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)

A well told story of an ugly world

The narrator tells the story with the right amount of detail; enough to let you picture the world he inhabits. It's a very cruel and ugly world, but ironically, the book contains humor. A good read. My only criticism was that the narrator's Indian accent was very heavy and seemed phony. It was a detraction for me, but after about an hour I stop noticing. It's very much worth listening to.

A well told story with an enthusiastic narrator

The story follows the path of a lowly tea server in his ascent up the financial ladder in India.A country still seperated by castes,but fast modernizing.It chronicles the relationship between master and servant and helps us get a sense of what India is really like and why it is the way it is.The voice of John Lee is wonderful and really adds to the story.It is at times quite funny as well as instructional.I may buy the additonal titles by this author,since I have a keen interest in Asia,but the reviews weren't as glowing as they were for this book.Life of Pi was also very good,but perhaps not as plausible as this story was.

The good and bad of India

The novel was a very informative and satirical. This is one of the best novels I've come across recently. Causes the reader to think of different perspectives.

Loved it

Fabulous. One of the best stories and readers I've encountered after many audio books. Highly recommended

Great read with a fresh & fantastic literary voice!

I rarely have the stamina to follow a story unless it is truly captivating and unique. This story is. It is a witty and fascinating tale with somewhat of an unreliable servant and narrator. Loved it!

Ferocious.

This is a very powerful book. I was surprised to learn it was a debut novel. The writing is concise and minimal. Looking forward to future works by this talented writer.

Terrible narration, almost offensive

Is there a shortage for Indian male narrators on audible? This John Lee might be an amazing narrator of other books but his cultural appropriation is very offensive. Especially, when he pronounces Ganga as ganja (which means a bald man in Hindi) and tries so hard to put on an Indian English accent, which, by the way, is completely uncalled for in my opinion. Every minute of listening to this man was painful. Some might feel that I’m exaggerating here but you will not understand until you experience it.

The story is fast paced and sometimes exaggerated beyond reason. The author also tries to portray America as a perfect country, when it is not. But, if you see this from the eyes of a middle class Indian, it is understandable. The overall story is good. The reason why Balram writes to the Chinese premier is unclear. It’s a smart move to make this a movie but I’m not sure if it’s an equally good book.

A fun satire

A hilarious book that still gives you a lot to think about. You care about the characters for and for bad.

super reader and a real page turner

A nice pairing with Shantaram, which is one of my favorite books and audio books. Adiga reveals the dark side of Bangalore from the native's perspective. Kinda dark and funny. Great reader!

Absolutely Adored This Book

This book is a delight. I would describe it as" Driving Miss Daisy" meets "Rocky" East Indian style. It has humor albeit dark at times. The narration was great, the story new, imaginative and ripe for those who like to see justice served by the underdog. A fantastic listen you will not regret.