29 Feb 12 A Comprehensive Review of Shantaram

Ever since it was first published in 2003, Shantaram has become an international bestselling novel that is written by Australian, Gregory David Roberts. This novel deals with the real life story of Roberts who manages to escape from an Australian prison and heads to India. The novel is based on his life and experiences in that country.

The novel begins with the escape of an Australian convict called Lindsay who escapes from jail and lands up in the city of Mumbai, India. Although intended as a stop-over, Lindsay stays on in India for the next ten years and the book revolves around his experiences there and his journey to find a purpose for his life.

Lindsay makes friends with an Indian called Prabhakar and comes to stay in the slums of Mumbai who accept him as family. It is here that Lin is given a new name called Shantaram, meaning Man of Peace because that is what the people here perceive him to be. Shantaram then goes on to help the people in his slum and become accustomed to the daily life of Mumbai.

All along the novel, Shantaram tends to return to his old ways of crime and violence but each time returns back to the good side becoming a better and more learned man. He befriends several local people, movie stars, criminals and also begins to love an American woman by the name of Karla.

With the help of a mafia don, Shantaram also travels to Africa and Afghanistan to continue in his ways of crime but ultimately returns back to India. On the death of his mentor, Lin realizes the folly of his ways and decides to live an honest life. He shuns all crime and violence and believes that in order to become a better person, the change must come from within.

There is also a sequel planned for this book as towards the end, Shantaram decides to travel to Sri Lanka on his quest for happiness. A worldwide best-seller, this book is available at all leading bookstores across the world. For all those looking for a discount, my suggestion would be to order online from online retailers. A book with a purpose for everyone, Shantaram is a must read book for everyone!

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