A book similar to Aravind Adiga's "The White Tiger"?

Simona

Hey Guys,

I have read Aravind Adiga's book a half a year ago and I have to admit it is one of the most realistic fiction books I have ever read. Does anybody could recommend another author reflecting India's culture/everyday so real as Aravind Adiga does?

karuna

Interestingly, a lot of Indian IM members feel it isn't realistic at all. I think it was the Capt who commented that foreigners seem to enjoy that book more than Indians. However, it certainly struck a chord with the drivers I know, sparked a good few discussions.

Sorry, I'm not answering your question, am I? It's a good one though. I would refine it: those IMers who did not like The White Tiger: which books would you recommend to get a more accurate portrayal of India?

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ronsaik

English, August by Upamanyu Chatterjee.
A far better book, a far more talented author.

Actually, it is the only great book of the 'discovery of India' genre.

The White Tiger is BS.

@Karuna: drivers reading English novels? Where?

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theyyamdancer

"The Story of My Assassins" by Tarun J. Tejpal. Hard-hitting and recent.

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KateW

The Case of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. Not particularly high brow but a good read with lots of references to how things are in India.

skk

That is one hell of a book; I'd really enjoy discussing it and others too- You got any forums you belong to or otherwise that I can join where modern Indian lit is discussed ?

Sorry, not answering your question, am I?

-skk

namaste_cat

I'm one of the Indian (now American) minority I guess in that I got a real kick out of "White Tiger". I thought it was quite clever, and entertaining. He painted in some ways a fairly realistic picture of the class issue not to mention the whole Gurgaon & "modern India" aesthetic.

If you want realism of a different kind, another vote here for "The Story of My Assassins" by Tarun J. Tejpal. He doesn't pull his punches, and is biting, unflinching, and incisive much like his work as a journalist all these yrs. So although his writing style is quite different from Adinga's, I enjoyed both books. Tejpal's is better in many ways, but I don't want to take away from Adinga, liked his too.

gargsam

Well, if you want other books similar to Adiga's, it is perhaps relatively simple to identify as they seem to fall in a genre. Just go for almost any book written about India - or one whose author is an Indian (or of Indian heritage) - with the important proviso that the book (1) must have won a foreign prize & (2) was written originally in English.

A simple google search ought to do it.

wonderwomanusa

Does a book have to represent "the real India" to be a good read?

I've read Adiga's second book, BETWEEN THE ASSASINATIONS, and enjoyed it.

And just finished THE WISHMAKER by Ali Sethi -- which is set in Lahore.... it's not the Lahore I knew in 1970s, but a very interesting city nonetheless!

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karuna

No, they can't read English. I was reading the book last time I was in Delhi, and explaining the story. Led to some interesting discussions. Lot of nodding and agreement! I loved the book, incidentally. I did find it....how can I put this? Rough? Like he just sat down and wrote wrote wrote- it all poured out. Definitely not a polished narrative. But I kinda like that in books and music....it bristled with anger and rawness, which for me makes up for the lack of finesse. Hell, I can do without finesse altogether!