Books

Average customer rating:

This is the book you've been looking forward to reading!
Read this book! It's wonderful
Could it be? A 900+ page-turner? Yes! A thousand times, yes!
An all-time favorite!
The Best Book I've Ever Read, Bar None!

Shantaram: A Novel
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found
Sacred Games: A Novel
A Fine Balance (Oprah's Book Club)
The Inheritance of Loss
The Shadow of the Wind

ASIN: 0312330537
Release Date: 2005-09-29

Amazon.com

Crime and punishment, passion and loyalty, betrayal and redemption are only a few of the ingredients in Shantaram, a massive, over-the-top, mostly autobiographical novel. Shantaram is the name given Mr. Lindsay, or Linbaba, the larger-than-life hero. It means "man of God's peace," which is what the Indian people know of Lin. What they do not know is that prior to his arrival in Bombay he escaped from an Australian prison where he had begun serving a 19-year sentence. He served two years and leaped over the wall. He was imprisoned for a string of armed robberies peformed to support his heroin addiction, which started when his marriage fell apart and he lost custody of his daughter. All of that is enough for several lifetimes, but for Greg Roberts, that's only the beginning.

He arrives in Bombay with little money, an assumed name, false papers, an untellable past, and no plans for the future. Fortunately, he meets Prabaker right away, a sweet, smiling man who is a street guide. He takes to Lin immediately, eventually introducing him to his home village, where they end up living for six months. When they return to Bombay, they take up residence in a sprawling illegal slum of 25,000 people and Linbaba becomes the resident "doctor." With a prison knowledge of first aid and whatever medicines he can cadge from doing trades with the local Mafia, he sets up a practice and is regarded as heaven-sent by these poor people who have nothing but illness, rat bites, dysentery, and anemia. He also meets Karla, an enigmatic Swiss-American woman, with whom he falls in love. Theirs is a complicated relationship, and Karla's connections are murky from the outset.

Roberts is not reluctant to wax poetic; in fact, some of his prose is downright embarrassing. Throughought the novel, however, all 944 pages of it, every single sentence rings true. He is a tough guy with a tender heart, one capable of what is judged criminal behavior, but a basically decent, intelligent man who would never intentionally hurt anyone, especially anyone he knew. He is a magnet for trouble, a soldier of fortune, a picaresque hero: the rascal who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. His story is irresistible. Stay tuned for the prequel and the sequel. --Valerie Ryan

Book Description

An epic adventurea mesmerizing tale set in Bombays teeming slums and luxury hotels, filled with romance and torture, mafia gang wars and Bollywood films, and populated by spiritual gurus, mysterious ex-pats, and charismatic crime lords. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport, who flees a maximum security prison in Australia for a city where he can disappear. As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the citys poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison, murder, and a series of betrayals. The keys to unlocking the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin are held by two people: Khader Khan, mafia Godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the underworld of the Golden City, and Karla: elusive, dangerous, passionate and beautiful. One of the most acclaimed debut novels of 2004, Shantaram is a once-in-a-lifetime reading experience: a thrilling tale that asks big questions and has the world of human experience in its reach.

Customer Reviews:

This is the book you've been looking forward to reading!.......2007-06-23

I am lucky to find 1 book a year that I enjoy this much. Sometimes I have to buy 2-3 books (that I never read) to find a book I enjoy. Shantaram is a gift to readers. I agree with the other Amazon reviews but wish to add: I think the appeal is primarily as a "guys" book, but as a man, I cannot be completely objective, so ladies, if you wish, give it a try. (although I dont think you'll find it on Oprah's reding list.) Guys, if you have ever dreamt of being a tough, but caring fugitive, living on the edge of the dark side, but living with principals, then you can safely buy it, read it, and let it take you on a 10 year adventure of a lifetime!

Read this book! It's wonderful.......2007-06-15

The first time that I came across Shantaram in a bookstore I was put off by its length. It is over 900 pages long and it is heavy. However I had heard good things about it and decided to give it a go. I am so glad that I did, because this is one of the best books that I have ever read. Even though it's long, it is gripping and easy to read. It was one of those books that you carry round with you so that you can read a page here and a page there and you never want to put it down.

The story is based on the real life adventures of the author, Gregory David Roberts. As the book begins, he has escaped from prison in Australia and made his way to India. Later on we find out more about how he broke out from prison but it's testament to how enthralling the story is that this is not the most eventful part of the book. When he arrives in Mumbai (Bombay) he quickly immerses himself into the city, befriending the locals, learning the languages and even living in a slum. He also befriends a local mafioso and is drawn into the Indian crime world. The story twists and turns and would be unbelievable if it wasn't based so much on fact. Gun runners in Afghanistan, high class prostitutes, Bollywood movie sets and grim Indian prisons all make their appearances. It's a fascinating, suspenseful and exciting book.

Roberts has a gift for writing. He really captures the flavour of India - the smells, the sounds, the colors. After reading this book I felt like jumping on a plane to Mumbai and heading straight to Leopold's for a drink. Instead I settled for recommending it to all my friends, and despite the very different genres that they usually read, they have all loved it also. It's that kind of book. Don't miss it.

Could it be? A 900+ page-turner? Yes! A thousand times, yes!.......2007-06-04

Yes, I know. You picked the book up, felt the heft of it, and then put it back, didn't you? Shame on you. You missed a wonderful, engaging tale of a fugitive on the run in India. The story is based on many incidents from the author's own life. He wrote a lot of the book while still in prison. I, too, was one of the ones who put the book down--the first time. Then, having learned that Johnny Depp will play the lead in the movie (already in production), I wanted to read it. I'm very, very glad I didn't miss this one. You will be hooked from the first page, and you will hate to see it end. You will laugh aloud, and you will cry, and if you don't already, you will learn to love the sights, the sounds, the colors, the music, and yes, the smells that are India. Don't miss this book. It will be a long time before another one comes along as good.

An all-time favorite!.......2007-05-28

I came to Shantaram through the recommendation of a friend after I expressed joy from reading Suketu Mehta's Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found - a thrilling non-fiction account of modern Bombay's underworld.

Shantaram didn't disappoint. Since it's a 900+ pager, I was engaged with it for several weeks. It so deeply absorbed me I began to feel pangs of sorrow as I approached its end. The universe this book creates was one of only a handful that this voracious reader was terribly saddened to leave at the book's conclusion.

The book covers so many issues in loving detail: Bombay, Asia, the expatriate experience, poverty, crime, heroin addiction, love, betrayal, redemption. I'd love to see Shantaram nominated as a "classic" and read by high school and college students instead of non-starters like Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter. Love learned and lost amongst poverty, crime and deception is love, nevertheless.

I can't wait until the Mira Nair/Johnny Depp film version of the book is released in 2008(?)!

The Best Book I've Ever Read, Bar None!.......2007-05-22

If you haven't heard about this book, you need to get it and read it. Of course the scoop right now is that Johnny Depp has purchased the rights to the book and along with Mira Nair, is going to star as the leading character, with production starting later this year.

Gregory Roberts is a consummate story teller and not only is there great action but this is a wonderful love story. The love of India and the love of a special woman go hand in hand in this tale. I was hooked from the first paragraph. It's a long book, 911 pages, but they fly by.

Having been to India via the same airport and the having experienced the same smells and physical sensations Gregory describes really sucked me in. Check out his website for lessons on writing your own stories. Also check out Shantaram-themovie.com for information on the film.

Average customer rating:

Best Book of 2005
best book EVER! i went to India because of it!
Unique and Moving
This book sent me to India!
A Great Read

Shantaram

Manufacturer: Scribe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Shantaram: A Novel

ASIN: 192076920X

Customer Reviews:

Best Book of 2005.......2006-09-15

It's just not fair. Gregory David Roberts is one of the best writers of our time, and I do not make that statement lightly. I am usually a 350-400 page novel-reader -- I like to get in and get out. But after reading the first paragraph (I dare you to read it and NOT be interested in seeing where he goes), I couldn't stop thinking about it. Actually, I read the first paragraph in Borders, put it down and went home. I simply didn't want to start a 900 page novel. But I couldn't get the passage out of my head the whole night, and returned the next day to purchase it. This book is magical. It reads like the best non-fiction adventure novel (!) ever written. I gave the book to my dad for his birthday and about a month later asked him how it was going. He told me that he had 100 pages left but hadn't read in two weeks because he "didn't want it to end."

Instead of a synopsis of the book, which is available in so many places, I thought I'd tell you my thoughts about the book and how it impacted me and those around me. I hope it helps. I tell everyone about this book and always say the same two things:

1) Don't let the 900 pages scare you.
2) Read the first paragraph. If you aren't interested in that, don't go on. But if that paragraph doesn't inspire you, I have no idea why you read in the first place. You can read the first page here on Amazon.

best book EVER! i went to India because of it!.......2006-09-11

OMG! I fell in love with reading this book. It was so so good! While i was reading it i told myself that i had to go to India, so i did! I could read this book over and over and over again! Such an amazing story...i can't wait untill the sequel!

Unique and Moving.......2006-08-21

It doesn't get much better that Shantaram. After being intigued by the author's life story on the flap of the book, I decided it was worth a try. Gregory exceeded every expectation I had and amazed me with his gift for storytelling, attention to detail, and ability to make the reader think. Every chapter entertained as well as educated. His ability to recognize and describe peoples' character in a way the reader can readily identify with and decide to love or hate is extraordinary.

Not only does he give an entertaining and insightful view of the Indian people, culture, and the situation in Mumbai during the 80's, he also weaves in his and others' philosophies about anything and everything. Whether you agree or not with him or his charaters, you are moved to at least consider and reflect on what you believe and accept.

Give Shantaram a chance and you will be so enthralled for 900+ pages that you won't want it to end!

This book sent me to India!.......2006-07-22

I fell in love with India while reading Shantaram and before I had finished it, I actually booked a flight to Mumbai. What an amazing adventure.....both the book and the trip. I even visited Leopold's! I admire Robert's writing style, the tenderness with which Lin (the main character who is obviously Robert's own inner-voice) describes the people he meets and his evolving relationship with them. Most of all, I liked the spirit with which the book was written. Rather than finding it to be a self-indulgent catharsis as a few reviewers imply, I found it to be a chronicle of self-understanding, enlightenment, redemption, compassion, and hope. He understands life--all of it--and he values people from the heart. I can't wait to read more of his work and to make a return trip to India.

A Great Read.......2006-07-17

I bought the book sometime back and the moment I started reading, I fell in love with it. What a book it is!!! Awsome style of writing and attention to details. It is not just a story or a biography but it is a book of life with so much to decipher. It is abstract and real at the same time.
I worked in Mumbai for two years and could relate to the city. I am also in love with this amazing city. The more time you spend with it the more it grows on you. I am in Delhi now and I miss Mumbai but I want to go back to the city which never sleeps.

Thanks for the reading delight.

Average customer rating:

Shantaram Part 2
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Books on CD | Formats | Books

Unabridged | Literature & Fiction | Books on CD | Formats | Books

Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Shantaram: A Novel
Shantaram Part 1 (Library Edition)
Infidel
A Thousand Splendid Suns

ASIN: 0786168811

Product Description

This mesmerizing first novel tells the epic journey of Lin, an escaped convict who flees maximum security prison in Australia to disappear into the underworld of contemporary Bombay, a hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, actors and exiles. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city's poorest slums and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The keys to unlock the mysteries that bind Lin are held by two people: his mentor Khader Khan, mafia godfather and criminal-philosopher, and the beautiful, elusive Karla, whose passions are driven by dangerous secrets. Based on the life of the author, this extraordinary debut has the world of human experience in its reach.

Average customer rating:

Shantaram
A Superb Read After A Long Time.
I agree - this is a masterpiece
perhaps the best book to come out of melbourne ever
A great book

Shantaram

Manufacturer: Scribe Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Shantaram: A Novel
The Kite Runner

ASIN: 1920769005

Customer Reviews:

Shantaram.......2004-08-13

This book is a stunning achievement. I was captivated from the opening paragraph and six days later when I finished this book I felt like a masterpiece was in my hands, my mind and had forever touched my life. This is a work of peace, forgiveness, compassion and for me as a reader inspiration. Roberts work is a tribute to the capacity of man for all things good and evil and offers a "western" view of India that is considered, open minded, articulate and intellectual.

A Superb Read After A Long Time........2004-08-04

I just love this book. Its beautiful, moving and illuminating in every one of its 900 pages. Its simply un-put-down-able. I havent read such an engaging book for a long long time.

I loved looking at Bombay through his eyes. The little things he notices and sees deeply is fantastic! Also, he is so compassionate and kind in his writings.

Its the first favorite book of mine now. :)

I agree - this is a masterpiece.......2004-08-03

Others have written it more concisely than I can, but to repeat: this is a very exciting, engaging and deeply moving book. It covers the depth of real, pure friendships, devotion and sincerity. As well as plenty of danger, laughter and tragedy. It's an honest journey of discovery and adventure. Roberts remains true to himself. He certainly has lived a very full life and makes me wonder just what I'm doing.
I couldn't put the book down and still rate it as the best I've ever read.

perhaps the best book to come out of melbourne ever.......2004-06-23

"Shantaram" is a book that will stay with you long after your eyes pass over the last words on the last page. In all my years reading, I have never come across a book that has touched me so deeply, and shook the very core of my beliefs. Roberts recalls his adventures, to put it lightly, with such descriptive power that you feel you are there beside him the entire way. It is hard not to fall in love with his Bombay and the characters found within. It is the most honest, heartfelt and gut wrenching book I have ever read, and I fear, will ever read. For a book of this length it is a marvel that Roberts has paced it so well, moving gracefully from scenes of horrific prison torture and neglect to personal reflections on his failures and on the undeniable powers of fate and love.
There is so much more I could say about this book, but I find it best summed up in the authors own words:
"May the journey, through these pages, as in life, always bring you to peace, joy and love." - Greg Roberts September 2003.

A great book.......2004-06-02

This book really makes a big impression. The characters are unforgetable, the pacing is exciting and sustained and most of all the narrative has a very authentic quality to it. Assuming that much of this experience is autobiographical, then to say the authors life has been intense would be an understatement. He has lived a few hundred lifetimes in the span of ten years. Well worth reading.

Average customer rating:

Shantaram
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLDIM2

Average customer rating:

Shantaram: A Novel
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: St. Martin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QYFHQW

Average customer rating:

Shantaram Part 1 (Library Edition)
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Literature & Fiction | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

Unabridged | Literature & Fiction | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

General | Books on Cassette | Formats | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Shantaram Part 2

ASIN: 0786146125

Product Description

Remodelling of democracy for Afro-Asian nations,

Average customer rating:

Remodelling of democracy for Afro-Asian nations,
Shankar Shantaram More
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

Shantaram (with soundtrack CD)
Gregory David Roberts
Manufacturer: Scribe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RLP7PA

Average customer rating:

Intro to Clinical Methods

Physical Therapy
James Wilson , Boston Medical Publishing , Ken Metcalf , Duane Eichler , Joshi Shantaram , Eric Scholar , William Beachley , Ann Myers , Steven Greer , Felix Chew , Maureen Duncan , Wanda Cloet , Michael Greenberg , Elaine St. Johns , Rhea Paul , Cox , Brian J. Gleberzon , and Nicholas P. Jones
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology: A Resource Manual
Introduction to Audiology (with CD-ROM) (9th Edition)
Neuroscience for the Study of Communicative Disorders
A Coursebook on Scientific and Professional Writing for Speech-Language Pathology
Articulatory and Phonological Impairments: A Clinical Focus, Second Edition

ASIN: 1584090197

Customer Reviews:

Intro to Clinical Methods.......2005-09-08

This book gave a nice across-the-board overview of communication disorders and methods of assesing disorders. I used it to help me write a paper and will probably use it again in my work as a speech path.

Books:

Books