Fate is a strange thing: some believe we control entirely, others believe we control it partially, and a third group believes we have no control over it at all. While there are other schools of thought, those three are the main ones.
Unfortunately, as far as we are concerned, we are only living on one timeline, and determining whether or not we have control over our fate would require us to at least go back in time. In any case, what I’m getting at is that fate is one of the most interesting subjects out there for there are no facts to support any kind of conclusion, and I find that in Shantaram, the author, Gregory David Roberts, does justice to that subject.
In Shantaram we are told the story of Lin, a prisoner who manages to escape from a maximum security prison in Australia. Having no place to go, Lin decides to hide in the underworld of modern Bombay, a place where thieves, bandits, murderers, soldiers, actors, prostitutes, gangsters and even holy men can be found aplenty.
Once in Bombay, Lin opens up a clinic while searching for love and a meaning to his life. However, soon enough he attracts the interest of the local Bombay mafia, which in turn shove Lin into a life of war, torture, prison, murder, betrayal, terror, and destitution, a life filled with mysteries only two highly-regarded and extremely dangerous people can answer.
First off, this is truly an epic novel as far as the story itself is concerned; we follow Lin as his life changes time and time again beyond recognition, how his character becomes molded by both the beautiful and horrible events he has come to witness, how he finds his way into a life that doesn’t have an exit, and how he tries to create one. Rest assured that this book is full of various types characters, extremely diverse locations, and of course, the seediness that accompanies any book set in the underworld of a city.
Another aspect in which this book truly shines, at least in my opinion, is the way the author explores various themes through Lin’s narration. Throughout the story Lin makes many discoveries and realizations, most of which are in relation to fate, love, the meaning of life, and death.
It seems that Lin is more concerned than anything else with finding out why his life has turned out the way it did, and what he can do to shape and take control of his future. All in all, a very interesting and entertaining exploration of the human condition, and I recommend this reading to all who enjoy large, vast and majestic tales set in a realistic world with realistic consequences.
 | Gregory David RobertsGregory David Roberts is an author of Australian origin whose breakthrough novel was Shantaram. His life turned out to be a tad more unique than most others, having been a former heroin addict, bank robber, and a Pentridge Prison escapee who ended up living in India for ten years. |
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