I read Arvind Adiga's White Tiger quite by chance - I got it off the sidewalk on a cold December winter, in Karol Bagh at an irresistable price - under a 100 bucks. Frankly, I wasnt all that eager to read it. After his repeated rants in the Hindu, and even in India Today about, first, the state of Karnataka's politics (still forgiveable), and then about how his mother dressed him as a girl when he was a kid(!??), I began to think the Prize had gone to his head. Surely there are better ways to express angst at being displaced from Madras; and the 'Madrasis' dont even call it that anymore!
So it was with some trepidation that I opened the book - and lo and behold! what a book! I say, what a book!! I could not put the book down. It was so smooth, no breaks, I really wonder if he sat down and wrote it all in one go. Simply put, if he hadnt been given the awadrd, the jury would have died of shame later on anyways.
Moral of the story - Authors are so much more readable BEFORE they are 'prized'! The long list proves it - Adiga, Arundhati Roy and gang.
And to those of you who havent read it yet - hurry, read it - beg, borrow or steal (as I did!! well, it was such a steal)
