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)

Different Culture, Different World...

As someone who is interested in how people all over the world live and survive, i was particularly interested in this book. It amazes me at times how very different life can be in other countries. This story takes us on a descriptive journey through parts of India on one man's jouney from rags to riches. His environment was so different than the world that i live in, so i truely did not know what to expect next. It was an eye opening adventure as to how other parts of the world can function. I found vast differences in our morality and ethics. I am not sure i could survive in some of his standard living conditions, so i certainly could not judge him or fully understand the motivations for his decisions and actions. I can't say that i particularly liked the main character, but i did enjoy the story. If you want to take a virtual trip to visit a different world from America, this book offers an affordable and in depth exploration of a completely different culture.

I felt as if I was back in Asia!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! This book's protagonist, an entrepreneur, has a different approach to life. The descriptions of life in India are so vivid that I felt as if I was actually smelling and feeling the country. There are many laugh out loud moments. Graft and corruption can be humorous.

What other book might you compare The White Tiger to and why?

The author's book

Which scene was your favorite?

So many! Probably when his name

Took awhile to get into.

I like books where I learn about different countries and cultures and this satisfied that. Very descriptive. It was ultimately a decent read.

Interesting and Entertaining

If you could sum up The White Tiger in three words, what would they be?

Culturally educational, startling.

Would you be willing to try another book from Aravind Adiga? Why or why not?

The story reminded me a bit of Slumdog Millionaire in the way it showed the difficulties of living in some parts of India, as well as the cultural challenges of the class system.

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The performance was brilliant!!!

Horrible, borderline offensive performance

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Find a new narrator to perform with a neutral accent.

What didn’t you like about John Lee’s performance?

I am not sure where the narrator learned his "Indian accent." I have lived in India over 30 years. Not once I have heard someone speak English like this. Made it harder and irritating to listen.

Was The White Tiger worth the listening time?

Might be better to read.

fake accent made it hard

it colored the whole story. not sure what I think. I might have to read it the old fashioned way. stonefly saecaaric story tho it does have a point. just a little hard to take.

Brilliant

brilliant story, brilliant narration. I think this is one of the best audio books ever.

A great story

I liked the way the author told at least the first part of this story as he is writing a letter to someone who will visit India and trying to tell them the truth about their country before they are shown what is on the surface and all that is false. Nice blend of humor and serious.

Very entertaining!

A captivating story by Aravind Adiga, brought to vivid life by the excellent narration of John Lee. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

An absolutely great story about life in India

A journey of a peasants life in risking everything to become an entrepreneur.

Beautifully narrated!