SHANTARAM BY GREGORY DAVID ROBERTS // MARKO BOOK CLUB REVIEW #3

[@yangs255]

Leopold was as described in the book. I went upstairs, sad down on one of the empty chairs, and relived what the author has written. I went to Leopold just for Shantaram.

[@MarkoAyling]

Yes, it’s an amazing place. Very classic

[@kt55466]

This book made me laugh out loud and it also really made me cry. It felt like a journey. Beautiful.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Karen! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@SnarkyMalarky]

I read Shantaram about 5 years ago now and afterwards it felt like some sort of religious experience. Never have i been so affected by anything in my life. Beautiful book,beautiful people and the greatest journey ever told.

[@scottryancouture4063]

Same. I also had goosebumbs and chills for so much of it. it is so gripping

[@marageduld7494]

Its amazing applying these moral principles like when prebaker puts his body in front of Karen when thy visit the standing babas

[@jeffrent9506]

Thanks for suggesting this book. I just finished it. It's hard to even know where to begin unpacking such a sweeping novel. There is so much to learn from all of the characters, but I was most moved by Prabaker's endless optimism and Didier's languid existence in this colorful city. "Suffering is hungry, isn't it? Hungry, for anything, means suffering," says Prabaker at one point, very matter of fact. I love this line, especially against Didier's admission: "It's a very sad thing, to be in no hurry ... a man in no hurry gets nowhere fast. I have been in no hurry for eight years." In so many ways that is the balance of life-- to stay endless hungry for new experiences and achievements and not letting complacency creep in. There's a bit of sadness and suffering on both ends of that spectrum. But Shantaram reminded me that life isn't a dress rehearsal. You only get one shot at it, so find your passion, people, and place. It's interesting that Lin's suffering is at its least when he lives in the slums. I couldn't help but imagine what that life must be like and how I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. I was homeless at one point in my life, and that was a life of luxury compared to what the people in the slums of Mumbai must face each day. I appreciated that Roberts doesn't glorify poverty, something I think too many white writers do. Instead he shows, I think, the reality of slum life and let's us understand that people adapt to their reality. I am left wondering about your time in Mumbai, Mark! What kind of place did you live in? How did you reconcile living alongside such poverty? Were you able to make friends there? And did you pick up a lot of Hindi? BTW, I second Marko's suggestion to listen to the audio book! I read the book on my Kindle while also listening and it really brings the novel to life. I'm very impressed with the reader's distinct voices for each character.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@KombiLife]

FAVORITE BOOK!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@marthawoodworth6907]

One of mine, too. What a great, great story and so well written. I also read the sequel, which I loved as well. I heard it's being made into a film (finally). If you can find it on audio, it's brilliant!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

@@marthawoodworth6907 Hi Martha, it's in production for a TV series with Apple TV+, Paramount TV and Anonymous Content! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@H11H11]

My favourite book to indeed , I have read it and reread..and the 2nd book to..

[@GDR_Shantaram]

@@H11H11 Thank you for all your support! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@juicejuice6738]

Most likely people won't believe me , but I personally met Gregory Roberts in Mumbai , I used to work at the HSBC bank in Mumbai , I even have his phone number :) But I never used his phone number to call him , I have a copy of this book which is personally signed by Gregory Roberts himself !

[@henrikg7661]

Fantastic!

[@girijachafekar932]

Mam how I would like to be in touch with sir. I am so fascinated with his work. I am an Indian.

[@amoghnayak7867]

Are you mentioned anywhere in his book

[@beverlythompson5753]

A must read. There are so many memorable characters presented. you love the continued spirit of the people under hardships we can't imagine in our country.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Blessings ❤️🙏

[@drankjuiceocean]

I just finished the book, it's beautiful. So inspiring and I just can't explain it.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Saamiksha! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@marthawoodworth6907]

Another great one that's long but a fabulous page-turner: War and Peace by Tolstoy. People are afraid to read it because it's so long, but it's really just a whole bunch of incredible chapters that read like short stories that all tie together. And yes, as a writer, I love books like Shantaram myself.

[@LKost]

There is also the second book, continuing the story of Shantaram called "the mountain shadow" and its as good as the first ones! An awesome story!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@marthawoodworth6907]

Loved that, too! The haunting love story was incredible.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

@@marthawoodworth6907 Thank you Martha! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@Scorned405]

Definitely wanna read it. Is it as good as Shantaram?

[@Namyslowska]

@@Scorned405 yes, if is

[@awarenessvillage]

This is my favorite book of all time. It is so full of everything it's its own complete and beautiful life. There is no way to convey how grateful I am to have read it.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@RAFFATMASRI]

it`s true .. I like what you said about the Shantaram ..it´s amazing.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Raffat! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@anatolyyurkin6635]

03:00 роман Всем стоять на Занзибаре не маленький 07:25 сколько стоит книга с автографом?

[@megancorsano5398]

Ordered the book immediately after this video ended! I read Razor's Edge back when you first posted the video for it and I have rarely connected to a book like I did with it - I will read anything you recommend without hesitation!

[@omalleysmith9100]

Great book! I'm about halfway through. Its like a warm blanket on a snowy day. A "comfort' book if you will. :)

[@LearnGermanwithKathrin]

Great review. Thank you. I just started to listen to the audiobook. Really excited to learn more about the characters and India.

[@MarkoAyling]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@stevecampbell9686]

Great explanation, I've listened to this on Audible. Very good.

[@MarkoAyling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ashleybutler5796]

LOVED this book! Made me buy a ticket to India 😍

[@scottryancouture4063]

AWESOME!!

[@sasisingh4406]

So do you like India?

[@callywink6]

This book is one of my absolute favorites! I recommend it to everyone I meet asking for a book recommendation. I´ve probably bought this book at least 7 times to give to people. I´ve not had a book hook me, make me laugh out loud (quite literally), and cry with genuine sadness in the same way as this book did. Great Recommendation! Looking forward to the next one!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@diegofusco6385]

No booked touched me as deeply as Shantaram, it s the third time in a row that I read it

[@GDR_Shantaram]

@@diegofusco6385 Thank you for sharing Diego, that's beautiful to read! Did you know that GDR has his own KZbin Channel now where he, amongst others, answers Reader's Questions? You can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4CVkoyfi7d5a68 Love and Faith, GDR Team

[@jennzenn971]

have you read" a thousand splendid suns". its the same author of" the kite runner". Brilliant book. i tell everyone about that book. amazing read.

[@dharambasi1928]

@@jennzenn971 is it as good as The Kite Runner?

[@jackiejunetoft3841]

I read it three times in a row. Just love the language and the most extraordinary storyline. Just love it

[@bettyjoy6361]

Awesome! Watched this at the gym on my headphones and rode 5kms! Thanks for keeping me motivated! 🤗😍

[@kurtnobranes9914]

Got this book for free in a charity shop I volunteered in, read only a tenth of it so far and it's fantastic

[@marmara199]

Kurt Nobranes So jealous. I had to order from America and waited for almost a month to get it. but, it's worth it, though! 😀

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Kurt! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@swarupasridharan8299]

Thanks for sharing this review. Still reading this book. Look forward to the drama series.

[@2331yas]

This book sounds amazing. Looking forward to the appropriate time to read it and give it the focus it deserves . Thank you for the recommendation !

[@Milz_13]

So cool you've brought the book club back, Marko. I'm taking your word for it and I'm definitely going to give this book a read, especially since India has been on my bucket list for so long. Thanks for taking the time to recommend it! :)

[@MarkoAyling]

For sure! I’m sure you’ll love it!

[@juicy10]

Very good videos. Keep up good work. Looking forward to discover more book !

[@chrisnichols2241]

Just finished this amazing book. So good.

[@MarkoAyling]

Awesome! What book should we read next?

[@chrisnichols2241]

@@MarkoAyling Are you familiar with Graham Hancock? He's one of my faves. Both his Non fiction and fiction are amazing. Maybe give his War God trilogy a go..

[@marthawoodworth6907]

@@MarkoAyling The sequel. Fabulous!!!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Chris! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@backpackinyogini8065]

This was already on my wishlist. I've just downloaded it. I'm about to start. Thanks for the recommended it. Love the idea of a bookclub. ( apologies for not buying it physically but I really have to limit it as I'm off travelling soon) ✌📖 ✈🌍😊

[@RunTheAtlas]

Glad you are back! Love this book club, highly educational 👍keep em comin

[@aaranav]

Will read this !! Marko u gotta great timing!!!

[@dorjiw.d.213]

I read the book because of this video and I’m forever grateful for you.

[@ashleym5436]

Love this book so far, makes me want to go to India!

[@__beer__]

Ashley Martin same!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

❤️🙏

[@nihal_ck4981]

always welcome to India ❤❤

[@michelleglorioso1900]

I never expect another book in my lifetime to surpass what Shantaram means to me.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Michelle! That's so nice to read! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@nellennatea]

I suppose if I read this book which sounds fantastic I could google image the parts I can't imagine a picture of or maybe the writers descriptions will be so good I wont need to. But you convince me to give this book a go. Sounds brilliant so I will add it to my list of books to read. Thank you for sharing. Excellent review. By the sounds of your descriptions. Thanks to you I am keen to purchase this book.

[@jenohogan9254]

I just picked up Sapiens, so a weee bit behind lol. But this one is on my list for next book.

[@veralestina4032]

One of my favorite books ever! I have read the sequel, and must caution anyone who picks it up and is looking for something that is just as good as Shantaram. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't the same. Also, Shantaram was recently announced to be turned in to a miniseries. No announcements yet on cast.

[@hughmoren5958]

Such an awesome book. The prose in it is unreal

[@MarkoAyling]

Agreed! Every page has so many nuggets of truth!

[@y1ink]

Finished listening to the audio book can’t recommend it enough. Such an amazing book! It’s awesome you got to experience leopald & India. Going through the story made me feel like I was there. Reading the book in India must have just been a whole other experience.

[@marthawoodworth6907]

Yes, I listened to it on audio, too - dynamite!!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@tracylynn3132]

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE, amazing book ..couldnt put it down once i started reading

[@MichelePonte]

I have it in my bookshelf since forever... Gotta make into my late New Year Resolution ☺️

[@MarkoAyling]

Do it! This is a perfect reason to dust it off and crack it open!

[@MichelePonte]

Thanks Marko!

[@mynametrong5508]

This book made me cry at certain points. Such a great novel.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@poonsjosh]

Just came across this review and loved it! Brought back to life memories of Colaba and South Bombay for me since I am from Bombay (yup will always be Bombay for me 😉) and have been living in the States for over 12 years now. Your videos of Rajasthan are Rad! Are you also planning to visit Northeast India? (FYI Meghalaya has living tree root bridges...just saying :) ) As for this book it’s about time I bought it. Heading out to the book store as I type! 😁. Keep the reviews coming!

[@killthewall101]

ok, firstly can we acknowledge what a wild life it is to read a signed copy of Shantaram LITERALLY IN Leopold cafe?! and your mom meeting Lin baba IN Leopold?! this blew my mind.

[@emmaripley9688]

You should check out "The Age of Magic". It's really poetic and a great travel companion!

[@leannmiller7974]

Just a suggestion because you have such a worldly audience you should become an affiliate with bookdepository.com so most people that wants to read this book with you that doesn't live in the US can get free shipping at least. Just a thought. I'm intrigued to check this book out.

[@mstott22lax]

4 chapters in! Great review

[@mathildebourguignon718]

This book sounds awesome, thanks for the recommendation 😃👌🏻

[@MarkoAyling]

It’s great! Check it out and let me know what you think!

[@maschafestival]

What an amazing story Marko! Thank god you didn't take the job hey One book suggestion if you haven't read it already is What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt. Shantaram sounds like quite the epic journey so you won't find that in WIL but in my humble opinion Hustvedt captures the (so-called) human condition in her characters eloquently, something I think, having watched your other book videos, you'd appreciate. About ten years ago I saw Shantaram in my local bookstore and thought it sounded interesting but to this day I am still yet to read it---shocking. That's going to change thanks to your review. It's high on my TBR list now and I'm determined to read it. Anything in the book to do with Indian tea drinking culture? haha relative to all the themes you talked about in the book, tea seems so insignificant but what can I say I'm a tea addict and can't ever refuse good chai. If/when I do go to India one day it will be to visit as many chai walas as possible! (among other things) Can't wait for the next Marko Book Club book! ;)

[@OffbeatClara]

Perfect timing, I just started to look for another book to read. I actually agree that India isn't very well known here, also in Europe. Even though I'm half chinese and my mom grew up in Indonesia - India is still such a different place then south east asia is. It's definitely a hurdle to wrap your mind around. Really looking forward to read it - maybe it will help me to do that step and visit the country soon :-) Greetings from Germany, and keep those recommendations coming! :-)

[@MarkoAyling]

Yeah, India is definitely a lot to handle for a first time visitor. Enjoy the book and share your thoughts when you get into it!

[@OffbeatClara]

I will, thanks :-)

[@xusanchez6142]

I wan to read this book! Will see if I can find a good Spanish translation 🤗

[@swetakanodia1500]

Definately buying it after hearing the review from u Marko .... ❤️

[@amelel-rayis]

Talking about bulky books I am currently reading War and Peace. I wanted to give up more than once, but I really wanted to know what made Tolstoy who he was. The first two hundred pages were boring, but then I got hooked. I finally finished volume I and I hope to finish it during the month of Ramadan. As for the narrative style of blurring the boundary between fact and fiction, it is called "autofiction" and I read Paul Theroux's My Other Life which is also a mixture of travel memoir and a novel. I would recommend it to you. Peace ✌️

[@radeonblue1816]

Next time I visit Chandni Chown region in Old Delhi region certainly I will search for an an used book.

[@MarkoAyling]

Please do!

[@davidpurdie5455]

I listened to 75% of this book on youtube before they took it down. I'd pay good money for the audio version anywhere....audible only seems to have german and french versions....HELP!

[@marthawoodworth6907]

Maybe on audio or google audio.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Hi David, thank you for listening to Shantaram. Did you manage to find the English audiobook? Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@davidpurdie5455]

Gregory David Roberts unfortunately not GDR. In the meantime I have gifted around 10-12 copies of the paperback, hopefully they have enjoyed it as much as I have. I once came across a photocopied(yes all 900+ pages!!) in a small village in Vietnam, incredible.

[@GDR_Shantaram]

@@davidpurdie5455 How super nice of you to gift the book to your friends, thank you! And wow wow wow for the photocopied book, that's incredible indeed 🙏 Here's the English version of the audiobook: books.apple.com/ch/audiobook/shantaram/id1439900302?l=en Stay in touch! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@marageduld7494]

I love prrebaker as well as Abdullah..n didier as well as ulga

[@awarenessvillage]

@Marko, what book are you reading now?

[@redpat8832]

Great book! 💥💥💥

[@JPhusawit]

Nice review. Thanks!

[@rushinavakharia4331]

I have loved reading this massive book. It was just so immersive . If you want to read another "fat and engaging" book, check out - India After Gandhi, A Suitable Boy, and Genghis Khan. !!

[@GDR_Shantaram]

Thank you Rushina! Love & Faith, GDR Team

[@zenvagabond]

I've read a bit of it and whilst the story seems interesting I still can't over how bad some of the writing is - some really awful Cartland-esque passages where the metaphors are overused and so bad they're funny. I will persevere.

[@rahuldivay]

As much as I love the book, it is however too good to be true

[@hannahbooth9296]

Holy cow, not going to lie, the book sounds amazing, but i might have to find it on audio book.

[@MarkoAyling]

The Audible audio book is 👌🏼

[@marthawoodworth6907]

LOVED it on audio! Go for it. You won't be disappointed.

[@MrRezillo]

Loved it; couldn't put it down.

[@ezekielx2033]

My Favorite Alternative book

[@jssimba6439]

10:20 so sad brother nana patekar made a movie on it

[@utelittle8526]

I love it, my favorite book

[@agustinafarias663]

I love these videos, hopefully you'll be able to stick to your new year's resolution lol 🙏🏽

[@vishnukamdar7200]

I can pay a lot for that signed book.

[@Dexter-vj2lr]

Please review Empire of the Moghul by Alex Rutherford 👍

[@SS-ox7bl]

Where is your home country?

[@tonygareth221]

Can anyone recommend a book for me? I’m not much of a reader but I did read Shantaram and it changed my life and the novel was amazing! Skeptical I can find anything similar that I might like but maybe you all can recommend something

[@marageduld7494]

Khader..is definitely vito andolini

[@SS-ox7bl]

You are working in INDIA?

[@M_Ravinerakhalgot]

Send a book to Ingrid and read whatever book and i want to see how you both think of a book i don't care what book you read i just want to know what you both think about whatever book

[@Ummedsingh1008]

Thanks dear I am from jaisalamer rajasthan. I have been cafe in bombay

[@williamericnelson3094]

Great read! Enjoyed it very much...... Lin (GDR) took great care not to implicate himself in any serious crimes. (understandably ;-)

[@pramodjain4856]

Good review

[@tigerinthetunnel]

Read Return of a King by William Dalrymple.

[@amillieshub4136]

My fav book

[@Caperhere]

One thing he mentions is the human to human closeness in the slums. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing. I grew up in a young urban neighborhood. All the children played and fought with each other. Neighbours knew neighbours. Women who weren’t working gathered for tea and cards every morning . That neighborhood had all the social , and problem solving skills right there, in about 20 houses. I watched a video about corrupt developers in India’s destroying those slums. I didn’t know if it was good or bad, maybe both. The contractor was building luxury, tall apartment buildings, but he had to provide homes for those living in the part of the slum he destroyed. Turns out he built the cheapest apartments you ever saw to house these people. Tiny rooms, and the building falling down already. So those people lost more than an address. They lost the glue which held those slum neighborhoods together. He got nailed by the authorities in the end, but with the money he made, he’s probably right back at it. I just finished the audiobook. I found it difficult to follow the story because of all the foreign sounding names. It seems like a couple of books. It seems like a different person wrote from after the slum. It was disconcerting. I think this book may be better read than listened to, unless you’re familial with Australian pronounced Indian names. I usually love a nice long book. I’ve read several James A Michener novels, and they can run to 1000 pages.

[@shaamthemoviecollectedlege7143]

Now he is soooo famous how come they don't arrest him right now because he escaped prison. Great book needs to have a sequel called my life after writing shantaram. Talking about his new life the one were he is not in prison. And not being brutally bloody graphically torture. I want to go to bumbay maybe I can sell some fruit there make some money travell indie. And maybe meet Gregory David Roberts.

[@saskiachana9514]

Best book. Eeeevvvverrr

[@sirirvasist4853]

Happy birthday marko 2018😁

[@adwitbit]

Your mum is gorgeous.

[@Dexter-vj2lr]

Please visit Assam it is a wonderful place ❤️👍

[@mstott22lax]

Apple is making a TV series

[@lawrencenull]

I've bought this book almost 10 times, everyone I've introduced to the book just keeps the book I've loaned them.

[@mimizangluh]

hey you guys are uploading your trip to india, you need to watch the movie "padmavat" since you were just in rajasthan. the movie is new and is doing really well , its about the rajputs. ps this book is an amazing read.

[@savitapurohit9565]

visit auli or north eastern India

[@yingdeng1106]

Look what I found! A bookclub! Yeah!

[@yingdeng1106]

also just want to let you know that voice volume around 7:35 suddenly increased a lot, not sure it was an editing error.

[@yingdeng1106]

OMG you want to be a writer! Yes I have dreamed to be a writer since I was eight!

[@sukrutbhushan4176]

Well not a bad review but I still don’t understand why do people show slums of India all the time.. India is 3rd largest economy above UK Germany France.. 4th largest defence spender.. 3rd biggest space agency.. 5th biggest Nuclear power.. and best mafia in the world

[@mobilegaming5237]

👌

[@valvakir7036]

a

[@dauksz_7127]

My brother in prison recommended this book... Should I be worried😅

[@ReshamSingh-uo5lt]

You made robot

[@Scorned405]

Great book a fantastic book but a good percentage of it is fiction

[@josephwinder6878]

It was a good STORY.

[@marko.b3214]

The truth and bravery.Thank you Shanta!