White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Earlier this week I finished reading White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Man Booker award in 2008. It's a book I enjoyed immensely for the voice of the narrator and the biting social commentary it laid at the feet of the Indian subcontinent.

Munna/Balram/The White Tiger narrates the story of how he went from a small village boy to a driver to a murderer and now successful entrepreneur. His path and his struggles are all artfully narrated as letters to the visiting Chinese leader who will be arriving in India shortly. The sense of place Adiga creates with his descriptions is pretty incredible, and Balram's colloquial voice is enjoyable.

It is hard to rejoice in the picture he paints of corrupt government, the ugly reality of the monied class, and his own struggles with family obligation. These are all a dark undertone to Balram's perky letters. But, overall it lends a great balance to the book. Adiga walks a fine line with his writing, but the final result is a cutting social commentary with a great satirical feel.

I enjoyed reading White Tiger and found it a quick, easy read. I'll be interested to see what else comes from Mr. Adiga.