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Slumdog Millionaire
Filmed on location in the streets of Mumbai and starring largely unknown actors, 'Slumdog Millionaire' is directed by Danny Boyle, who with films including 'Trainspotting' and '28 Days Later' has earned an international following.
160 pages
28 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Gina Mayer
120 books42 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. For the German author of novels, youth books and children's books, see Gina Mayer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
March 12, 2010
At first glance, “Slumdog Millionaire”, written by Vikas Swarup, would appear to be a story about someone that wins a bunch of cash in the Indian Slum but, it is much more than that. “Slumdog Millionaire” is written in the perspective of a young boy named, Ram Mohammad Thomas. Suspected of cheating on the game show Who wants to be a Billionaire, He is tortured until a mysterious lawyer comes to his aid. Suspicious of her, Ram flips and coin and from the toss, he decides to open up and tell his story. With an emotional story behind every question, Ram tells the women his explanation for knowing every question, this book takes you on a journey in a series of flashbacks to Rams childhood in the slums as we experience the troubles and accomplishment he has gone through. It will make certainly make you wonder one thing, What is the next question?
As I read the book, I noticed it was slightly hard to follow the story. There are time lapse where in one chapter Ram would be a teenager but the following chapter he would become a child and back again. This would not be much of a problem as the story holds onto your interest making you want to keep reading. “Slumdog Millionaire” is written in great detail whether it is scenes of escape or murder, sending a chill down your spine. Unlike other stories, there is no real justice in the story and even the characters like Ram, who has stolen and killed, are not all that innocent.
Like the movie, this book is a masterpiece and was a thrill to read. It keeps your attention throughout the whole story it makes it feel as if you were in Rams position throughout the book. Near the ending, Ram shows his lawyer the coin with heads on both side which he has used many times to make important decisions including when they first met. He explains to her he does not believe in luck, he makes his own. “It’s my lucky coin. But as I said, luck has got nothing to do with it (Swarup, 302).” This book and will not leave any uncertainty and will surely keep you reading on the edge of your chair (or in this case, edge of the page).
As I read the book, I noticed it was slightly hard to follow the story. There are time lapse where in one chapter Ram would be a teenager but the following chapter he would become a child and back again. This would not be much of a problem as the story holds onto your interest making you want to keep reading. “Slumdog Millionaire” is written in great detail whether it is scenes of escape or murder, sending a chill down your spine. Unlike other stories, there is no real justice in the story and even the characters like Ram, who has stolen and killed, are not all that innocent.
Like the movie, this book is a masterpiece and was a thrill to read. It keeps your attention throughout the whole story it makes it feel as if you were in Rams position throughout the book. Near the ending, Ram shows his lawyer the coin with heads on both side which he has used many times to make important decisions including when they first met. He explains to her he does not believe in luck, he makes his own. “It’s my lucky coin. But as I said, luck has got nothing to do with it (Swarup, 302).” This book and will not leave any uncertainty and will surely keep you reading on the edge of your chair (or in this case, edge of the page).
August 2, 2009
Thirteen questions and a life time of fables. I enjoyed reading this book of India and learned a great deal about Taj Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal had fourteen children in eighteen years? No wonder the population of India is so great.
Up till the twelveth question I could believe that the plot was one of a ture story. However, the book began to take the path of a fairy tale once events start revealing themselves. I did not find Shankar's story convincing, niether was the attorney's nor the show host's.
Up till the twelveth question I could believe that the plot was one of a ture story. However, the book began to take the path of a fairy tale once events start revealing themselves. I did not find Shankar's story convincing, niether was the attorney's nor the show host's.
September 7, 2013
I decided to read this book because it crossed my sights as I was cleaning my room and book shelves etc. I had been looking for a new book to read and being my lazy self I hadn't put much effort into looking for books elsewhere. I had seen the movie an liked that very much but I don't really remember it because I had watched it ages ago (what I remembered was very good). But I decided to read it especially with the sparkling reviews and awards it had been given.
The category in my bingo board I used for this novel is "a book that teaches you about another culture other then your own" this book is based in India and the main character Ram Mohammed Thomas is of Indian decent. The game show and also the detective he is telling the stories that we read, from his perspective are all Indian as well. These stories are told by Ram to Smita (the lady who is interviewing Ram because of his suspicions of knowing all the answers to an Indian games show, which has supposedly won 1 billion rupees. The stories tell us how he does know all the 12 questions, from his childhood and his life. We are really just experiencing snippets of Rams very interesting and unique life). This also means i learnt lots about the life of Ram. That can be used as a model or representative for other indian children and the real true life of Indian children and the poor citizens of india, the troubles they face etc. We learn about religion through the stories of his name, which combines three different religions. We learn of the crippling sadness that is child poverty and illegal child labour that goes on in the black markets of India. We learn about how people cheat other people out of so much through Rams life of being a cleaner/butler and being robbed. Also how there are so little real true and reliable people in this day and age.
My favourite quote from The novel 'Slumdog Millionaire' is "appearances can be the deceptive and the dividing line between good and bad is very thin indeed". This quote is thought by Ram himself fairly early in this novel when Mr Thomas is witnessing his neighbours family be torn apart and assaulted by their own father/husband. I like this quote because Ram is very smart and is very correct with this quote. It reminds me of my first impressions speech 2013. The father is very fake, to the untrained eye he seems like a civilised workman but to Ram and the neighbouring family he is the monster they wish they didn't have to live with/next to.
My favourite character in this novel by Vikas Swarup is Ram he is the ultimate main character and these are his experiences and his life we are reading. He is a smart logical thinker and this and his travels, and honestly, some good luck is why he won the billion rupees (hypothetically). I like Ram because he is the only character that really makes this book as good as it is. All the other characters in his stories fade in and out of place. There is also Smita who legally saves Ram just before he would have been tortured eventually to death. She listens to his stories as he explains question after question his reasons for knowing all of them, to prove his innocence of cheating and to get him the billion rupees, that I'm sure you and me alike will both agree he deserves, after what he has been through, after you read it. I think it is a brilliantly thought out book and deserves extremely high praise, I highly recommend it.
The category in my bingo board I used for this novel is "a book that teaches you about another culture other then your own" this book is based in India and the main character Ram Mohammed Thomas is of Indian decent. The game show and also the detective he is telling the stories that we read, from his perspective are all Indian as well. These stories are told by Ram to Smita (the lady who is interviewing Ram because of his suspicions of knowing all the answers to an Indian games show, which has supposedly won 1 billion rupees. The stories tell us how he does know all the 12 questions, from his childhood and his life. We are really just experiencing snippets of Rams very interesting and unique life). This also means i learnt lots about the life of Ram. That can be used as a model or representative for other indian children and the real true life of Indian children and the poor citizens of india, the troubles they face etc. We learn about religion through the stories of his name, which combines three different religions. We learn of the crippling sadness that is child poverty and illegal child labour that goes on in the black markets of India. We learn about how people cheat other people out of so much through Rams life of being a cleaner/butler and being robbed. Also how there are so little real true and reliable people in this day and age.
My favourite quote from The novel 'Slumdog Millionaire' is "appearances can be the deceptive and the dividing line between good and bad is very thin indeed". This quote is thought by Ram himself fairly early in this novel when Mr Thomas is witnessing his neighbours family be torn apart and assaulted by their own father/husband. I like this quote because Ram is very smart and is very correct with this quote. It reminds me of my first impressions speech 2013. The father is very fake, to the untrained eye he seems like a civilised workman but to Ram and the neighbouring family he is the monster they wish they didn't have to live with/next to.
My favourite character in this novel by Vikas Swarup is Ram he is the ultimate main character and these are his experiences and his life we are reading. He is a smart logical thinker and this and his travels, and honestly, some good luck is why he won the billion rupees (hypothetically). I like Ram because he is the only character that really makes this book as good as it is. All the other characters in his stories fade in and out of place. There is also Smita who legally saves Ram just before he would have been tortured eventually to death. She listens to his stories as he explains question after question his reasons for knowing all of them, to prove his innocence of cheating and to get him the billion rupees, that I'm sure you and me alike will both agree he deserves, after what he has been through, after you read it. I think it is a brilliantly thought out book and deserves extremely high praise, I highly recommend it.
February 14, 2025
The 2008 Slumdog Millionaire script was written by Simon Beaufoy and based on Q & A by Vikas Swarup. It runs at 2 hours. According to director Danny Boyle, “If ever there was a case for the role of adapter as creator, this screenplay is it.” (vii) Despite reading this screenplay and enjoying the film, I politely disagree.
Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 8, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film is broken down into 197 scenes, properly numbered on both sides of the page on the same line upon scene introduction. Scenes 9, 46, 47, 59, 146, 156, 167, 174, 175, 176, 179, and 196 are OMITTED. Some scenes have sub-scenes or alternate takes that are indicated with an A, B, etc. after. Scenes are CONTINUED: at the top left of the page, as the actual page numbers are listed in the top right corner. (MORE) and (CONTINUED) are utilized on the bottom line, center and right, respectively.
The cover page uses CAPITAL and bold lettering for the title. BY is also CAPITALIZED. DRAFT DATED 1 NOVEMBER 2007.
O/S = OFF SCREEN
V/O = VOICE OVER
There are not a lot of camera directions though, “interspersed” is followed by rows of “–“ and then the cuts, the occasional “terrible pause,” montage, “descend,” “camera pulls up,” “dramatic pause,” and “a flash of” is also featured.
There are roughly three indents before CHARACTERS are identified for speech. Stylistically, continued dialogue is stylized (CON’T) after NAME. Latika is “heart-stoppingly beautiful,” the music often “swells,” the horns hoot, and there are several scenes with urine ("piss").
Presented chronologically are unique words and phrases used throughout the entirety of the script (apologies if some are repeats):
Move with purpose, implacable, dull gleam, as suddenly…, morphing into rapturous applause, searing, bore into him, harsh bulb, without warning, amusement ruffles, thumps, rumples, late forties, seen pretty much everything, crocodile clips, pulsates, shudders, ever-present, wiry-skinny, down-draft, surprisingly nimble, corrugated, precarious, warren of lanes, depreciating, irate, hip-gyrating, renegades, winces, pebbled glass, fawning, tolerant hand, laser-like charm, snatches of filmi dancing- heroines, implausible, garland, rickety, placatory, snake-charmer noises, surging, effectively, surreptitiously, wad, slinks, evincing, eliciting, expansively, portentous, fixes him with his eyes, flash past, faintest, roaring, down upon, garish, eleven-year old, oasis of calm, whirling, billows, sprawling, hisses angrily, huddles down, half-swallowed, darts, professional smile, scornful, almost to himself, streaming, tide of humanity, wrong-footed, rummaging, theatrically, theatrical slowness, forging, heart-stoppingly beautiful, a world away, thuggish-looking, pompous, frock coat, snorts, music swells, not quite right, aerosol, certain lack of confidence, running for her life, huffs, imposing, toots, thirst-quenching affluence, for the first time in the film, ramshackle, doha, untrained but pure, back-footed, lame beggar, fiercely hot, transfixed, lunghi, bhajans, utterly bemused, slows, scour, weighing it all up, maoeuvres, interspersed, glinting, impossibly beautiful, nothing could be more beautiful, genuine wonderment, crosses his face, terrible pause, montage, doe-eyed, saunter, hectares, spectacular squares, dhobi, ghat, emanate, mesmerized, ruminate, limitless megatropolis, devoid, dozily, desultory, fourteen year-old boy, eying the possibilities, filmi music, fifties, perturbed, rag-picker, frozen moment, lolling, plucks up his courage, stupid laughter, alluring, bar-girl, swaying with alcohol, untroubled by irony, impatient grunt, despairingly, teeming, leaden, ultra-modern, collective groan, shrugs apologetically, lose their tension, grips his heart theatrically, momentarily flustered, succumbs to the inevitable, best mobile money can buy, roar of frustration, subservient, giggling-drunk, they might kiss, humanity washes around him, finishes pissing, growing fury, disgustedly, just-perceptible, half-light, sirens screaming, dingy corridor, hoots her horn furiously, silhouetting, blinding light, tumultuous applause, music rumbles, hooting horns, a buzz runs around the audience, stares hard, bemused, ever-increasing, manhandled, kurta-clad, unbound celebration
Other examples of unique descriptive language include:
“If you didn’t live here, you would be lost and frightened in minutes.” (8)
“without breaking step, they both jump expertly over the stream of piss” (8)
“Suddenly, the red sea parts and there is nobody between Jamal and Amitabh Bacchan getting out of the helicopter.” (15)
“Jamal watches as Orpheus sings one of the most beautiful pieces of music a human is likely to hear.” (54)
“Jamal is holding out a the lunghi with his eyes tight shut.” (75) ???
“There is a moment, when Jamal might.” (94)
“Salim is in the bath, bathing, literally, in money.” (96)
“she stands there, challenging” (98)
“The first real smile of Jamal’s adult life.” (125)
“The camera pulls back and back, rising above the station. The music starts and the frozen station comes alive, two thousand kurta-clad men and saree-clad women dancing in and out and on top of the trains, an unbound celebration of hope and humanity that has its centre, Jamal and Latika.” (197)
(The Jai Ho song)
THE END.
The Q & A at the end is a nice touch, but at this point I'm still trying to perfect formatting.
Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 8, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film is broken down into 197 scenes, properly numbered on both sides of the page on the same line upon scene introduction. Scenes 9, 46, 47, 59, 146, 156, 167, 174, 175, 176, 179, and 196 are OMITTED. Some scenes have sub-scenes or alternate takes that are indicated with an A, B, etc. after. Scenes are CONTINUED: at the top left of the page, as the actual page numbers are listed in the top right corner. (MORE) and (CONTINUED) are utilized on the bottom line, center and right, respectively.
The cover page uses CAPITAL and bold lettering for the title. BY is also CAPITALIZED. DRAFT DATED 1 NOVEMBER 2007.
O/S = OFF SCREEN
V/O = VOICE OVER
There are not a lot of camera directions though, “interspersed” is followed by rows of “–“ and then the cuts, the occasional “terrible pause,” montage, “descend,” “camera pulls up,” “dramatic pause,” and “a flash of” is also featured.
There are roughly three indents before CHARACTERS are identified for speech. Stylistically, continued dialogue is stylized (CON’T) after NAME. Latika is “heart-stoppingly beautiful,” the music often “swells,” the horns hoot, and there are several scenes with urine ("piss").
Presented chronologically are unique words and phrases used throughout the entirety of the script (apologies if some are repeats):
Move with purpose, implacable, dull gleam, as suddenly…, morphing into rapturous applause, searing, bore into him, harsh bulb, without warning, amusement ruffles, thumps, rumples, late forties, seen pretty much everything, crocodile clips, pulsates, shudders, ever-present, wiry-skinny, down-draft, surprisingly nimble, corrugated, precarious, warren of lanes, depreciating, irate, hip-gyrating, renegades, winces, pebbled glass, fawning, tolerant hand, laser-like charm, snatches of filmi dancing- heroines, implausible, garland, rickety, placatory, snake-charmer noises, surging, effectively, surreptitiously, wad, slinks, evincing, eliciting, expansively, portentous, fixes him with his eyes, flash past, faintest, roaring, down upon, garish, eleven-year old, oasis of calm, whirling, billows, sprawling, hisses angrily, huddles down, half-swallowed, darts, professional smile, scornful, almost to himself, streaming, tide of humanity, wrong-footed, rummaging, theatrically, theatrical slowness, forging, heart-stoppingly beautiful, a world away, thuggish-looking, pompous, frock coat, snorts, music swells, not quite right, aerosol, certain lack of confidence, running for her life, huffs, imposing, toots, thirst-quenching affluence, for the first time in the film, ramshackle, doha, untrained but pure, back-footed, lame beggar, fiercely hot, transfixed, lunghi, bhajans, utterly bemused, slows, scour, weighing it all up, maoeuvres, interspersed, glinting, impossibly beautiful, nothing could be more beautiful, genuine wonderment, crosses his face, terrible pause, montage, doe-eyed, saunter, hectares, spectacular squares, dhobi, ghat, emanate, mesmerized, ruminate, limitless megatropolis, devoid, dozily, desultory, fourteen year-old boy, eying the possibilities, filmi music, fifties, perturbed, rag-picker, frozen moment, lolling, plucks up his courage, stupid laughter, alluring, bar-girl, swaying with alcohol, untroubled by irony, impatient grunt, despairingly, teeming, leaden, ultra-modern, collective groan, shrugs apologetically, lose their tension, grips his heart theatrically, momentarily flustered, succumbs to the inevitable, best mobile money can buy, roar of frustration, subservient, giggling-drunk, they might kiss, humanity washes around him, finishes pissing, growing fury, disgustedly, just-perceptible, half-light, sirens screaming, dingy corridor, hoots her horn furiously, silhouetting, blinding light, tumultuous applause, music rumbles, hooting horns, a buzz runs around the audience, stares hard, bemused, ever-increasing, manhandled, kurta-clad, unbound celebration
Other examples of unique descriptive language include:
“If you didn’t live here, you would be lost and frightened in minutes.” (8)
“without breaking step, they both jump expertly over the stream of piss” (8)
“Suddenly, the red sea parts and there is nobody between Jamal and Amitabh Bacchan getting out of the helicopter.” (15)
“Jamal watches as Orpheus sings one of the most beautiful pieces of music a human is likely to hear.” (54)
“Jamal is holding out a the lunghi with his eyes tight shut.” (75) ???
“There is a moment, when Jamal might.” (94)
“Salim is in the bath, bathing, literally, in money.” (96)
“she stands there, challenging” (98)
“The first real smile of Jamal’s adult life.” (125)
“The camera pulls back and back, rising above the station. The music starts and the frozen station comes alive, two thousand kurta-clad men and saree-clad women dancing in and out and on top of the trains, an unbound celebration of hope and humanity that has its centre, Jamal and Latika.” (197)
(The Jai Ho song)
THE END.
The Q & A at the end is a nice touch, but at this point I'm still trying to perfect formatting.
September 8, 2024
Me ha enganchado mazo
April 9, 2009
Ummm.....remind me never to go to India. Apparently you can murder someone there and just hop on another train and no one cares, but try to win some money in a game show and the cops stick a rod up your a**. The idea of the book is great but the way it skipped around was really confusing. There was no continuity to it at all. Its like the first half of the book was about Ram and Salim, together forever, then the chapter about the Taj Mahal and 20 or 30 pages later I forgot about Salim and about the game show. Not sure why so much focus on the kid that got bit by the dog, it had nothing to do with the story at all. My biggest gripe was all the words I had no idea what they were. The book wasnt good enough for me to take the time to research and learn what the hell paan is. The story line would have been much better had I felt sorry for Ram, but really all he had to do was walk down the street and a good job fell into his lap. I wish I could shoot someone on a train and get a good paying job out of it. The end was way to cheesy for me. I always like books with happy endings, but too much happily ever after crammed into the last couple of pages. I did love the idea of the book, how life answers questions. It kept me reading, I found myself trying to think of what the question was going to be during the chapter. I give it 2 stars because thats my criteria for a book that is just okay, drug on and was boring much of the time, but I didnt have to force myself to finish it.
Read
November 3, 2009“Slumdog Millionaire” was a masterpiece in my eyes. After reading it, it really made me think twice about the book. Although Ram was an orphan boy, he had a sense of family through each and every one of his stories. Weather it be Neelima, the mother like character, or Guepa a big sister he was longing for. There was absolutely nothing about the book that I disliked. I even liked the confusing jumps through time because it makes you read closer.
The scenery on these pages is crude and brutal. Suicide and rape constantly revolves around the slums of India where Ram lived. So take no surprise when you discover adultery, death, and crime in this book. Some graphic details just might take a tear from your eye or a shiver to your spine. The love between Ram and his lover was no different. It was just as suspenseful as the rest of the story. It keeps you sitting on the edge of your chair with your eyes crawling on the pages.
It is not a goodie goodie novel where the main character is always right and does everything according to ideal morals. This character has killed a man in the name of justice, but killed a man nonetheless. There was a scene where Ram would kill, not for justice, not for survival, but for revenge. And this had me flipping the pages to see if he would really pull the trigger and end the life of a man.
` The whole story was very well put together and organized because everything becomes wrapped up leaving no cliff-hangers, except for the inevitable urge to have the story continue.
May 27, 2009
The movie is excellent. The book is excellent. I saw the movie first so when reading the book was expecting the find things the movie had changed, for whatever reason things get changed when adapting a book to film. I wasn't expecting the movie to have been an entirely different story from the book. Each has a young man who does amazingly well on a Q&A style quiz show. Each has the young man arrested and tortured and then describing events in his life that led up to how familiar he was or was not with the quiz show questions. Both young men have had difficult lives face with loss, poverty, and violence. Each young man has a young woman he loves. On the surface, the same story. The details are vastly different, beginning with the main book character being named Ram Mohammad Thomas to the movie character's name being Jamal. There is a Salim in each story but they are vastly different characters.
I enjoyed both the book and the film and think I would have no matter whether I'd read the book before seeing the film instead of the film before the book. For those of you've who've done one but not the other, be prepared for an entirely different set of stories to unfold as well as a completely different set of quiz questions.
I enjoyed both the book and the film and think I would have no matter whether I'd read the book before seeing the film instead of the film before the book. For those of you've who've done one but not the other, be prepared for an entirely different set of stories to unfold as well as a completely different set of quiz questions.
November 5, 2012
i saw the movie i like it ,it's shown how Indian people hase lived
how Jamal Malek suffer once he was child till he has been a millionaire
i hope to be as Jamal not a millionaire but be strong and get all i want on my life :)))
how Jamal Malek suffer once he was child till he has been a millionaire
i hope to be as Jamal not a millionaire but be strong and get all i want on my life :)))
Want to read
January 11, 2009This book was chosen for my bookgroup to read in Jan. I loved the movie so much, I will read the book, too.
November 22, 2019
Author: Vikas Swarup
Title: Slumdog Millionaire
Publication Info: Doubleday, Great Britain, 2005
Genre: Drama
Recommended Age: 15+
Summary: Ram Mohammad Thomas is an intriguing character that allows the story to move so well. His personality and actions make the plot and the stories he tells much easier to comprehend what is happening. Ram also has flaws and shortcomings which makes him a more relatable character. Ram’s relatability creates interest in the plot and his character overall. With all of these traits, Ram becomes a main driving force of the story which forms a new layer of excitement and interest when reading Slumdog Millionaire.
Evaluation: The story of Slumdog Millionaire is constructed very well. The characters, settings, and the vivid details of them, create a plot that draws you in. Ram’s stories are mostly very interesting and allowed me to really relate with and enjoy the story. A minor detail that I did not like was how the stories jumped around from all different times. Ram’s life story became a bit harder to follow, since his events are not in chronological order, but the way that it is structured makes the plot easier to follow, giving context before reviewing every question.
Concluding Comments: The story of the book allows people to understand the problems and unfair situations that others could be going through. Due to Slumdog Millionaire’s relatability and incredible plot, this novel becomes a masterpiece. I would highly recommend reading this fantastic book.
Title: Slumdog Millionaire
Publication Info: Doubleday, Great Britain, 2005
Genre: Drama
Recommended Age: 15+
Summary: Ram Mohammad Thomas is an intriguing character that allows the story to move so well. His personality and actions make the plot and the stories he tells much easier to comprehend what is happening. Ram also has flaws and shortcomings which makes him a more relatable character. Ram’s relatability creates interest in the plot and his character overall. With all of these traits, Ram becomes a main driving force of the story which forms a new layer of excitement and interest when reading Slumdog Millionaire.
Evaluation: The story of Slumdog Millionaire is constructed very well. The characters, settings, and the vivid details of them, create a plot that draws you in. Ram’s stories are mostly very interesting and allowed me to really relate with and enjoy the story. A minor detail that I did not like was how the stories jumped around from all different times. Ram’s life story became a bit harder to follow, since his events are not in chronological order, but the way that it is structured makes the plot easier to follow, giving context before reviewing every question.
Concluding Comments: The story of the book allows people to understand the problems and unfair situations that others could be going through. Due to Slumdog Millionaire’s relatability and incredible plot, this novel becomes a masterpiece. I would highly recommend reading this fantastic book.
January 23, 2019
I love the movie so much, but this book makes me appreciate the movie a lot more and makes me want to watch it again. I’m glad they had an introduction with some insight about how the script was made.
July 6, 2024
This is a one sitting read but rad to see where lines were improvised and cool QandA at the end. This was my first favorite movie i swear
October 1, 2025
Found a $5 copy of this at a used book store. Felt like reading the movie😍
March 10, 2010
A brilliant author makes a good read
8 Oscars’ winner, directed by Danny, the film Slumdog Millionaire is successful. But actually, it is an easy win for it. Because the brilliant idea of the structure is from the author of the same-named novel, written by Vikas Swarup, the most intelligent author in these years. Doubtlessly, the most intelligent idea of this novel is its structure. If we look at a book like a woman, we will find out that the figure of a woman can’t be fixed, but the face can be made up. So it is more important to have a great figure rather than a nice face. Slumdog millionaire has done perfectly on this rule. It doesn’t have a wonderful looking face, but it does have a perfect structure. The novel starts by a slum boy named Ram Mohammed Thomas who won a billion rupees in a quiz show, with an empty brain. So the organizers sent him to the police for his cheating. Then a mysterious heroine appeared, she saved Thomas from the police station, and asked for the truth. Thomas decided to trust her by a method called “coin-tossing”. Then the stories began. Each chapter deals with one question and the related stories. Some are happy, some are sad, and some are strange. After the readers finish one chapter, they can’t stop themselves to think: “okay, what is the next question.” So I have to say that Swarup has done his job wonderfully --- grabs the readers’ eyeballs from the beginning to the last page.
Unfortunately, as I said, Slumdog Millionaire doesn’t have a perfect face. There is a little problem in this novel. The stories did not follow the time sequence. The novel is actually a rabbit, jump from there to there, jump back, and then jump to somewhere else. So I was a little confused about the setting when it changes to another chapter. Comparing to the film, the film fixes that little problem by change the whole face. The movie uses a totally different story which looks like an entire story, follows by the time sequence. And it is more romantic than the novel. So no wondering why the film is so beautiful. It uses the perfect figure from the novel, and adds some make-up on the face, what else could it be except a beauty.
In addition, the coin-tossing let me recognize another movie called “The Dark Knight”, which also has a same-sided coin like the one Thomas has. And that coin is actually a theme of this novel: sometimes, people can make their own destiny.
I read this novel like driving on the Highway 404, kept attention from the beginning to the end. It is the most enjoyable novel which I read in these years.
8 Oscars’ winner, directed by Danny, the film Slumdog Millionaire is successful. But actually, it is an easy win for it. Because the brilliant idea of the structure is from the author of the same-named novel, written by Vikas Swarup, the most intelligent author in these years. Doubtlessly, the most intelligent idea of this novel is its structure. If we look at a book like a woman, we will find out that the figure of a woman can’t be fixed, but the face can be made up. So it is more important to have a great figure rather than a nice face. Slumdog millionaire has done perfectly on this rule. It doesn’t have a wonderful looking face, but it does have a perfect structure. The novel starts by a slum boy named Ram Mohammed Thomas who won a billion rupees in a quiz show, with an empty brain. So the organizers sent him to the police for his cheating. Then a mysterious heroine appeared, she saved Thomas from the police station, and asked for the truth. Thomas decided to trust her by a method called “coin-tossing”. Then the stories began. Each chapter deals with one question and the related stories. Some are happy, some are sad, and some are strange. After the readers finish one chapter, they can’t stop themselves to think: “okay, what is the next question.” So I have to say that Swarup has done his job wonderfully --- grabs the readers’ eyeballs from the beginning to the last page.
Unfortunately, as I said, Slumdog Millionaire doesn’t have a perfect face. There is a little problem in this novel. The stories did not follow the time sequence. The novel is actually a rabbit, jump from there to there, jump back, and then jump to somewhere else. So I was a little confused about the setting when it changes to another chapter. Comparing to the film, the film fixes that little problem by change the whole face. The movie uses a totally different story which looks like an entire story, follows by the time sequence. And it is more romantic than the novel. So no wondering why the film is so beautiful. It uses the perfect figure from the novel, and adds some make-up on the face, what else could it be except a beauty.
In addition, the coin-tossing let me recognize another movie called “The Dark Knight”, which also has a same-sided coin like the one Thomas has. And that coin is actually a theme of this novel: sometimes, people can make their own destiny.
I read this novel like driving on the Highway 404, kept attention from the beginning to the end. It is the most enjoyable novel which I read in these years.
May 30, 2009
Compare this book with the movie, it is more impressive because of its corrupt society. He saw Father, who he treated like a real father, died; he saw the death of Neelima, who he treated as a real mother; he used to think he killed a drunkard, father of Smita; he shot a robber who took all his money away; he tried to kill Prem, who had abused Neelima and Nita, who he loved. Despite of all those, he even witnessed the "dark habit" of a superstar, who was a gay; a Father who shouldn't marry but he did and had a son; a Priest was a gangster and a drug user; dark business that required to burn singers' eyes were mentioned both in film and book; Man Who Knows stalled cameras everywhere; unhealthy religion, Voodoo, became a tool to fullfill one's desire by killing; a injured soldier's story of his great past was a lie; the killer seems like can kill everyone as he wish; the silly dream of a actor who put herself into misery in exchange for gorgeous young period; Devi's disguise as a kind person who in fact mistreated her own son because he had witnessed her adultery; robbery and stealing happened every often in the story; a girl, Nita, was forced to be a prostitute by her mother and brother; the conflict between Hindi and Muslim led to the killing of innocent people; Ram got the help form lawyer, Smita, who he had saved once from his drundard father, after he was arrested.
In the film, all those things weren't mentioned or mentioned but not in the same way, except for one, the burning of eyes. Even this one weren't quite the same. Salim and Ram weren't seeing the burning physically, but they eardropped it.
The relationship between Salim and Ram (Jamal as in the film) weren't the same as in the movie. In the book, they were friends who met in Orphonage. Salim is Muslim, but Ram, whose full name was Ram Mohammed Thomas wasn't mentioned clearly. In the film, they were brothers who were born in a poor Muslim family.
I think the reason that director didn't show everything in the book on the film because it is too corrupt that affects to religion, government, and all those shouldn't exist businesses. If put all those into one movie, it can be filmed as a long TV show.
Even though the book was a better choice for Slumdog, but I like film better, because the book is too complicate while film is more focus and simple. My favorite scene is when Jamal jumped into the "..." and got the signature from a famous superstar.
In the film, all those things weren't mentioned or mentioned but not in the same way, except for one, the burning of eyes. Even this one weren't quite the same. Salim and Ram weren't seeing the burning physically, but they eardropped it.
The relationship between Salim and Ram (Jamal as in the film) weren't the same as in the movie. In the book, they were friends who met in Orphonage. Salim is Muslim, but Ram, whose full name was Ram Mohammed Thomas wasn't mentioned clearly. In the film, they were brothers who were born in a poor Muslim family.
I think the reason that director didn't show everything in the book on the film because it is too corrupt that affects to religion, government, and all those shouldn't exist businesses. If put all those into one movie, it can be filmed as a long TV show.
Even though the book was a better choice for Slumdog, but I like film better, because the book is too complicate while film is more focus and simple. My favorite scene is when Jamal jumped into the "..." and got the signature from a famous superstar.
November 9, 2012
I bought a copy of the book earlier this year, as another gift for my husband. I think this time around it was for either a Valentine’s gift or a peace offering. Anyway, knowing how my life is in a constant frenzy, it was only last Saturday night that I finally decided to get hold of the book and read it.
The book started off with a rather tragic story of how the young boy who supposedly won a billion ruppees was suspected to have cheated during the show and was caught by the police. In a desperate attempt of the show’s producers to NOT part with the winning prize, they sought to prove that Ram Mohammed Thomas is a fake and that there is no way on earth, he could have answered all those questions that got him the one billion ruppees.
Initially, as I was reading through the first few chapters, mainly about the arrest and the torture, I was wondering if I am right in picking up and reading the said book. There’s too many negative things happening in my life right now, that the very purpose of reading a book is to have a momentary escape, to dream and to hope. Ram Mohammad Thomas’s life is so tragic, one good thing would happen to him along the way every now and then, only to be eradicated by another misfortune.
He relayed his story on just about how an 18 year old waiter, that did not go to school, knew the answers to the questions on the said tv show. The book kept me reading and my husband was scolding me for reading it even in between our conversations. Slumdog Millionaire is indeed a page turner! It will keep you reading through the night, as you eagerly go through each chapters of the book. It is also a very honest novel, showcasing the multi-racial and very diverse cultural heritage of India. It painted a very real picture of India, their caste system and its religious diversity.
I saw bits and pieces of the Slumdog Millionaire movie, but never had the chance to watch it at the start of the film and since the narration of the story is not chronological in terms of the events of his life, but rather in the order following the questions of the tv show and how he knew the answers to each one of them, I got lost and so I decided to just read the book first and then watch the movie afterwards. And now that I’ve finished the book, I believe it’s time to see whether the film brought justice to the book! It is indeed a well-written book that is truly a must-read.
The book started off with a rather tragic story of how the young boy who supposedly won a billion ruppees was suspected to have cheated during the show and was caught by the police. In a desperate attempt of the show’s producers to NOT part with the winning prize, they sought to prove that Ram Mohammed Thomas is a fake and that there is no way on earth, he could have answered all those questions that got him the one billion ruppees.
Initially, as I was reading through the first few chapters, mainly about the arrest and the torture, I was wondering if I am right in picking up and reading the said book. There’s too many negative things happening in my life right now, that the very purpose of reading a book is to have a momentary escape, to dream and to hope. Ram Mohammad Thomas’s life is so tragic, one good thing would happen to him along the way every now and then, only to be eradicated by another misfortune.
He relayed his story on just about how an 18 year old waiter, that did not go to school, knew the answers to the questions on the said tv show. The book kept me reading and my husband was scolding me for reading it even in between our conversations. Slumdog Millionaire is indeed a page turner! It will keep you reading through the night, as you eagerly go through each chapters of the book. It is also a very honest novel, showcasing the multi-racial and very diverse cultural heritage of India. It painted a very real picture of India, their caste system and its religious diversity.
I saw bits and pieces of the Slumdog Millionaire movie, but never had the chance to watch it at the start of the film and since the narration of the story is not chronological in terms of the events of his life, but rather in the order following the questions of the tv show and how he knew the answers to each one of them, I got lost and so I decided to just read the book first and then watch the movie afterwards. And now that I’ve finished the book, I believe it’s time to see whether the film brought justice to the book! It is indeed a well-written book that is truly a must-read.
November 16, 2009
“slumdog millionaire” is the title of brilliant written book I just finished reading. At first, I thought the meaning of the title is literally a slumdog who wins a million. However after reading the whole novel, I think that Ram, the protagonist, is not just a millionaire for money, but also a millionaire for his rich life experiences. Growing up in the poorest slum in India, Ram had to go through a lot of heartbreaking events in such an early age. The author depicts the book in a form of writing that incorporates actual events that occur in present time; so that it has a sense of realism. Characters such a drunkard father who is also abusive, a pretend to be disguise woman who secretly mistreated her son just because he witnessed her adultery, or the girl of Ram’s love Nita, who is forced by her mother to become a prostitute under her brother’s brothel. These characters are all part of the society who actually exists. Hatred, love, sympathy, revenge, sadness, blame, the emotions these characters show reveals an enthralling portrait of humanity. The author does not add his own fantasy or the ideal human trait into the story. There is no big hero, nor a strong protagonist who can fight off anything. There is only this ordinary yet colourful life of Ram’s as a slum dog.
Another interesting point I found in the story was his “lucky coin”. It has been used to make critical decisions in Ram’s life and only until the end, the truth was revealed that both sides of the coin are heads. I think the author uses this coin brilliantly to show the character development of Ram. Since Ram grew up in the slum as an orphan and is therefore very lonely, he uses the coin as comfort at the beginning and a friend that can help him make decisions. It also gives him confidence by showing heads to “agree” with Ram’s decision. However as said by Ram, “It’s my lucky coin. But as I said, luck has nothing to do with it (Swarup 302).”As time progresses, Ram believes that he has gone through enough and grew up to be a real adult. “I don’t need it [the lucky coin:] anymore. Because luck comes from within (Swarup 302)”, this is my favourite quote in the novel because not only it shows how much Ram grew to be a confident and strong person, it also represents the main idea of the novel: We control our own destinies.
Another interesting point I found in the story was his “lucky coin”. It has been used to make critical decisions in Ram’s life and only until the end, the truth was revealed that both sides of the coin are heads. I think the author uses this coin brilliantly to show the character development of Ram. Since Ram grew up in the slum as an orphan and is therefore very lonely, he uses the coin as comfort at the beginning and a friend that can help him make decisions. It also gives him confidence by showing heads to “agree” with Ram’s decision. However as said by Ram, “It’s my lucky coin. But as I said, luck has nothing to do with it (Swarup 302).”As time progresses, Ram believes that he has gone through enough and grew up to be a real adult. “I don’t need it [the lucky coin:] anymore. Because luck comes from within (Swarup 302)”, this is my favourite quote in the novel because not only it shows how much Ram grew to be a confident and strong person, it also represents the main idea of the novel: We control our own destinies.
October 21, 2010
As this is Swarup’s first novel, I must say that I am impressed by his skill and expertise of drawing the reader into the story itself. The double storyline, marked by the quiz show and the different chapter of Ram’s life (who is the main character) served to create tension within the novel. This was probably the most interesting element that persisted throughout the novel. Essentially, Ram brings the second storyline (which is his life up to the present) into play when he begins retelling it to a lawyer. Each of the events that happened to him is not in chronological order however. Instead, they are retold according to the question in the quiz show in which it’s related to. Swarup also makes each of the events in Ram’s life short stories that are about a chapter long within the novel, but provides subtle hints as to what time it is in Ram’s life so as not to confuse the reader. This difference or contrast between the two stories helps since readers become eager to know how the event relates to the quiz show. Another interesting element is how Swarup engages the audience by inserting real life issues within India into the book. In doing so, he is able to connect with the reader and make it seem more believable. For example, the book touches on several issues such as Swapni Devi, who abandons her own son and Mamman, a crook who handicaps children so that they earn more money for him begging in the streets. However, I think this deters the reader a bit, I know I am but nevertheless believe that the novel is quite realistic and serves to maintain its’ authenticity. Overall, I believe that the novel is amazingly well developed. There were quite some high points within the story, such as when the dacoit robbed a train and was accidentally killed by Ram. It helps keep the reader on edge and excited for the next chapter of the story. The choices Ram makes also play a crucial part in the novel as the story progresses and provide interesting results which will consequently affect his life later. Regardless of the main storyline, the short stories that are scattered throughout the novel provide for a quick and easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2014
Vikas Swarup has produced an intriguing novel in “Slumdog Millionaire” that has received widespread acclaim and admiration. It is the story of a poor orphan who, by a series of unusual circumstances, wins a huge sum of money on a quiz show. Its premise is somewhat unbelievable but the author makes it work with some clever writing.
Ram Mohammad Thomas narrates his story of rising from a orphan discarded in a clothes bin at a church orphanage, through a childhood of turmoil, bouncing from one home to another, suffering abuse and deprivation until, at age eighteen, he appears on a quiz show and answers 12 questions of increasing difficulty and wins a billion rupees. That’s about 16 1/2 million US dollars. He never went to school or read a newspaper. In fact, after he wins the money, he is arrested for cheating and tortured in an effort to make him recant and relieve the television network of its obligation to him.
He is close to giving in when a female attorney, Smita Shah, intervenes and rescues Ram from the authorities. It is to her that Ram tells his remarkable story. The thought in everyone’s head is that either Ram was lucky and guessed at his answers or that he cheated. But the truth is as Ram contends: They asked only questions to which he knew the answers. Swarup uses ingenious plotting and writing to illustrate to the reader how this could occur. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? Not at all. The reader will understand how this uneducated but highly intelligent boy could make it happen.
The book is a primer on Indian class culture and corruption. There is heartbreak and comedy. One can only admire Ram’s use of street smarts and inherent goodness as he struggles to survive the cruel atmosphere in which he lives. His calm demeanor in front of millions of TV viewers, a cheering studio audience, and the unscrupulous quiz show producers is a tribute to his character.
I enjoyed the struggle and subsequent success of Ram. There is much to be learned about human behavior and the battle to subdue greed and corruption in this book. I highly recommend it.
Ram Mohammad Thomas narrates his story of rising from a orphan discarded in a clothes bin at a church orphanage, through a childhood of turmoil, bouncing from one home to another, suffering abuse and deprivation until, at age eighteen, he appears on a quiz show and answers 12 questions of increasing difficulty and wins a billion rupees. That’s about 16 1/2 million US dollars. He never went to school or read a newspaper. In fact, after he wins the money, he is arrested for cheating and tortured in an effort to make him recant and relieve the television network of its obligation to him.
He is close to giving in when a female attorney, Smita Shah, intervenes and rescues Ram from the authorities. It is to her that Ram tells his remarkable story. The thought in everyone’s head is that either Ram was lucky and guessed at his answers or that he cheated. But the truth is as Ram contends: They asked only questions to which he knew the answers. Swarup uses ingenious plotting and writing to illustrate to the reader how this could occur. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? Not at all. The reader will understand how this uneducated but highly intelligent boy could make it happen.
The book is a primer on Indian class culture and corruption. There is heartbreak and comedy. One can only admire Ram’s use of street smarts and inherent goodness as he struggles to survive the cruel atmosphere in which he lives. His calm demeanor in front of millions of TV viewers, a cheering studio audience, and the unscrupulous quiz show producers is a tribute to his character.
I enjoyed the struggle and subsequent success of Ram. There is much to be learned about human behavior and the battle to subdue greed and corruption in this book. I highly recommend it.
January 24, 2012
A couple of months ago, I watched the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and I absolutely fell in love with it. Later on, I decided to read the book. Personally, I enjoy the book more because of the rich and descriptive language the author uses. The book Slumdog Millionaire by Simon Beaufoy is about a kid named Ram Mohammad Thomas, who gets the chance to be a part of an Indian TV quiz show. Throughout the book, Ram goes through his childhood and explains how he answered all of the questions. My most favorite quote in this is, "One does not question a miracle," by Ram. I like this quote because most of the time, people do question them instead of just being glad a wonderful thing happened. The author's style is very unique and interesting. It is unique because every chapter in the book starts with the question that Ram received during the quiz show. I would definitely recommend this book to readers of my age because it is very easy to understand and I could not put the book down once I started reading it. Also, there are many things to learn about the Indian culture which is very interesting itself.
March 10, 2009
I heard this reviewed as a love story, and it is a love story - but it not a romantic love story. It is the story of one orphan boy trying to find a place in the world for himself. Sometimes he was treated with unusual kindness, other times with heart breaking cruelty. He recounts his life through the questions of the game show where he wins one billion rupees. Each question reflects an aspect of his life which educated him to be knowledgeable about the question. It is, in many ways, a charming fairytale. It is yet another testament against poverty, but it is also a testament to hope. All villains are punished,eventually; all the surviving victims are vindicated. This book may be discussed on the social/economic issues which are described, but I fail to see this book as having genuine literary value.
A fun read, probably different from the movie, is how I'd rate it.
This was a light read and NOT an "r" rated read. Some of the language was street language, but certainly appropriate for all high school students.
A fun read, probably different from the movie, is how I'd rate it.
This was a light read and NOT an "r" rated read. Some of the language was street language, but certainly appropriate for all high school students.
December 23, 2021
wow. this book had me shook. it opened my eyes to so many things i’ve never known and it made me thankful for my life. it was a bit hard to get into the style of the book and all the indian places and names were confusing, but it made it unique. definitely a one of a kind book.
May 31, 2009
"I saw something new reflected in the eyes that saw me. Respect. It taught me a very valuable lesson. That dreams have power only over your own mind. But with money you can have power over the minds of others."
"Unheralded we came into this world. Unheralded we will go out. But while we are in this world, we do such deeds that even if this generation does not remember, the next generation cannot forget."
"I realize then that I have changed. And I wonder what what feels like to have no desires left because you have satisfied them all, smothered them with money even before they are born. Is an existence without desire very desirable? And is the poverty of desire better than rank poverty itself?"
"Unheralded we came into this world. Unheralded we will go out. But while we are in this world, we do such deeds that even if this generation does not remember, the next generation cannot forget."
"I realize then that I have changed. And I wonder what what feels like to have no desires left because you have satisfied them all, smothered them with money even before they are born. Is an existence without desire very desirable? And is the poverty of desire better than rank poverty itself?"
August 5, 2011
a beguiling blend of high comedy, drama, and romance that reveals how we know what we know -- not just about trivia, but about life itself. Cutting across humanity in all its squalor and glory, Vikas Swarup presents a kaleidoscopic vision of the struggle between good and evil -- and what happens when one boy has no other choice in life but to survive..It is hard to believe that a poor orphan who has never read a newspaper or gone to school could win such a contest. But through a series of exhilarating tales Ram explains to his lawyer how episodes in his life gave him the answer to each question..
February 1, 2010
I listened to this book after I found out our school district is looking to adopt it as part of the 10-12th grade curriculum. I have not quite finished it, but I am not sure I will as I have to listen to it on the computer when the kids are in bed. It is a sad story narrating the life of one orphaned boy in India who is used, abused, tortured, and experiences or watches every atrocity imaginable. It does bring to light the realities of poverty in India, but in an explicitly graphic way that I cannot recommend to others nor support as a book for 15 year olds to study.
May 13, 2014
Slumdog Millionaire is basically a story of a poor Indian fellow who hits the Jackpot in a television contest show. He is integrated by the police to see if he has cheated in answering all the questions correctly. In the end he wins his prize but the novel is a roller-coaster ride of a story from rags to riches. It is a novel with many faces of India, from the very poor, to the very rich. It empathizes that the caste system still prevalent in India today. The novel is a joy to read for all, reality sometimes is not pretty, but must be told.
April 5, 2009
After watching a little of the Oscars I was intrigued by the things that were shown and the seemingly sincere remarks of those accepting the awards for the movie. The book is kind of a Forrest Gump goes to the game show. But, I found the story quick paced and touching. It doesn't go into extreme detail, but enough to give you a glimpse of lower class life in India. He does a decent job keeping it from being all gloom and doom and wraps up all the loose ends (well almost) rather neatly.
August 29, 2009
As they say, the book is always better than the movie, but I was surprised by how much different the book was from the movie. This is one of the few books that I've read about India and it was fascinating. The book is well written and the author does a great job of flashing back through the main character's life to show how an ignorant street kid could win 1 Billion (yes, that's billion with a B) rupees on a quiz show. A little far fetched at times, but overall a very good tale.
October 7, 2009
RRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY good!!
Love how the author lays out the story. Not my ususal genre but loved this book a lot! You have to read the prologue Usaually don't but this one was a must, if you don't you will misunderstand the story. Author does describe a little bit but not enough to gross you out. His writing is good as well it thought at least.
Love how the author lays out the story. Not my ususal genre but loved this book a lot! You have to read the prologue Usaually don't but this one was a must, if you don't you will misunderstand the story. Author does describe a little bit but not enough to gross you out. His writing is good as well it thought at least.
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