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

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?

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?

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

Have you read "Fine Balance" written by Rohinton Mistry?

I would highly reccomend that book!

I hate to be controversial but I really didn't like A Fine Balance. I appreciate that it is beautifully written but it is just SO depressing - it got to the point that if anything I read made me smile I dreaded what was coming next.

I agree with Karuna, White Tiger was a roughly written but enjoyable read. I have Between the Assassinations but haven't had chance to read it yet.

I'm currently listening to the audio book of The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall - the narrator is just brilliant and I would highly recommend it. Was listening to it on a long train journey last week and laughed out loud so many times that eventually the embarrassment wore off!

Just got back from India last week and my holiday books whilst in India were:

1) "One night @ the call center" by Chetan Bhagat

2) "Holy Cow" by Sarah MacDonald http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/holycow/

Would definitely recommend these two books!

Enjoy!

Yes, that's true.. is very depressing.. There was one point in the book where I actually cried out loud.. thank god I was alone!

That and another part in "Shantaram".. probably the only two times in my life ever, that I've cried reading a book! :-(

and this comes from a guy..

I really loved "Animals people" by Indra Sinha. So funny, so sad, so interesting,so fantastic yet so real.
Read with a bit of background knowledge about the Bhopal desaster, it makes you cry.

I also like Arundhati Roy.