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

By: Vikas Swarup

Narrated by: Kerry Shale

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)

AMAZING

Before it was Slumdog Millionaire and the basis of an Academy Award-winner, Q&A was the rare abridged novel that had everyone in the office talking. It all felt so seamless - and Kerry Shale's characterizations were spot-on; for me, the edits just made this story stronger. That's why - even with an unabridged edition available - this version of the now famous novel is the one I recommend. (And why haven't I listened to more of Shale's performances?!)

A treat!

This was a fantastic listen! I'm on my second time through...very engaging ending indeed! The color and imagination invoked reminds me of another audiobook I picked up here called Shantaram. I can't imagine the movie living up to this fascinating tale....

Chronic state of hope despite reality

Protaganist was simultaneously pitiful and hopeful. The human spirit is displayed in a painful, yet oddly humorous fashion. The narrator captures the attitude and personalities of the charactors perfectly.

Original and delightful

The narrator is outstanding. I loved this book. Almost listened without a break. Highly recommended Now I am going to go watch the movie

Best narration of any book

My wife and I somehow managed to make it to 2015 without having seen the movie Slumdog Millionaire. I chose this because of the buy one get one books that are now movies deal. The story was great but the narration was absolutely unreal, phenomenal! Hard to believe one man does all those voices and does them so well. It's worth a listen just to experience the narration!