Comments (44)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 44 items
Jan 16, 2024
The Story Girl
Mar 18, 2023jlewis60 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Got all swept up and it was a wonderful read until I began to doubt what was true. Truly astonishing saga and characters. I would argue that a good editor would have shortened this, focused in and made "Shantaram" a bunch better read.
Dec 26, 2022
Rec by Dr Goldstick
Mar 15, 2022janjan711 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
So worth my time and discipline to read this remarkable book. Roberts is a true storyteller. I encourage all to read for an amazing adventure!
Jul 11, 2021steverino4 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A sprawling epic of expats in India, written (overwritten?) with great passion.
Dec 12, 2020eappelbaum rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This book is fascinating, hard to put down. This website is invaluable for summarizing the complicated plot and list of characters https://www.gradesaver.com/shantaram Spoiler alerts: Khader can be viewed as the principal character. I…
Sep 06, 2020tadasani rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A super long read and that in itself was an enjoyable challenge for me. I looked forward to each new section. Enjoyed the stories about the life of a criminal go through his understanding of who he is and what he must do to survive. Lots…
May 26, 2020
Only read the first part. A bit dragged-down by the author's "Holy f345-did-this-actually-happen"...and probably the reason Depp did "Blow" instead. More succinct, same taste.
Aug 02, 2019yo918 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I see that a few others agreed with me in that I believe this was a very interesting book, and it is even more amazing when one considers that it is apparently largely based on the real life of the author. It changed my entire way of…
Jul 28, 2019JALaing rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I really liked parts of this story, and really struggled through other parts. The descriptions of life in the slums of Mumbai and the people of Mumbai were interesting, but the author spent too much time building himself up. The…
Jul 24, 2018rgally rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
This was recommended to me by a friend whose opinion I greatly respect. However, the book is a morass of self aggrandising slurry. Gagged on it quite early on and could just not go on. I see several 5 star ratings. Mine is 1/2 a…
May 12, 2018ShasCho rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I’ve read this book twice, and listened to the audiobook twice as well (Humphrey Bower does a wonderful job of narrating this book, complete with Indian, Australian, and Arabic accents.) This is a rollicking, thoughtful story of…
Nov 05, 2017phoemouse rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I learned from this book, and am glad I read it. The amount of violence was excessive to me, as was the level of attention to clothing and what people looked like. And it seemed crass at times. But the philosophical musings were…
bplbobbi
Aug 12, 2017bplbobbi rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
i enjoyed this, but as others have pointed out it really could have used some editing.
Aug 08, 2017frispirit13 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
RIch, detailed and difficult to put down. I couldn't wait to get back to the characters.
Feb 19, 2017ifyouknew rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
My friend raved about this book, but Roberts' florid and overwrought writing style was not for me. I much prefer spare and understated prose. Within a few chapters it was clear that the story was also not the sort I enjoy- it's a sordid…
Jan 22, 2017ritarufus rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Taken from web site. Synopsis of this book So begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security…
saramcgo
Dec 19, 2016saramcgo rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, and there are parts of it I loved-but overall this could have used a heavy handed edit. The sentences were bloated with adjectives that in the end did the author no favors setting a scene. The…
Jul 22, 2016Bookworm1562 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the old Shogun series - only you are in India.
Jul 22, 2016cjharwell rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is an epic tale that will make you feel every emotion known to mankind. It pulls you in from the very first paragraph. I was fully invested in the characters and felt like I lost some friends when the book ended. Well worth…
Dec 28, 2015rnorris2929 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I was fully engrossed in this novel. Roberts's prose is detailed, rich and absorbing. It is full of different characters, locations, and adventures. The book remains highly entertaining while making deep examinations about the nature of…
Nov 17, 2015iSvet rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of those rare books that you can't put down. The style and the story line are absolutely captivating.
Nov 03, 2015fanona rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Wonderfully dramatic, engaging & heartbreaking. This is in my top 5 best fiction I've read. The audio version is even better!
Jun 23, 2015
From our 2015 #80DayRead Adult Summer Reading Club traveler Christine: Very good book about Bombay life
May 31, 2015zumpandlo rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding novel. Roberts is a master of the written word. The sequence of events is so lively, you forget that it is non-fiction.