Shantaram

Just finished reading ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts. This is definitely not a book of ideas (the philosophy behind it is quite sophomoric); the writing is also a bit drab and unremarkable (several Amazon reviewers ripped some of his more unfortunate metaphors). However, it most definitely is an epic book, with a vast and captivating storyline. The only section that I did not particularly like was the Afghan episode; it seems plastered on the main narrative and I had to force myself to read it, frequently losing interest.It would also have been interesting to know more about the main character’s personal background; not much is told about his previous history and the reasons for it, and that knowledge might have shed additional information on his ulterior motivations. Also, he is an Australian, but he could have been an Argentine or an Armenian just the same; little of his cultural background transpires in his observations or attitudes (why the heck did he come to India to start with? why not Thailand or Madagascar?); and his observations of India, other than it being a place of dance, music, and love, are remarkably free of any anthropological insight.Quite a story, though.