• Slumdog Millionaire (a.k.a. Q&A)

  • By: Vikas Swarup
  • Narrated by: Kerry Shale
  • Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (795 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Slumdog Millionaire (a.k.a. Q&A)  By  cover art

Slumdog Millionaire (a.k.a. Q&A)

By: Vikas Swarup
Narrated by: Kerry Shale
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

Why we think it's Essential: It's rare that you hope for traffic on a road trip, but when I drove from New York to Boston with Kerry Shale's narration of Q&A for company, I had my fingers crossed for a back-up at the bridge. How could I tear myself away from Shale's distinct characterizations? The orphan from Mumbai, the faded Bollywood star, and the ruthless game show host - Who Wants to Win One Billion Rupeeeeees? - all made for a truly extraordinary listen. — Diana Dapito

Publisher's summary

A small prison cell in India holds an 18-year-old penniless waiter from a Mumbai slum. But Ram Mohammad Thomas isn't a criminal. He is under arrest for correctly answering 12 tricky trivia questions on the show Who Will Win a Billion? Reluctant to part with the jackpot of one billion rupees, the show directors bribe the police to arrest Ram, accusing him of cheating. For how else could a poor, uneducated orphan know so much: the name of the smallest planet, global capitals, and diplomatic policy? Ram is rescued by a lawyer who draws from him the always compelling, touching, and sometimes comic story of his life, explaining the source of his knowledge. An inspired performance by reader Kerry Shale captures the spirit of this off-beat novel, a blend of high comedy and touching melancholy.

This novel was originally published with the title Q&A and is the basis for the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

©2005 Vikas Swarup (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Critic reviews

  • 2005 Audie Award Winner, Fiction (Abridged)

"Shale's performance is brilliant." (USA Today)
"Reader Kerry Shale captures every nuance and distinction of the many personalities involved." (Boston Globe)
"This production gains much from Shale's excellent and lively performance....Shale makes it sincere, hilarious, heartbreaking, and delightful....His gifted reading, full of emphasis, inflection, and excitement, is a joy to listen to." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Slumdog Millionaire (a.k.a. Q&A)

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    472
  • 4 Stars
    220
  • 3 Stars
    75
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    12
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    213
  • 4 Stars
    67
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    196
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best audio books I have listened to

A great story. With loads of twists and turns. Funny and poignant.

And yes, Kenny Shale's performance is fantastic.

Download this book immediately!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Awesome Listen

Crazy good presentation that captured and kept my attention. Now I want to see the movie!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

So clever!

I loved this story and I thought the whole premise was incredibly clever. This recording was just so enjoyable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

This was a wonderful listening experience in all respects. Not only was Slumdog Millionaire a sensitive and ingenious novel, but the reading of this book was outstanding. I highly recommend it....listen to it with your whole family!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Dickens reincarnated in Mumbai

If Dickens found himself in modern day Mumbai, he might have spun this clever tale of characters and circumstance to comment on social conditions and relations. If you like writers like Vikram Seth, Arundhi Roy and Rohinton Mistry who weave tales that are local but universal, tragic but funny, you'll like Q+A. Although Q+A is a bit lighter fare than the others' novels, great narration carries it to a 5 star listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

remarkably beautiful and heartbreaking

This was a long and beautiful story of a boys trial through life. All that he overcame and suffered made it possible for him to become a winner when everyone else counted him out. I saw the movie first, and this is nothing like it. This story is dark, and foreboding. The twists are great and the tragedies are numerous. It makes you consider how good you truly have it and how far you can you if you keep on going. Well done

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie, slightly less believeable

I read the book first, and I believe it's even better than the movie. It is darker and the questions are much more coincidental than the movie's questions making them a bit less believeable, but actually more interesting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

Was a bit uncertain in the beginning it was pretty ugly and graphic, but hang in there, what a wonderful suprise!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent - full circle read.

Wonderful storyline and the narrator was fantastic. Really makes you think about the choices one makes throughout life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

a great listen

A sad yet redeeming novel. Listened to in one day due to the interesting and fast paced story line. a good look into a life outside of America and into slum life in India. You acquire tender feelings toward the main character and come to appreciate raising above the odds of a life once doomed to despair! The narrator was very entertaining with his various characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful