Q and A
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
12 journalers for this copy...
I first spotted this book at Manchester airport. I hadn't heard of the book nor the author, but was intrigued by the story on the back cover of the book.
Ram Mohammed Thomas, a penniless, uneducated, 18 year old waiter from the Indian slums, is the first person to win a billion rupees on the new TV game show "Who Wants to Win a Billion". The show's producers, stunned by the success of the teenager, and faced with paying out a huge (and unexpected) prize, get the youngster arrested on suspicion of cheating. They claim there is no way that Ram could have known the answers to the 12 questions leading to the billion rupee prize.
The story is told in 12 chapters (plus a prologue and epilogue) - one for each of the quiz show questions - detailing Ram's life and how he came to know the answers to the twelve questions asked of him during the show.
This book is absolutely fantastic! I really got caught up with Ram's story, and although it started to feel a bit "samey" by the 9th or 10th chapter, it was engrossing all the same. My only criticism of the book was that it was difficult to put all the stories into chronological order, so by the end I felt a little muddled by it all.
Nonetheless it was an engrossing read and one I would highly recommend. In fact, for the first time in ages, I actually felt disappointed when I finished the book. I'll definitely be looking out for more works by this author.
Ram Mohammed Thomas, a penniless, uneducated, 18 year old waiter from the Indian slums, is the first person to win a billion rupees on the new TV game show "Who Wants to Win a Billion". The show's producers, stunned by the success of the teenager, and faced with paying out a huge (and unexpected) prize, get the youngster arrested on suspicion of cheating. They claim there is no way that Ram could have known the answers to the 12 questions leading to the billion rupee prize.
The story is told in 12 chapters (plus a prologue and epilogue) - one for each of the quiz show questions - detailing Ram's life and how he came to know the answers to the twelve questions asked of him during the show.
This book is absolutely fantastic! I really got caught up with Ram's story, and although it started to feel a bit "samey" by the 9th or 10th chapter, it was engrossing all the same. My only criticism of the book was that it was difficult to put all the stories into chronological order, so by the end I felt a little muddled by it all.
Nonetheless it was an engrossing read and one I would highly recommend. In fact, for the first time in ages, I actually felt disappointed when I finished the book. I'll definitely be looking out for more works by this author.
This book is off on a bookring! Participants are ...
1. Flannerstheflan
2. Marie-Therese
3. Candy-is-Dandy
4. Nice-cup-of-tea (Switzerland)
5. Chelseagirl
6. dolph1n
7. valer1e
8. CaterinaAnna
9. tutleymutley
10. rainbowandrain
11. WelshHelen
1. Flannerstheflan
2. Marie-Therese
3. Candy-is-Dandy
4. Nice-cup-of-tea (Switzerland)
5. Chelseagirl
6. dolph1n
7. valer1e
8. CaterinaAnna
9. tutleymutley
10. rainbowandrain
11. WelshHelen
Journal Entry 3 by BC-08041015142 at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, April 23, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (4/23/2006 UTC) at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
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Sending to flannerstheflan to kick off the bookring!
Sending to flannerstheflan to kick off the bookring!
Thanks for this - looking forward to it! Should get to it by the end of this week.
Reading about the dreadful poverty and abuse suffered by the Indian underclass was really quite harrowing, but the final couple of chapters certainly lift the spirits. Heartily recommended!
Off to Marie-Therese as soon as I get her address.
Off to Marie-Therese as soon as I get her address.
Arrived in the post this afternoon - thanks Lucy for sending it and Babs for sharing :o) I'm halfway through Memoirs of a Geisha and this will be next on my list.
Journal Entry 7 by marie-therese from Kirkintilloch, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 16, 2006
What an unusual and clever way to tell this story. I really enjoyed most of it even though at times I felt it got a bit on the ridiculous side. I did like Ram's character though and would be ibterested in reading ome other work from this offer. Will get this moving on it's joureny as soon as I have Candy-is-Dandy's address. Thanks again for sharing :o)
Journal Entry 8 by candy-is-dandy from Great Bardfield, Essex United Kingdom on Friday, May 26, 2006
Received from marie-therese on a bookring. Look forward to reading.
Journal Entry 9 by candy-is-dandy from Great Bardfield, Essex United Kingdom on Monday, July 17, 2006
I really enjoyed this book. The idea of using a game show to tell the life of a poor orphaned Indian boy worked really well. The stories were well written and even though they weren't in chronological order I had no problem with that. A very good read with laughter, sadness and a fascinating insight into life in India - the mix between Western influences in an Indian culture.
Recommended!
Recommended!
Journal Entry 10 by candy-is-dandy at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, July 24, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (7/24/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
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off it goes to Zurich and a nice-cup-of-tea!
off it goes to Zurich and a nice-cup-of-tea!
I had COMPLETELY forgotten signing up for this bookring, so it's a nice suprise to have a new bookring to read :-)
What can I say, other than "loved it, loved it, loved it!" A great read :-)
I have Chelseagirl's address and will post (slow) on Thursday. I know that she's just gone on holiday for 2 weeks, so it should be waiting for her, on her return!
I have Chelseagirl's address and will post (slow) on Thursday. I know that she's just gone on holiday for 2 weeks, so it should be waiting for her, on her return!
Journal Entry 13 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 14, 2006
And indeed it was!
And perfect timing too, as I will be flying to India on business in five days time!! Really looking forward to reading this, I'll probably start it on the plane (a great relief that hand luggage will be allowed on from tomorrow, I was dreading the thought of a twelve hour flight with nothing to read!).
And perfect timing too, as I will be flying to India on business in five days time!! Really looking forward to reading this, I'll probably start it on the plane (a great relief that hand luggage will be allowed on from tomorrow, I was dreading the thought of a twelve hour flight with nothing to read!).
Journal Entry 14 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 28, 2006
What a fantastic book1 I read this while in India on business and although Kerala, where I was based, is very different to Mumbai, I could really identify the characters that Ram met as being fairly generic Indian stereotypes. I love the way that his stories all interlink and make sense in the end and I didn't find the order at all confusing. I was willing him throughout and was really pleased with the feelgood ending.
A fantastic book - I'll be looking out for future work by this author.
Thanks for sharing - this is one of my favourite reads this year!
I'll pass this on to dolph1n asap.
A fantastic book - I'll be looking out for future work by this author.
Thanks for sharing - this is one of my favourite reads this year!
I'll pass this on to dolph1n asap.
Received today, thanks. I have about 4 other books ahead of this but will be as quick as I can.
I loved it. What a great way to tel Ram's story. It didn't bother me that it wasn't in chronological order. I couldn't find any fault with it and will certainly be on the lookout for any other books by this author.
I will send it on to Valer1e when I have her address.
I will send it on to Valer1e when I have her address.
Journal Entry 17 by Versavisa from Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Sunday, October 15, 2006
Received yesterday for which thanks. Looking forward to reading this as it sounds so intriguing.
Journal Entry 18 by Versavisa from Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 13, 2006
I was looking forward to this and I wasn't disappointed.
I found the format very intriguing. I kept wanting to know what happened next. I didn't see the ending coming and I'm not going to give it away here.
Many thanks for sharing it Colanne.
I've PM'd CaterinaAnna for her address and will get it off to her asap.
I found the format very intriguing. I kept wanting to know what happened next. I didn't see the ending coming and I'm not going to give it away here.
Many thanks for sharing it Colanne.
I've PM'd CaterinaAnna for her address and will get it off to her asap.
Journal Entry 19 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Recieved today, thanks Valer1e.
Do you know that puzzle/game 'The Tower of Hanoi'? Well that's what I've got at the moment: a pile of rings which need to be sorted into order!
Will get to this one as soon as I can ...
Do you know that puzzle/game 'The Tower of Hanoi'? Well that's what I've got at the moment: a pile of rings which need to be sorted into order!
Will get to this one as soon as I can ...
Journal Entry 20 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, December 2, 2006
Put into my bag and started in my usual evening haunt while waiting for NiceRose to arrive.
'You don't have to pretend to be waiting for someone' quoth the waiter with black, floppy hair, 'You can drink it yourself' he said, pointing to the cup of cream-covered hot chocolate looking much more enticing than my plain cup of tea.
'Hmm?' I muttered, waving the book at him, and he walked off grinning.
Was too sleepy to read much more when I got home, but have finished this morning in one go.
I liked the structure, the main character, the conceit, the humour ... in short, I am really glad I read this book.
Off to PM tutleymutley ...
'You don't have to pretend to be waiting for someone' quoth the waiter with black, floppy hair, 'You can drink it yourself' he said, pointing to the cup of cream-covered hot chocolate looking much more enticing than my plain cup of tea.
'Hmm?' I muttered, waving the book at him, and he walked off grinning.
Was too sleepy to read much more when I got home, but have finished this morning in one go.
I liked the structure, the main character, the conceit, the humour ... in short, I am really glad I read this book.
Off to PM tutleymutley ...
Journal Entry 21 by Caterinaanna at book ring in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, December 2, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/2/2006 UTC) at book ring in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On its way with the Royal Snail.
On its way with the Royal Snail.
Journal Entry 22 by tutleymutley from Newton Abbot, Devon United Kingdom on Saturday, December 9, 2006
Wow - a unanimous thumbs up from everyone so far - must be good. I've got several books in front of this so it'll probably be new year before I can send it on. I had completely forgotten I'd signed up for it!
Journal Entry 23 by tutleymutley from Newton Abbot, Devon United Kingdom on Friday, December 29, 2006
A feelgood read to start the New Year - and quick too, only took a day to turn those pages. Sugary ending, but I can forgive that whilst basking in the overall glow...
Journal Entry 24 by bookwormteacher from Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 12, 2007
Received this morning- will get to it asap!
Journal Entry 25 by bookwormteacher from Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Thursday, June 21, 2007
I really enjoyed this story and the way it was structured. I was gripped from the beginning and it is certainly one of favourites of the year. Thanks for the opportunity to read it! ust waiting for the next address and then I will pass it on. xx
23rd June- posted to next person
23rd June- posted to next person
Arrived safely on Monday, thanks, rainbowandrain. I have a ring book ahead of it but should get to it fairly soon.
Like everyone else I thoroughly enjoyed this book and absolutely loved Ram. I really didn't know what to expect and found myself crying one minute and smiling the next but I was enthralled throughout. I loved the writing style and the idea of telling Ram's story through the quiz show was inspired, although I got slightly confused every now and again with the timeline.
Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and another author to look out for. Thank you so much for sharing, Colanne, the book will be on its way back to you once I have your address :-)
Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and another author to look out for. Thank you so much for sharing, Colanne, the book will be on its way back to you once I have your address :-)
Colanne, posted back to you today. Thanks.
Journal Entry 30 by BC-08041015142 at Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School Staff Room in Canterbury, Kent United Kingdom on Sunday, September 30, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (9/30/2007 UTC) at Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School Staff Room in Canterbury, Kent United Kingdom
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