A dark portrait of Indian society from the perspective of the servant class
This novel won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. It's set in India, and the protagonist is a man who is a entrepreneur with his own business. He's writing the story, in installments each night, to send to the Chinese Premier who is visiting India. He says he wants to explain the real India, not the one that a visitor will be shown. He tells of growing up poor in a small, rural town, getting a job as a servant, and then finally breaking out into being his own boss. I only recall 3 people treating him with any kindness — one of whom he kills — and he only treats one person, a nephew, well. It's not what I'd call a fun or uplifting book to read. It was fascinating to read the portrait of Delhi, Bangalore, and village life. The portrayal of the police and the political system …
This novel won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. It's set in India, and the protagonist is a man who is a entrepreneur with his own business. He's writing the story, in installments each night, to send to the Chinese Premier who is visiting India. He says he wants to explain the real India, not the one that a visitor will be shown. He tells of growing up poor in a small, rural town, getting a job as a servant, and then finally breaking out into being his own boss. I only recall 3 people treating him with any kindness — one of whom he kills — and he only treats one person, a nephew, well. It's not what I'd call a fun or uplifting book to read. It was fascinating to read the portrait of Delhi, Bangalore, and village life. The portrayal of the police and the political system is damning, and in an interview with Adiga that I read, he says that he didn't consider it exaggerated.
