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reviews
Oct 23, 2009
Trin
rated it: 
Like a Douglas Coupland book set in India, this novel follows a group of six people working the night shift at a failing call center on Thanksgiving Day. They have to deal with Americans who don’t know how to work their appliances, but they also have their own personal problems—families, romances, career woes—to grapple with.
I liked Bhagat’s characters a lot; I enjoyed their somewhat meandering conversations and their relationships with each other. I also, for the most part, like the More...
I liked Bhagat’s characters a lot; I enjoyed their somewhat meandering conversations and their relationships with each other. I also, for the most part, like the More...
Sep 15, 2008
Swapna
rated it: 
I think this is the best book i have for quite sometime because it depicts so realistically what goes inside the call centers.Also you really can relate to some of the characters...the story holds you till the end and very enjoyable.....
Sep 25, 2007
Catherine
rated it:
This is a rather astonishing book. I picked it up at the library partly because my son works at an American call center (Comcast) and partly because it is Indian. We´re all familiar with Indian call centers; this is feedback from the other end. They aren´t too impressed with us, either. The fictional call center provides help to customers of a household appliance manufacturer, and the six person group involved handles the frequent and difficult callers. Though the money is good, all six fa
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 21, 2011
Sneha
rated it: 
This is the part of the reading experience that I have shared on a mail.
I really loved reading the book, it was
like a movie & I can see the characters playing there part, their way
of talking, the sophisticated pretension, friendly concern, all of
them were like the regular peoples we meet in our day to day life, but
as it is said "heroes are not born, it is the situations they face &
the way they deal them, make them one!". I would like to clear it tha More...
I really loved reading the book, it was
like a movie & I can see the characters playing there part, their way
of talking, the sophisticated pretension, friendly concern, all of
them were like the regular peoples we meet in our day to day life, but
as it is said "heroes are not born, it is the situations they face &
the way they deal them, make them one!". I would like to clear it tha More...
Sep 15, 2011
Charlie
rated it: 
The premise of “One Night @ the Call Center” is simple. It’s about five call center agents going through the worst night of their lives, until a call from God not only saves their futures, but their lives as well. Written from the perspective of Shyam, the characters may seem stereotypically Indian, but that does not mean they’re just random people with issues. Instead, his characters have their own set of skeletons in their closet that make them uniquely human. This offers the chance to not onl
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Jul 17, 2011
Whitney
rated it:
One Night at the Call Center follows one night in the life of Indian call-center employee Shyam. He and six of his co-workers are all facing personal crises and essential life decisions: Vroom's idealism is at war with his job, Radhika pops pills to deal with her difficult family life, Esha is learning about the compromises she might have to make to become a model, Military Uncle is estranged from his son and grandson, and Shyam's ex-girlfriend Priyanka's mom has just arranged her marriage with
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Nov 22, 2010
Arlington
rated it: 
I'm really hungry which means I'm in a really bad mood and I will be until I eat something. There is pasta on the stove. Do not fear my hatred. Embrace it. It is hungry, it is the truth. I hated this book in a complete way, like where you go on a journey of hatred to be able to clearly and openly hate it. I hate people that like this book, which is apparently a large portion of India. I hate that I sat on the freeway in traffic thinking "well, I guess it's for a certain sort of reader that
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(3 people liked it)
Mar 30, 2011
Yea really interesting. Deals with the new generation in India. The challenges they are facing in the IT sector. It is a moving tale about the vast possibilities we, Indians, have in this global world. It analyzes the problems of Indian economy, its failure in the contemporary world. The main reason Bhagat mentioned is the mismanagement and inefficient rule of our political leaders. One major issue he trying to reminds us is that, even though we have potentials, our youngsters have abilities, th
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Jul 25, 2009
Geetika
rated it:
Well thats a loser thing to read.
I have heard of so highly about Chetan Bhagat and his first attempt toward writing i.e. "five Point someone" that i decided to read the second book " one night @ the call center" .
Trust me i was seriously disappointed after finishing it up. This was pretty idiotic stuff from someone who very proudly boast himself to belong to the best thinking tanks of the country (the IITs and the IIMs)
The initial Ca More...
I have heard of so highly about Chetan Bhagat and his first attempt toward writing i.e. "five Point someone" that i decided to read the second book " one night @ the call center" .
Trust me i was seriously disappointed after finishing it up. This was pretty idiotic stuff from someone who very proudly boast himself to belong to the best thinking tanks of the country (the IITs and the IIMs)
The initial Ca More...
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 24, 2010
shruti
rated it:
WHY did he use all those templates and font changes and highlighting the managerial words? Does he think we are that dumb that we need a text change to understand the wavy lines back in time scene change? Or is HE that dumb? I finished this book, but I was not impressed. The story was not bad up until the last few chapters, which I guess I knew was coming but was far too sensationalistic and obnoxious. Oh and the giant call center solution at the end was so flimsy and obvious that it would fall
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 11, 2011
Dharshan
rated it:
A book which pales in comparison to other books by Indian authors in terms of it's literary value but seems to be a commercial success(sadly!). Chetan Bhagat's talent as a possible Bollywood script writer shines through the pages! The book,though,is commendable for it's apt and vivid description of the call-centre culture with all it's bright lights and decadence,It fails in terms of its story line which depends heavily on unnecessary melodrama and kitsch and the cameo by God(which again is a l
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Dec 13, 2011
Ankit
rated it:
A lot of hype is there about Chetan Bhagat and his books. But I would say Chetan Bhagat is no writer. He doesn't know to write properly. Books beginning are great, character introduction is awesome but, story is funny and seems to be good but the end is so pathetic and senseless that it leads nowhere and ruins the whole interest. About the writings of Chetan Bhagat I would say he's an average writer.
Its like paying Rs. 200 for a good Hindi Movie but when you go its not even average (full po More...
Its like paying Rs. 200 for a good Hindi Movie but when you go its not even average (full po More...
Aug 12, 2011
Angelica Watson (psst! amrutha)
rated it:
It was not awesome, or good.
Just in between somewhere..
I liked the ending though.
How God calls, and helps them out. I find it verrry difficult to believe.
For the rest of it, you are most certainly wasting your time. Sadly, you have to go through the beginning, middle and end to get the whole story. So, torture comes first, and then freedom.
It's like that typical book, with the lead character repenting himself and mumbling and grumbling all through.
B More...
Just in between somewhere..
I liked the ending though.
How God calls, and helps them out. I find it verrry difficult to believe.
For the rest of it, you are most certainly wasting your time. Sadly, you have to go through the beginning, middle and end to get the whole story. So, torture comes first, and then freedom.
It's like that typical book, with the lead character repenting himself and mumbling and grumbling all through.
B More...
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 06, 2010
Kate
rated it:
This is the only book I have ever read where the author thanks Microsoft and MS Word in the acknowledgments section.
Pretty thin soup, overall. I picked it up because it's been very popular at the library, and I was interested in the depiction of what it's like to be a young person in India working at a call center. Those day-in-the-life details were the highlight of the book for me. Bhagat's main thrust is that his group of five characters need to face reality, stand up for themselve More...
Pretty thin soup, overall. I picked it up because it's been very popular at the library, and I was interested in the depiction of what it's like to be a young person in India working at a call center. Those day-in-the-life details were the highlight of the book for me. Bhagat's main thrust is that his group of five characters need to face reality, stand up for themselve More...
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 09, 2012
Julia
rated it:
This is supposedly a collective portrait of the youth who fill India's call centers, epitomized through one "crazy" night at one such center with a group of five such youth. Great premise, terrible execution. The characters are stock, and more than a little boring, while Bhagat tries for philosophy and ends up failing preachily (moral of the book--"believe in yourself"--ugh). A useless prologue and epilogue aims to inject the author into the story, for what reason we'll ne
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Apr 12, 2009
Mehul
rated it:
The book is all about the way chetan bhagat writes..he is the next generation writer who is making indian youth to do the most hactic think they ever would do that is to read... he has made a point now in his every book to stick u with his book till u read the last word...i dont know how he has developed this way of writing but it is something very interesting and important to learn... The book starts with a fiction talk and climax is also the same.. This book of his shows he is a true indian be
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Dec 05, 2008
Anupama
rated it:
A good book needs to hold your interest right through... this one is just that! You would finish it at one go.
Its not as if that one can necessarily identify himself with one or more of the characters, but the reader enjoys himself right through. Some sentences are excellently phrased. And what God preaches is cliche, but gets you thinking.
There is a small problem with the book... it has been hyped for so long as a night when God calls up in the call centre. For one, God More...
Its not as if that one can necessarily identify himself with one or more of the characters, but the reader enjoys himself right through. Some sentences are excellently phrased. And what God preaches is cliche, but gets you thinking.
There is a small problem with the book... it has been hyped for so long as a night when God calls up in the call centre. For one, God More...
Oct 07, 2011
Hyder
rated it:
Someone truly said 'Don't judge a book by its movie' & it was right for this book. Though, there is nothing really mind blowing thing about this book but the movie was a PIECE OF SHIT. I read this book & was well aware that this will be too some call center centered guy & girl love story & yes it was but the only thing unique is the call from the God which I don't know why chetan added this only to make something different from his previous other books.
Really, I wish his new book whi More...
Really, I wish his new book whi More...
Jan 02, 2010
Deepak
rated it:
A very disappointing second novel from Chetan Bhagat. As usual, he spins a (ridiculous) story around a topic that is bound to buy him readers - a call center (of the many) in India.
Bollywood is what he seems to be heading for; in all probability, the B-grade movies that people go to watch with their brains turned off. The story has some outrageously fantastic elements (like a phone call from God), while being narrated in the most pedestrian of ways.
I would not dwell on More...
Bollywood is what he seems to be heading for; in all probability, the B-grade movies that people go to watch with their brains turned off. The story has some outrageously fantastic elements (like a phone call from God), while being narrated in the most pedestrian of ways.
I would not dwell on More...
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2010
Christopher
rated it:
This (and five point someone which I couldn't find) was recommended to me by a young Indian friend as books that had a big impact culturally in India. It was a fun story, and pulled me right along.
I'm sure many would be offended by the portrayal of Americans in the book, and still more would be offended by the portrayal of God, so I wouldn't recommend the book for those sensitive about such things.
Exactly the sort of cultural perspective I hope to get in an international book. More...
I'm sure many would be offended by the portrayal of Americans in the book, and still more would be offended by the portrayal of God, so I wouldn't recommend the book for those sensitive about such things.
Exactly the sort of cultural perspective I hope to get in an international book. More...
Jun 24, 2011
Biotech
rated it:
I can write a better book than this. No..seriously! Don't know why Bhagat stoops this low when it comes to literary excellence or even just raw content. His book(s) has/have got neither. Not that he had stooped any higher before(or after for that matter), but still you get the point right? The story is so filmy,a cheesy film has already been made on it(and it did bomb big time obviously). Agreed that he's making India read like never before, but sadly he's making them read zilch. Now that he had
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Aug 02, 2011
Robin
rated it:
If you can bring yourself to read a book with an "@" in the title, you're in for a delightful read. The writing is so natural it's hard to believe that it isn't actually a true story told first hand. I've just read some of the reviews here and am quite surprised to see several condemning the book because the characters are rather rude about Americans. That's a shame, because it's a thought-provoking story told in a charming and original style.
I see it's already been made into a film. More...
I see it's already been made into a film. More...
Jun 21, 2009
Secnud
rated it:
This book sucked at all levels. That the author found an audience is surprising, shocking even, considering the numerous books under the 'Indian-Writing' Genre which are so much better and that just go unnoticed.
A group of call centre workers discuss work and personal life over the span of one work-night. Most of the dialogue is cliche, the personal situations that form part of the story seem like a melee of anecdotes picked from other books rather than inspired situations. The preachy co More...
A group of call centre workers discuss work and personal life over the span of one work-night. Most of the dialogue is cliche, the personal situations that form part of the story seem like a melee of anecdotes picked from other books rather than inspired situations. The preachy co More...
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Oct 30, 2010
Marilou
rated it:
One Night at the Call Center tells of a special night when a special group of call center employees in India receive a call from "God." The twenty somethings who staff this call center are bright young things with hopes and dreams and visions of more than life in the call center. Chetan Bhagat's story is intriguing and dashed with humor. Find out what young Indians really think of Americans and find out why "35 = 11"! This book ends in a rather silly way; totally implausi
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Jun 01, 2009
This book was awful. If not appalled by the total lack of characterization and inane plot (this book makes Bollywood seem realistic!), not to mention BASIC EDITING, you will be disgusted by all the ethnic and racist stereotypes.
The sad part is that the topic of call centers, and the lives of the Indian youths that maintain them, is actually an excellent premise for a novel. Bhagat really could have really shed some light on the topic - describing the sacrifices that these workers ma More...
The sad part is that the topic of call centers, and the lives of the Indian youths that maintain them, is actually an excellent premise for a novel. Bhagat really could have really shed some light on the topic - describing the sacrifices that these workers ma More...
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May 19, 2011
Djinnjer
rated it:
It's... okay. I didn't dislike it, but I can't think of anyone to whom I'll be recommending it either.
The framing of the story was interesting - while on an overnight train, a mysterious, beautiful woman tells the author the story of the call center, but only after he agrees to the woman's terms: if she tells the story, he must use it for his next book. But despite the reality-blurring frame, the story itself is average. The characters, all of whom work at the call center of the title, More...
The framing of the story was interesting - while on an overnight train, a mysterious, beautiful woman tells the author the story of the call center, but only after he agrees to the woman's terms: if she tells the story, he must use it for his next book. But despite the reality-blurring frame, the story itself is average. The characters, all of whom work at the call center of the title, More...
Jul 11, 2011
Preshak
rated it:
the story revolves around five people who works in a call center.one night when they return after drinkthey met with an accident.on this time the main charactor of the story has a call from god,who inspite of taking apromise from all of them he saved ther life.
The story is very nice.It become more attractive due to the writting skills of the author,the easy language written by the author & the prologue and apilougewritten at the starting and at the end of the story.
The story is very nice.It become more attractive due to the writting skills of the author,the easy language written by the author & the prologue and apilougewritten at the starting and at the end of the story.
Sep 23, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
This was a best-seller in India when I was traveling there in 2005. I couldn't find a copy there then, and I've been wanting to read it since. Fascinating look at the life of call-center workers (a world apart from their families' lives), and a rather troubling look at Indian society and at perceptions of the US. I don't know if this accurately reflects any views but the author's -- but it's an interesting perspective on a culture that constantly effects our lives.
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