Rowena's Reviews > The White Tiger
The White Tiger
by
by
This was a great, darkly humorous book a friend recommended to me stating that it was her favourite book of 2012. I can definitely see why.
In this novel we find Balram Halwai, a sweetmaker from a small Indian village. He is from a low caste and finds a job working as a servant/driver to a rich Indian man. Halwai eventually escapes from his caste in a very unconventional way; by killing his boss. He then narrates his actions to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, whom he admires greatly.
This book is a satire, the narrator is hilarious at times. Underneath the satirical element is the fact that India has social issues. Adiga contrasts the "New India" with the "Old India", which he calls "the Darkness." He paints the Darkness as very gross and desperate, poverty-stricken, illiterate and superstitious. The new India isn't free from criticism either; it is labelled as being rife with corruption. I guess the point Adiga is trying to make is that despite the fact that India has reaped a lot of economic successes from globalization, not everyone is benefitting from it.
Perhaps some people may think Adiga was too harsh with his portrayal of India. However, I believe Adiga is giving a voice to the voiceless; the poor in India, those living in the Darkness, those people who are illiterate, suffering from leprosy etc., and it is important not to sweep societal problems under the rug.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
In this novel we find Balram Halwai, a sweetmaker from a small Indian village. He is from a low caste and finds a job working as a servant/driver to a rich Indian man. Halwai eventually escapes from his caste in a very unconventional way; by killing his boss. He then narrates his actions to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, whom he admires greatly.
This book is a satire, the narrator is hilarious at times. Underneath the satirical element is the fact that India has social issues. Adiga contrasts the "New India" with the "Old India", which he calls "the Darkness." He paints the Darkness as very gross and desperate, poverty-stricken, illiterate and superstitious. The new India isn't free from criticism either; it is labelled as being rife with corruption. I guess the point Adiga is trying to make is that despite the fact that India has reaped a lot of economic successes from globalization, not everyone is benefitting from it.
Perhaps some people may think Adiga was too harsh with his portrayal of India. However, I believe Adiga is giving a voice to the voiceless; the poor in India, those living in the Darkness, those people who are illiterate, suffering from leprosy etc., and it is important not to sweep societal problems under the rug.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
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Reading Progress
December 28, 2012
– Shelved
December 28, 2012
– Shelved as:
indian-lit
December 28, 2012
– Shelved as:
contemporary
January 29, 2013
–
Started Reading
February 1, 2013
–
Finished Reading
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Rowena
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rated it 4 stars
30 jan. 2013 04:39
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I felt the chandelier was just a sign of riches. It could be a sign that Balram has left the darkness. What do you think?
On the other hand, I believe injustices like what happened in the book should be bared for all to see.Not just injustices in poor countries but in affluent nations such as Canada. If we feel ashamed of a negative aspect of our society, we should try to change it.
You're right about the chandelier; I did notice it was mentioned quite a bit. I remember when I was a child a chandelier was a sign of opulence and when my family got one I was thrilled! I don't even think I really like them to be honest, it's just the idea of them! So this got me thinking of the "nouveau riche", the people who have grown up poor and suddenly come into a lot of money. They need to show people that they have "taste" when they don't really know the first thing about it. Does that make any sense?
On the other hand, I believe injustices like what happened in the book should be bared for all to see.Not just injustices in poor countries but in affluent nations such as Canada. If we feel ashamed of a negative aspect of our society, we should try to change it.
You're right about the chandelier; I did notice it was mentioned quite a bit. I remember when I was a child a chandelier was a sign of opulence and when my family got one I was thrilled! I don't even think I really like them to be honest, it's just the idea of them! So this got me thinking of the "nouveau riche", the people who have grown up poor and suddenly come into a lot of money. They need to show people that they have "taste" when they don't really know the first thing about it. Does that make any sense?
Yes, I would love for more people to know about the problems my city has. It's usually voted as the top city in the world but honestly I see so much poverty here everyday, it's so sad. We have a huge homeless population, drug use, child poverty, too many people trying to survive on minimum wage...I think if more people outside of Canada knew about this, we would be embarrassed BUT perhaps this would compel the Government to make some changes.
And I completely agree with what you said about writers being able to speak for those without a voice, that is such a wonderful thought and one I do myself in my social activism.
Balram is definitely one of the nouveau riche and since he spent so much time observing his boss and the family, he probably got an idea of what it was like to be rich.
Also, what did you think about the awful magazines the drivers read? The ones about rape and murdering your boss? Balram said they were so the drivers could live vicariously through the characters in the magazine but they wouldn't act out their fantasies because the bad guys are always caught. That got me to thinking about all the rapes that have been happening in Delhi.
Yes, I thought the tactic was truly disturbing also. I know that people say that religion was created to control the people (I'm not putting down religion because, after all, I have a religion!) and since India is such a religious country I figured that religion would be enough. I guess not! And obviously the magazines didn't help that much because Balram murdered his boss!
Haha, no problem ("chatty"). I feel if he hadn't been so chatty I probably would have truly hated him. I couldn't help living him just a bit.
Well, this has truly been fun, Cherr! I love discussing books with people because we can learn so much from each other. We should do this again some time:)
I always think of Canada as a country of intellectuals and humanitarians (except for the Alberta oil sands, which sound yukky, I suspect all the lusters-after-money live there...). Oh yes, and then there is the whole French Quebec wanting independence thing. And how the Innuits fit in to Canada's general success... But basically everyone I know who has been to Canada has loved it, plus I know some really nice people who live there. I have always thought if I didn't live in the UK I would like to live in Canada. I am quite surprised by your talk of a lot of people living in poverty there...
Thanks for your comments:)
Yes, in general Canada is a wonderful place. We are very environmentally and socially conscious, which I love. People also tend to be more open-minded here, another great thing. People usually don't pay the Quebec Nationalism thing any mind anymore:D
I think there's a huge poverty problem for a few reasons. Firstly, the cost of living is very high while minimum wage is low. Secondly, because we have the mildest winters in all of Canada we attract homeless people from all across the country (I actually spoke to one from Quebec! They usually stow away on freight trains). Thirdly, Canada receives over 12,000 refugees each year and most of them can't speak English or French so it's difficult to get a job.
And of course the poor Native Canadians:( Not sure if it's news over there but there's a movement called Idle No More taking place right now; the Natives are trying to reclaim their culture and honour and are trying to get noticed by Prime Minister Harper. British Columbia has the largest population of Natives in Canada and I think most of them experience some poverty. It's truly sad.
Of course I've painted a bleak picture of Canada but it truly is a wonderful place! I just feel that, like in most other affluent nations, the social problems aren't aired as much.
Okay, I appear to have rambled on quite a bit :D
That's good to hear!! And good to have you advertise our country!
Sometimes I feel that non-Quebecers are fed up with the whole "Quebec thing" - particularly now with the PQ in "power" in the province of Quebec - but they have a minority so have to be careful (for Caroline PQ is Parti Quebecois which is a staunch nationalist party - for separation, sovereignty..)
Yes and Canada is a great country, as a Canadian prime Minister(Jean Chretien) said "people from all over the world come to Canada to have our problems"!
And Caroline, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law live in Alberta so I will pass on your thoughts to them (haha)
I think most people don't think Quebec will really secede. I read a lot about Trudeau, Quebec Nationalism etc and my only concern would be with the status of the French language in the country; I hope the Government will do more to encourage the French language, especially here on the West Coast.
I'm glad :) I really liked the conversational tone of the book. It made the shocking details a bit easier to take. I should check to see whether Adiga has written any other books.
Thanks for your comments:)
Yes, in general Canada is a wonderful place. We are very environmentally and socially conscious, which I love. People also tend to be more open-minded he..."
Hi Rowena - that was absolutely fascinating. I think up until now my few Canadian friends have lived roughly in the area of Ontario, so it is very interesting for me to learn a bit about the west coast. I was deeply interested in what you had to say.
Yes a mix of a high standard of living and a low basic wage does not make for easy living.
I can also well see how people flood to BC if the weather is better - it can be absolutely bitter elsewhere - and again this must be particularly difficult to cope with if you are poor.
How interesting that you have a high level of Native Canadians. For some reason - in my ignorance - I always thought of them populating northern Canada.
So - you have taught me tons. Thank you for that.
That's good to hear!! And good to have you advertise our country!
Sometimes I feel that non-Quebecers are ..."
Ah, how interesting to hear that Quebec has a government that is pro independence, but with too small a majority to do anything about it. They are nevertheless in office - which suggests they are pretty popular :-/
Whoops! My views on Alberta are obviously really skewed. I just checked out flickr.
I thought Alberta was like this.....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridge_c...
But it turns out to be like this....
http://www.flickr.com/groups/albertal...
ie it turns out to be utterly gorgeous! My apologies to your mother-in-law and sister-in-law :~)
You're more than welcome:) I had an awesome anthropology prof who did some work in Northern Canada among the Iskut First Nations and I must credit him with exposing me to Aboriginal issues. Can you believe Canada only has a little over 1 million Aboriginal people? :( And sorry, I was wrong; Ontario has the largest Native population, BC is second. Northern Canada has higher proportions of Native people though.
You know what I found out the other day? I was at an event at the Vancouver Public Library and the MC said the library was built on Native ground so they had to say a Native prayer. I thought that was pretty cool :)
Yes, how nice that the MC of the meeting you went to acknowledged the earlier presence of the Natives. I sometimes think of the early history of where I live too. Layers upon layers of humanity, and different ways of being.
Yes - a move from Tanzania to Canada would definitely bring one out in goose bumps! Brrrrrr!
(there are advantages to having a mother-in-law in Calgary!!)
When you visit these sites there are people there from all over the world
Lake Louise
http://www.google.ca/search?q=lake+lo...
Moraine Lake my favourite place and near Lake Louise
http://www.google.ca/search?q=moraine...
Maligne Lake (near Jasper)
http://www.google.ca/search?q=maligne...
This place is a little off the beaten track
http://www.num-ti-jah.com/
Rowena - that is awful about the pipeline in the Athabasca glacier - hope its not true
If you want flat try Saskatchewan or Manitoba
Michael, I hope it's not true either ; they'd be mad to ruin that pristine environment :(
I looked at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge too, and am ready to book myself in for a blissful weekend :-)
Rowena wrote: "You know I read some reviews on goodreads and it seems as though quite a few people living in India hated the book. I guess it makes sense because overall India is being portrayed in a negative lig..."
Indians mostly hate this book because it makes them look into their conscience. Most Indian readers are themselves like the rich in the book - having servants who are treated in this same manner. And it is so comfortable life, they neither want to be reminded of their vices nor want to change. You won't expect slave owners to like a book against slavery. Believe me, I'm an Indian and patriotism has to do nothing with their dislike.
Loved the review.
Indians mostly hate this book because it makes them look into their conscience. Most Indian readers are themselves like the rich in the book - having servants who are treated in this same manner. And it is so comfortable life, they neither want to be reminded of their vices nor want to change. You won't expect slave owners to like a book against slavery. Believe me, I'm an Indian and patriotism has to do nothing with their dislike.
Loved the review.
Thanks for your great comment, Siddarth, and for shedding more light on the reason for some people's dislike of the book (I can see that you enjoyed it too). Ah yes, books like this one cause people to take a long look at themselves, it can't be easy!
Thank you, Rosa! I'm glad the comments on this thread have compelled you to add this book:) It is really interesting and a fun though very thought-provoking read. That's great that you're able to be more proactive and help those in your neighbourhood! I think it's so easy for us to forget that we live right next door to people who actually could do with some help, and charity really does begin at home. I look forward to seeing what you make of the book:)