This book is huge. All 944 pages. The subject matter isn't small either, full of stories of prison, hatred, war, good evil - but to be honest it's all a bit contrived.
It is classed as fiction - however is supposedly "based on true events". Because of this - I felt there was something very James Frey (author of "A million little pieces"). I felt that there was too much coincidence in this novel. I didn't feel that it was very realistic at all. I guess I was expecting more of the richness of India, stuggles past the mafia, real life issues rather than the crime glorifying novel that this became...
A young man suddenly becoming a doctor in the slums after only basic first aid training, dealing with lepers for black market medication, helping with a cholera epidemic, then entering the indian mafia, then going into the afghanistan war - with in fights and love interests on the way - all seems a bit much don't you think?
It did keep me entertained, with interesting (however often overdone) characters - that for all their flowery indtroductions and lives, still seemed two dimensional.
The lovable scamp, anti-hero didn't sit with me very well, as he WAS on the run from the law initially, and his descent into a heroin drug mess for 3 months just didn't feel real. He is on the run - and barely mentions his wife and daughter - which I am certain would more than consume a normal man.
Interesting to note that this is being made into a film, Johnny Depp listed to play a central character (as well as buying the rights for a cool 2million).
I would read again, only to hope I could pull more of the underlying themes, beauty and story out of it.
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