.

Although it was Oxford County Library’s monthly newsletter that first alerted me to this book, I thereafter read Lisa’s excellent review at ANZ Litlovers.

4½ stars ( )

A strange thing happened the first time I listened to this book. It’s a few years ago now, when I was still working and listening to audio books on the daily commute. I got almost to the end of Booker-winning Aravind Adiga’s Last Man in Tower and found that I just couldn’t bear to continue because I feared what might happen to its flawed hero Masterji. I had become so invested in his story that I just didn’t want to know if something awful happened to him…

I had the paperback copy at home too, but I kept putting it aside for other things. I had never had this kind of reluctance before, and it was still rankling a bit when I saw the audio book again at the library last week and decided to tackle it again in a more stalwart frame of mind.

Masterji is a member of the Vishram Society, a group of middle-class residents who live together in Tower A of a fading apartment complex in Mumbai. Once smart but now needing more money than the residents can spare for repairs, the apartments are right next to the Dharavi slums, where they have attracted the attention of real estate developer Dharmen Shah. He wants to capitalise on Mumbai’s real estate boom by demolishing them both and building a luxury high-rise on the land…

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2016/10/15/last-man-in-tower-by-aravind-adiga-read-by-s... ( )