Finally after owning book for 5 years and 2 failed attempts, I have read Shantaram.
This book was a birthday gift from two of my good friends (TnR). I wanted to read the book cause it was highly rated. TnR wanted to give me something about Mumbai - they love Mumbai (I on the other hand ...I like Mumbai).
For the first two times, I didn't like this book at all. Too much of 'i love India' for me at that time. I really culdn't understand how and why would an Australian will love India !
However, this time, my perception was very different. I did love my country 5 years back...but I used to think that since other countries are so much modern and progressed that no one from those countries can love India. But then, I moved to UK and then US. As they say, grass is always greener on the other side...after moving to different countries, I understood that though these countries are indeed very cosmopolitan, provide great facilities to residents...they still don't have what we have in India. India has reality, it has proximity to life and human beings, or as it is said in Shantaram...India has heart. I know these are big statements but my experience in two different countries has made me appreciate what we have in India - something which I didn't see earlier and probably could have never seen, had I stayed there for all my life.
And it is because of this experience, this change that I could appreciate, enjoy and really love the story of Shantaram. Yes, there were fictional subplots in the novel but through out the book, Gregory never lost touch to one reality - he loves India/mumbai. And that's what binds me to story of Shantaram .
PS: It has been 2 weeks since I have finished this book. But still, now when I read anything else, I start thinking abt Shantaram - weird but it is the only character after Harry Potter about whom I have thought after completing a book! Has this happen with you?
