Shantaram

The book appeals to me for quite a few reasons:

• It is unputdownable. Gregory David Roberts does a good job telling the story of his life, adventures and daring endeavors.

• The book talks about India from a foreigner’s perspective. The ability of the narrator to be optimistic even in the worst of the living conditions is very inspiring. A true traveler is one who accepts the culture of the foreign land as it is and works on adapting his life to the small customs of the land. The character in the book just does that which makes protagonist all the more great.

• The book is more than an account of drugs and crime. It is the story of a tough criminal who has learnt to love and be loved.

• The central theme of the book is freedom and according to the narrator, freedom to say no is one of the most important things in the world.