Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire)

Title: Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire)

Author: Vikas Swarup

ISBN: 0743267486, 9780743267489

Publication: August 12, 2008

Q&A is the first selection of the Leaves in Sheaves book club! When Steph (the co-organizer of our club) suggested it, I was immediately a little skeptical. I haven't seen the movie, but I tend to dislike allot of the movies that get rave reviews. Thinking that this would be the case with the movie Slumdog Millionaire, I erroneously judged the book to be a little - cheap. Boy was I surprised when I started reading! I guess I should have known not to judge a book by it's cover!

The author, Vikas Swarup, takes us on a fast paced journey through the life of an 18 year old young man. The story is in turns tragic and uplifting. From the very first page the characters grab your attention and will not let go. This is one of those perfect stories where you close the book and immediately feel a sense of loss; I will miss the people I met in this narrative.

What strikes me most about this novel is the way so much life is packed into such a tiny package! Through Q&A we experience the extremes of poverty and wealth in a society that has a rigid hierarchical class system. We delve into topics as diverse as gambling and religion. We feel the tension of a community struggling to come to grips with a cultural revolution that's been decades in the making. The narrative is perfectly paced to allow the reader to experience the wide array of settings and circumstances.

In addition to the dynamic plot, the character development is astounding. Swarup manages to quickly insert characters with such depth and dimension that the reader can't help but accept them.

Q&A is one of those books that you just have to read. Even people who don't usually like to read would probably enjoy this book. It has a great balance of action, romance, drama, suspense, and even a little mystery. There are a plenty of twists in the plot to keep even the most wandering minds engaged. Not only does Q&A get 5 stars from me - I think it might even be one of my top-five favorite books!