Fictional book review: Q+A (2005) by Vikas Swarup.

Hello blog readers. Apologies for not posting yesterday but I have been unwell. I decided that I would try and post today though, while I remember and am feeling up to it. Here I am going to review Vikas Swarup's debut novel Q+A (2005). As far debut novel's go, the one I present to you is teeming with life, joy and fear in equal measure. This novel is alive and highlights how the world of an ordinary person can suddenly change in an instant. Meet Ram Mohammad Thomas.

Our protagonist here is due to face prison on the basis he has been suspected of cheating in the Indian version of the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? But Ram protests his innocence and the novel ends up him revealing how he knew the answer to each question. Through his vivid, retelling of various stories in his life, we slowly get to understand Ram a lot more. As a reader, Vikas Swarup got me to empathise with Ram as he displayed the good and the bad of India. There were times that shocked or saddened me in the novel. Swarup made me trust no one and nothing. I felt the same as Ram himself, as if I was there. How Swarup created his world mesmerised me and it helped the novel strengthen. This was alongside the varied characters who were excellent too.

Regarding the characters, I kept wandering what happened to certain characters. I wanted to know! Sometimes it seemed that Swarup was keeping me as a reader eager to read on and find out. I was always hoping that the bad characters would get their comeuppance and the good ones would eventually have some much deserved happiness. This is a sign that you are reading an incredible book. As I kept reading, I struggled to put it down sometimes. The novel made me smile, have tears of sadness, create shock within me and even laugh once or twice. Overall, it is spectacular novel with a lot to offer. Even if it does not make the top five of my favourite books, it probably is number six on the list. This was a tricky decision but I am giving Vikas Swarup's debut novel Q+A (2005) a 9.5/10.


Until next time,


Thomas.


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