Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

This was a recommended read by a few different friends- usually a good sign and in this case definitely so. A satisfying read it was, though the story itself is a bit hard to summarize, because the book is so mammoth. It is sort of a fictionalized version of the authour's life so far, and just to give you an idea, this is the author's bio:

"Gregory David Roberts, like the hero of his novel, spent many years as a fugitive. In 1978, after his divorce, losing custody of his daughter, and being convicted of a series of robberies committed to support his heroin habit, he was jailed in an Australian maximum security prison and sentenced to nineteen years. In 1980, he escaped over the prison's front wall, and for the next ten years eluded authorities, living in New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and Europe- but for most of that time in Bombay, where he established a free medical clinic for slum-dwellers, and worked as a counterfeiter, smuggler, gunrunner, and street soldier for the Bombay mafia. He was finally captured in Germany and served out his sentence there and in Australia, during which time he wrote Shantaram. He is now a full-time writer and lives in Bombay."

The authour on his website says, "The rule of thumb for Shantaram, and for the sequel, which I’m completing now in these months, is that the experiences are all real, taken from my own life and direct personal experience, but the characters and the dialogue and the narrative structure are all creations." At the very least, this book is an incredible read just for the fact that the plot is so unbelievably outrageous that you can't help but assume it's fiction, yet much of it (by his own account) is based on experience; it's fun to wonder what is fact and what is fiction. It's a mix of his philosophies, epiphanies, and impressions of Bombay, much of it dealing with the city's black market and organized crime. His writing style is very beautiful and descriptive and philisophical, enough to make you stop and think, but as the plot gathers momentum you may find that you get so swallowed up by it that you stop appreciating the finer points as you get swept along.

I forgot to mention one thing so I'm going to add a (windy) post-script here. The authour states that the theme of Shantaram is exhile- the exhile from his past life when he became an escaped convict. But to me the theme that stood out most was that of retribution versus rehabilitation, and the way that society treats its wrong-doers. The authour's experience with prison and with being labelled as a criminal gives him a point of view that I think many people who have been in his position may share- that the modern justice system is more about vengeance and punishment than it is about leading someone to the right path and helping them to live within society. What purpose does prison really serve, a place where people are beaten and humiliated, except to satisfy the righteous and the wronged? It doesn't teach people that what they've done is wrong, or hurtful, and certainly not in a way that allows them to re-enter society as more compassionate and humane people. If anything it makes their struggle harder, or their resentment stronger, neither of which helps society as a whole deal with its inevitable problem of wrong-doers. So many literary works throughout history follow the theme that vengeance leads only to sorrow. Shantaram brings a new interpretation to the age-old theme, told through the eyes of the criminal himself, and expresses a valuable viewpoint that I think so many of us have never personally encountered. Says a character in the book, "justice is not only the way we punish those who do wrong. It is also the way we try to save them."

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

I'm sure this is a well-read book, especially with the movie coming out (already out?), but I thought I'd post it anyway, feel free to give your own thoughts!

The story of two Afghan boys of different backgrounds growing up as best friends in the same household. Amir's father is a respected and wealthy businessman and Hassan's father is his servant. Growing up under his father's shadow, Amir's confusion and hurt from his father's ambivalence towards him is acted out through his sometimes less-than-fair treatment of his fiercely loyal friend, Hassan, and ultimately leads to the demise of their relationship. Years later, Amir is compelled to return to his homeland to make amends with his past and to at last redeem himself and his loyalty to Hassan. Backdropped by the events in Afghanistan over the past 30 years which transformed the country to a place of turmoil and violence, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of what has become the way of life in Afghanistan. However the political and historical events are not discussed in great detail, leaving the reader compelled to learn more. Although the book's pace may be somewhat slow at first, the reader is rewarded with a twisting plot and a tale that is ultimately dramatic, emotional, tragic, and beautiful.

Obasan - Joy Kogawa

I picked this book up from the used book store, the guy working there thought I was buying for school because it is a popular book used in Canadian schools so it's easily already been read. It's a short novel and an easy read. The story is about a Japanese Canadian family and their experiences in Canada during the second world war. The story is told from the point of view of the daughter and weaves through present and past experiences to explore the story of the family I believe it is historically accurate as well. One thing I really liked about this book was the style of writing, in so many ways it feels like poetry. The way she describes things is beautiful, this is a sentence that I loved as soon as I read it:

"The laughter in my arms is quiet as the moon, quiet as snow falling, quiet as the white light from the from the stars." (p 170)

Anyways, the book is a nice read. If you are interested let me know and I'll mail it to you.