Gregory David Roberts (Novel)
Eric Warren Singer, and Steve Lightfoot (Creators)

CAST:
Charlie Hunnam
Shubham Saraf
Antonia Desplat
Fayssal Bazzi
Vincent Perez

Preface: Shantaram is a book that has been recommended to me many times and then gifted to me, but it sat on my TBR until very recently. I figured I could read it long before the TV series premiered, despite the size of the book, but I didn’t. I am beginning chapter 9 as I’m writing this. It wasn’t a book-size issue but more of a substance one. So far I am engaged and immersed in the story but in a way that makes me want to take my time with it, and soak it in. I found myself going back a lot and highlighting passages so it’s off to a great start.

Review: As for the TV series, Charlie Hunnam seemed like a fine casting before starting the book, but based on where I’m at so far he doesn’t mesh with the man I pictured. I still like his casting but was curious to see the tone of the show.

The pilot started off well, those first ten minutes kind of got me going, it was so tense. I also like that they started the series at this particular point in his life. That pilot seems to have trimmed and mixed the story well. It quickly became apparent that they pulled from the whole book since I might have been spoiled about one thing in his past, also some interactions were cut. Maybe it was for time or convenience and I understand it but I wonder how true his growth will seem if most of his interactions with the locals are with Prabhu.

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