The White Tiger: A Novel

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It's a hit!

This book certainly seems to have caused some ripples. Seems that people despair at its lack of subtlety, that it comes too close to caricaturing ... (show more)

This book certainly seems to have caused some ripples. Seems that people despair at its lack of subtlety, that it comes too close to caricaturing modern India, or that it simply isn't interesting as plots go, or that it's all been done before and better by Rushdie and other writers.

I like the narrative device of letters to the Chinese Premier, it aids the satire and creates some good humour. There's a cockiness to Balram / Ashok Sharma's direct addressing of the Chinese Premier that I like. I admire it and such scorn is no less than most politicians deserve.

Does good satire necessarily have to be subtle? Adiga's pointed comments about China and India aren't meant to be subtle are they? Shouldn't satire be sharp and biting? The picture of India may be dark and morbid, but therein lies the basis for satire. Caricature is not a bad thing either. I think most readers are intelligent enough to sense that the whole picture of India is not being given here and that there are exaggerated stereotypes employed by Adiga - often crucial ingredients to satire. Charles Dickens often lacked subtlety and caricatured social types / figures ceaselessly and he is, without a doubt, one of the finest English writers and satirists.

And as for the believability of the narrative device, I think that criticising it for this is a cheap shot. Does anyone believe, including Balram Halwai, that the Premier will actually get to read Balram's e-mails? Or indeed that there is an e-mail address at which the Premier sits being helplessly inundated with Balram-spam? Doesn't this call for a suspension of disbelief, or at least some imagination about what the Premier's face would look like upon reading the e-mails? The cheek of it tickles me and the contempt of the political classes the world over rings true with this reader.

The fact that other writers have written better things about India is heartening and encourages me to read further about this fascinating country, but I reckon Adiga's first effort has its place. It's an enjoyable read and one that is not without suspense, humour or indeed good writing.

I disagree with any charges that the language is mediocre as well. There is some strong and compelling description in this novel:

"A rich man's body is like a premium cotton pillow, white and soft and blank. Ours are different. My father's spine was a knotted rope, the kind that women use in villages to pull water from the wells; the clavicle curved around his neck in high relief, like a dog's collar; cuts and nicks and scars, like little whip marks in his flesh, ran down his chest and waist, reaching down below his hipbones into his buttocks. The story of a poor man's life is written on his body, in a sharp pen."

The section on the Rooster Coop is also a blistering symbol for the oppression that lies within the caste system.

"Isn't it all wonderful? Isn't it all grand? Aren't you grateful to be my servant?"

Like any country, India has its unpleasant underbelly. I cannot vouch for its accuracy or truthfulness - I've never been to India - but I enjoyed the story and the way in which it was told. And I'm pretty sure that, as with every caricature or stereotype, there is a grain of truth in there somewhere.

Give it a go. (show less)

 

 

by Jake Resuggan

No, it's a flop!

This book sucks in its entirety. Nothing that hasn't already been done with more originality and finesse by Rushdie, or a number of other prominent... (show more)

This book sucks in its entirety. Nothing that hasn't already been done with more originality and finesse by Rushdie, or a number of other prominent subcontinental authors. Unimaginative in its language, the plot is contrived and, ultimately, uninteresting. The language used serves merely as a means for the author to beat us over the head with his unsubtle and highly caricatured impression of India and its deeply ingrained caste system.

The single interesting point in this novel is that Adiga manages to create a character who is almost singularly reprehensible. Not even for his actions, but for his very process of thought. This is tricky - it is an extraordinarily fine balancing act to create an unlikeable character yet make us interested in him. Adiga does not quite manage this balance; as the novel progresses, interest in the whole damn thing becomes increasingly hard to maintain. Plot points that may have served to instill us with some sense of understanding or empathy, or even plain interest are clumsily handled as just another in a series of events.

The central character is remarkable mainly for his lack of all but the most superficial self-reflection and if he is the one who has escaped the cage, it is an entirely dismal and spiritually undeserving prospect. If this is the point of the book, then I guess it was reasonably well executed, however in some ways it seems that the author was attempting to redeem the character towards the end - not entirely - but partially. It seemed to me to lack the courage to paint a truly awful character, coupled with the inability to make that character sympathetic or make plausible the inconsistencies. So what we end up with is a feeling of "who really cares?"

I also completely failed to understand why the book was narrated in the form of a letter to a Chinese official. Was this somehow necessary or interesting? I'm not sure. All in all, it seems that there is now another very average novel joining the ranks of Booker prize winners. Hopefully the world's growing interest in subcontinental literature doesn't give too much prominence to books which create simplistic and stereotyped ideas of Indians and Indian culture.

Bleh. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook-gebruiker

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  For someone unfamiliar with India this is a terrific introduction - one that, in my opinion, realistically depicts the struggles of her growing middle class. Having spent two weeks in Bangalore last summer, I found this book absolutely riveting as it caused me to rethink all that I saw and experienced while there. I can't help but think of my own driver, Praveen, compare him to Balram, and wonder how many of the scenarios ring true for him. For example, the drivers socializing in the parki... (show more)

  For someone unfamiliar with India this is a terrific introduction - one that, in my opinion, realistically depicts the struggles of her growing middle class. Having spent two weeks in Bangalore last summer, I found this book absolutely riveting as it caused me to rethink all that I saw and experienced while there. I can't help but think of my own driver, Praveen, compare him to Balram, and wonder how many of the scenarios ring true for him. For example, the drivers socializing in the parking lot at the mall while the 'masters' were shopping. Were their conversations similar? I found myself laughing aloud at the descriptions of the roads and traffic (all true), the food in the south (while it is indeed primarily 'watery dals' it is quite good), and the way you must gauge one's intent by listening not only to his words, but observing entire body language.

  Balram is a fascinating character: likable and loathsome at the same time. I admire him for his cunning and his abilty to overcome poverty/adversity, but despise him for the way he ultimately 'becomes' the successful business man he is. He condemns the ways of the rich yet utilizes those same methods in becoming wealthy himself! If there is truth in that - which I suspect there is - it will be a long time before India becomes the world power Balram expects it will.

  Quick read. Definitely recommended! (show less)

   

  by Barbara Fawcett Kuntz on Mar 19, 2009 at 05:22PM

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  Well, as a work of literature, this is nothing to loose sleep over. The very idea of sending an entire life-story of a criminal on the run to a chinese enterpreneur seems ludicrous. The story, as of itself, ain't bad. The narrator is a vivd, dark, amusing, saddistic, repulsive, hypocrit. One thing should be kept in mind: The "India" presented her is ot Adiga's india, but it is balram's india. that is the compensation at the very heart of the story. That to decipher what the idea of ... (show more)

  Well, as a work of literature, this is nothing to loose sleep over. The very idea of sending an entire life-story of a criminal on the run to a chinese enterpreneur seems ludicrous. The story, as of itself, ain't bad. The narrator is a vivd, dark, amusing, saddistic, repulsive, hypocrit. One thing should be kept in mind: The "India" presented her is ot Adiga's india, but it is balram's india. that is the compensation at the very heart of the story. That to decipher what the idea of india presents to the author, you need to read between the lines of Balram's often shocking, often rivetting, yet often dull and monotnous speech. And there are points when this book doesn't feel like fiction, but just a outpouring of loosely analised information. This is not Booker prize stuff(if there is such a thing). The Sea of Poppies was much better. But i won't say that the book's not worth a read. It is worth one, albeit, a casual one. (show less)

   

  by Rohitashwa Sarkar on Apr 14, 2009 at 06:58PM

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