The White Tiger
by Aravind Adiga
2008 Booker Prize winner
2008, 276 pp.
Hmmm, well, I happened to get this book from the library on the Saturday before the Booker Prize was announced “just in case.” When The White Tiger was revealed as the winner, I was really surprised. Not only did it have the longest odds to win, but I had recently read The Secret Scripture and not-so-secretly hoped it would win. In fact, the committee admitted these two were the main contenders and that the decision was not unanimous.
To be honest, I kind of groaned when I heard Adiga’s book was the winner. I don’t have a love affair at all with the Booker prize winners that I’ve read, so I was a little skeptical that I would enjoy this one. But, being the trooper that I am, I thought I’d give it at least 40 or so pages to see if it could capture my interest.
Surprise, surprise; it did. Not only is it a scathing indictment against India’s treatment of its poorest citizens, it also manages to be a clever black comedy. This is exactly what the prize committee chairman revealed as the reason behind its decision. So which book did I like better, The White Tiger or The Secret Scripture? It’s really comparing apples to oranges. They’re just not the same type of book at all. They both are worthy social commentaries on the authors’ home countries, but just written in a totally different style. While Sebastian Barry’s prose is lyrical, Adiga’s is biting (and comical). They both work spectacularly, just in different ways. I can definitely see why the committee had a difficult decision on its hands, and either one would have been a winner in my book.
How does it fare against the other Booker Prize winners? Well, I definitely enjoyed it more than some of the other winners I’ve read, including:
2007 – The Gathering 
by Anne Enright
2006 – The Inheritance of Loss 
by Kiran Desai
2005 – The Sea 
by John Banville
2000 – The Blind Assassin 
by Margaret Atwood
1997 – The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
1985 – The Bone People by Keri Hulme
1983 – Life & Times of Michael K by J. M. Coetzee
And believe me, no one was more surprised than I was.
I’m glad you reviewed this book. I had seen that it won but I didn’t know what it was about. It sounds pretty good–I think I’ll try it out.
A very enjoyable post. I would have rated The Sea****,The Bone People****1/2 and The God of Small Things**** so it seems I liked them a little more than you did. The Gathering***1/2 was a bit disappointing for me but I can’t put my finger on the reason. Based on what you’ve said The Secret Scripture sounds like one I would like. Thank you for rating these.
Thanks for this review! It might be the first I’ve taken the time to look at but it made me want to read the book.
I don’t have a fruitful relationship with Booker winners all the time either, so I’m glad to see a positive review of this one. I’m very interested in giving it a try.
Really nice review Michelle! This one is on my TBR. I don’t give awards a lot of merit. I like to read and decide for myself.
Thanks for your review of The White Tiger.
Having read — and thereafter constantly citing to friends and others portions from Thomas Friedman’s “The World Is Flat” — especially where Friedman describes how technology is remaking today’s India, I found Adiga’s book a stunning contrast and, yes, quite scathing in its description by the anti-hero of contemporary life there.
I enjoyed the book, particularly its structure — a series of seven letters (yes, their tone is quite comical) that the protagonist writes (but perhaps doesn’t send?) to the Chinese premier just prior to the latter’s visit to India.
To me, the letters create a sense of historical perspective — that in the near future, this will no longer be the “white man’s world” but rather the domain of the “brown man.”
I am reading this book right now and really enjoying it..
Hi,
I too read this book and liked it. It’s a simple plot and full of stereotypes. One good thing about the book is that it is not long-winded, just about the right length for a slow reader like me. I’ve jotted down my impression and posted a small snippet in my blog. You may perhaps like to drop by.
Thanks
Nanda
http://ramblingnanda.blogspot.com
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