Q&A ★★★☆☆

As mentioned before, out of the two books I received from Simon & Schruster, I started out with Q&A by Vikas Swarup because I thought it would be a quick and easy read crammed between my recently started academic readings. I was right; anyone wouldn't need more than few hours to polish it off. The story revolves around Ram Mohammad Thomas (RMT), a genteel waiter in a seedy Mumbai restaurant who wins a billion on a KBC-styled game show. Given his credentials, the organizers apart from being a corrupt lot are convinced that he has cheated and want him to confess so. The rest of the novel is about RMT narrating his life's story and lessons that he used to answer each question on the game show.

The novel starts impressively as the author heightens our curiosity on RMT's amazing quizzing prowess but slowly meanders its way toward the end. I must admit that it did end in quite the filmi manner that the author himself often parodies in form of RMT's thoughts as he envisions expected reactions from people in real life. I was a bit disappointed when I slammed the book shut but partly maybe because I read it over the span of few nights that let my imagination run riot regards the plot. The author mixes up the plot and doesn't thankfully resort to chronological narration. Each individual story, as RMT narrates in first person has a poignant touch and paints his character in multiple hues of grey but often more white than black. I am not sure a person growing up in tough conditions would possess restraint, righteousness, and tolerance as much as the protagonist does. His brush with misfortune and penchant for doing the right thing at the wrong time make you sympathetic to his cause.

While laying down individual stories, the author attempts to expose the underbelly of the Indian society that we often tend to avoid. Depiction of homosexuality, brutality, decrepit living conditions, failings of a brilliant mind, racism, and deceit are handled with care although they seem obviously prejudiced by the author, especially regards homosexuality.

The book is a faint reminder of Madhur Bhandarkar movies although not as graphic. Probably the author hasn't experienced the events he cites first hand but merely bases them on stories that he might have heard from the working class. Of course, that doesn't mean that he is unnecessarily pessimistic about Indian social conditions. I feel he might have been unknowingly a little more forgiving. I bet the other book I received The Untouchables might be more intense.

Overall, not too bad a read on a lazy Sunday afternoon but do not expect to be moved or enlightened in any way. This isn't high class literature stuff but I don't assume it aspires to be. The language is simple and doesn't resort to any metaphor; makes sense because it is supposed to be narrated by an illiterate low-income individual.