My niece recommended this title to me, so I decided to give it a try. The novel’s protagonist facing a long jail term in a maximum security Australian prison for armed robbery, which prompts him to plan an escape. He succeeds, eventually finding himself in Bombay, India, where he meets a long cast of characters. Giving them a false name, Lindsay, he quickly becomes “Linbaba”, a nickname given to him by a close acquaintance and soon to be best friend, Prabaker. He travels with Prabaker to his family home in a small rural village, and wins over the family. His new surrogate mother renames him “Shantaram”, which means man of God’s peace. This soon becomes a tale of personal redemption – Linbaba returns to Bombay and establishes a free clinic out of his tent in a slum, and realizes how greatly the experience enriches him, by serving others. He later follows another path. joining the Bombay mafia, growing close to his boss, Abdul Khader Khan, who becomes a surrogate father to him. I realized after I finished the 900 plus pages that the novel is actually based on the author’s life. I found it very difficult to put down once I began reading it, so allow yourself enough time if you decide to give it a go. I do recommend it; it’s a fascinating story which gives insight into how life is lived in India…