Book review!!!! Woo hoo!!

I've just finished reading Shantaram, an epic novel of over 900 pages. I totally dug it! The story, based on the true life experiences of the author, takes place mostly in Mumbai, Afganistan, and other parts of India, which appealed to me immediately. If you love adventure and excitement, you will love this book. It was written while the author was in prison, and then, after he gets out of prison, the book is published. He now tours promoting his book, lectures, writes poetry, and was also in a rock band. In addition, he has set up organizations and charities in Mumbai to help people living in slums and extreme poverty.

While living in Mumbai, the main character, Lin, lives in a chopadpatti for a long time, and because of his limited yet necessary medical experience, becomes the slums doctor. He later joins the Indian mafia, crosses the jagged mountains into Afghanistan, becomes involved in the Afghani/Russian war posing as an American, survives, comes back to Mumbai to return to the mafia.

After reading the book, check out, www.shantaram.com to read about what Gregory David Roberts is up to now. What an incredible human being! (He was originaly imprisoned for robberies to obtain money for his heroin addiction, and never killed anyone, by the way!)

There are plans to make a film out of the book, due to be released in 2007. Johnny Depp is said to be starring in the film. Of this, I am not too pleased. While I think Depp is one hot man, I have a very difficult time envisioning him as the tough character, Lin, the hero in this story. They'd better not wreck it! :P

Below is a review that I found online, if you want to read more....


Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram is an epic story spanning more than a decade of life on the run, large in every way – over 900 pages, real not only because it was, but also by the gifted writer at the helm, who’s talent and awesome ability leap forth from the first page, and that promise of greatness holds through to the novel’s end. It is a masterpiece; intelligent, thrilling, romantic, philosophical, humorous and with elements of outright horror – Shantaram has it all!
When the story begins, Greg is now on the run, after breaking out of prison in Australia, where he was convicted of armed robbery while under the influence of drugs. His life on the run takes him from New Zealand to Bombay, India. Using an alias to enter Bombay, ‘Lindsay’ attaches himself to a group of tourists to pass customs and immediately is met by a young man -- the unforgettable Prabaker -- claiming to be Bombay’s best city guide. ‘Lindsay’ meets and befriends so many wonderfully engaging, vivid people that populate this story. He joins the Indian mafia and is enthralled with and loved by its leader, exploring the father/son and philosopher/student relationships pondering good and evil, man and God. And it is here too in Bombay that he falls in love Karla. The eloquent words of love and loss Greg writes as he learns of life and who and what kind of man he is, and struggles to become, while he manages to survive on the run, are exciting mesmerizing and enthralling: a story to read and savor!
Shantaram is a thriller of the highest order: a love story that is profound and penetrating, cut bloody with truths, and seen through the eyes of a poet, philosopher, gangster, smuggler and a man on the run.