The White Tiger

A Novel

By: Aravind Adiga

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

British Book Awards, Author of the Year, 2009.

Man Booker Prize, Fiction, 2008.

No saris. No scents. No spices. No music. No lyricism. No illusions.

This is India now.

Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant. Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a success in life - having nothing but his own wits to help him along. Born in a village in the dark heart of India, Balram gets a break when he is hired as a driver for a wealthy man, two Pomeranians (Puddles and Cuddles), and the rich man's (very unlucky) son.

Through Balram's eyes, we see India as we've never seen it before: the cockroaches and the call centers, the prostitutes and the worshippers, the water buffalo and, trapped in so many kinds of cages that escape is (almost) impossible, the white tiger.

With a charisma as undeniable as it is unexpected, Balram teaches us that religion doesn't create morality and money doesn't solve every problem - but decency can still be found in a corrupt world, and you can get what you want out of life if you eavesdrop on the right conversations.

©2008 Aravind Adiga (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Balram's evolution from likable village boy to cold-blooded killer is fascinating and believable." ( Library Journal)
"A brutal view of India's class struggles is cunningly presented in Adiga's debut....It's the perfect antidote to lyrical India." ( Publishers Weekly)

Definitely deserved the Booker Prize

The White Tiger is in the form of a first-person narrative written in a letter to the Chinese premier. The narrator (known as The White Tiger) relates how he rose from being a poor, lower caste Indian to the driver for a wealthy family, from a wanted murderer to a Bangalore entrepreneur. Full of insights into life in modern-day India, his story is sad, funny, witty, shocking--you name it. All told in a fascinating voice. John Lee was an extraordinary reader.

A thououghly entertaining experience.

I'm not a great judge of the Indian language accent or anything else. John Lee is amazing. I think he's the best narrator I've listened to and I've listened to a lot of them.

His Indian accent added enormously to the enjoyment of this audio book. Whether or not he mispronounced some words is beyond me and I don't much care. This wasn't a textbook. It was entertainment.

Listen to this book.

A little disappointing

That will teach me to pick a book because of the hype! Another interesting book about India, but far from a page turner. I've read better books about India, A Finer Balance, Q&A which is now Slumdog Millionaire. Perhaps I am all "Indiaed" out! Not a bad read, just no excitement. John Lee did an pretty good job of reading.

Different, Engrossing

There are so many books today following the same themes of vampires, sex and/or murder.
It is a great day when you discover something different, deeper and better.

Here's that book. A very interesting book indeed. Get some insight into the culture of India and enjoy a very engrossing story.

This is a 5 star book. Highly recommend! Perfectly presented too.

Chris Reich, TeachU

Good reading

Story a little derivative of Crime and Punishment and Taxi Driver, but as a commentary it zings. Excellent reading drives it home.

Thoroughly original & deeply disturbing

It's interesting when an author can create such a despicable character and make you like him. I think the way the other side of India is presented and the way the character tells his story allows you to see past some behaviors that are reprehensible. The cleverness in the writing buys lots of forgiveness from the reader.

I understand why this was an award winner. It is a highly creative work. But it is disturbing while you're listening and once it's done. Because of that, it has all the makings of a very good book club book. If you simply take on the writing separate from the story, it would be a great discussion. If you opt to talk about the societal impact of progress, be prepared for a long night.

And now the narration ... I'm burned out on John Lee. He does an okay job with this book (as he does with the kazillions of others he narrates) and his manufactured accent is consistent. He is a pro. But I would have liked it a lot more if the narrator had been authentic.

Absolutely Fantastic!

A story that makes you look humanity and the way we do things through a different point of view. It provides unique ways of looking at Indian culture and their norms. Highly reccomend.

Humorous and quick read

I could listen to John Lee read a menu and be entertained. This is a darkly humorous look at modern India (I have no way to judge its accuracy) and the neverending politics of wealth. I didn't really understand why it was written as a sort of "letter," but that wasn't particularly distracting.

Nice story but should have an Indian orator

The story is good. In the beginning I didn't like the fact that the orator was not Indian and tried to speak in an accent but I eventually got used to it.

Must read for visitors to India

Lots of dark humor with a real understanding of life in modern India. Narration is half the pleasure of the story. Can't imagine reading it without hearing the voice.