Can't remember the name of this book - sorry, only vague references

[Dr. Drib]

OK, I'm not one usually asking for help on something like this; usually, I have a great memory for books and have helped out a number of people. Here goes - and what I remember is REALLY vague:

It's a very, very thick trade paper edition with a red (?) cover. It was published within the last 5 years and takes place in India (?) It's his first novel.

It's all about the exploits of some kind of adventurer, who gets caught up in some kind of mob, narcotics - you name, this character has done it; (and he MAY have the same name as the author, so it MAY be some kind of "fictionalized" non-fiction novel ??)

The book has polarized readers. Some love it for the sheer adventure of the writing. Other people hate it because it's so unbelievable and seems to have schmaltzy philosophizing.

If you can help, I'll mail you a cookie left over from last month, but recently discovered behind the oven.

Amazon carries the book, but I neglected to write it down.

Thanks in advance,
Don

[pking36330]

Dr.

It doesn't have a red cover, but it does have red letters as the title:

Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts

I remember this one because someone here recommended it and I've placed it on my GoodReads "To Be Read" list.

Amazon link

[ssimon2000]

Here's some guesses, based on your description:

Sahara by Clive Cussler (older by just republished with a red cover)
Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (that's my best guess - red lettering, 920 pages long, and Indian mobsters/money laundering)

[BenG]

The cover of the Shantaram paperback has a lot of red on the cover.
http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram/dp/1...3YZ4378TWQ0DJN

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by pking36330

Dr.

It doesn't have a red cover, but it does have red letters as the title:

Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts

I remember this one because someone here recommended it and I've placed it on my GoodReads "To Be Read" list.

Amazon link

That's the one! Thank you all for helping out.

I very much appreciate everyone's help.


Don

[pking36330]

Do we get a non-spoiler book report on the backside?

[grimo1re]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

It's a very, very thick trade paper edition with a red (?) cover.

LOL. When i worked as a librarian, there regularly were people that would ask about titles and all they could remember was the cover image/colour.

Funny.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by grimo1re

LOL. When i worked as a librarian, there regularly were people that would ask about titles and all they could remember was the cover image/colour.

Funny.

I worked for about 20 years as a bookseller. We always had customers who would come in after watching something on one of the talk shows, sayiing things like this: "I don't remember the author or the title, but it has a green cover."

I wanted to reply (never did, though, due to my Southern upbringing): "Listen! I have to work for a living. Do you think I sit at home all day on my fat "behind" watching talkshows? I have to work, lady! Now get outta here!"

Well....I'm exaggerating slightly. But I sometimes like to rock the boat here on MobileRead. Especially, since some people here (Sorry, can't mention names), are little old stick-in-the-muds.

Seriously, I always joked with the rest of the staff that if only we could hire "little people" to work the lower shelves - especially when doing Returns. (Botta-Bing.)

But really seriously...I understand exactly what you mean. I also worked at a University library. However, in my experience, the more obnoxious customers frequented the public books stores.

Well, gotta go. There's some idiot looking for a book on how to carve a cat! (What does that mean? Such crazy people, sometimes!)


Don