12 Questions, To Win A Billion. Review on Q & A - Vikas Swarup

I picked up this book on basis of the excellent reviews that this book has received in the various newspapers and magazines.

This book by Vikas Swaroop takes reader through the bizarre life of Ram Mohammad Thomas, after he has been arrested for winning a TV show called Who Wants Win A Billion?

The story has been narrated in a different style where each question is related in someway or the other to an event in the Ram's life. The author has used events from the present times such as the show 'Kaun Banega Karodpati' to the highest number of centuries scored by Scahin Tendulkar (name Sachin Malvankar in the book) to add a touch of reality to the whole narrative. The language is simple and as the book is set in the India, with the story swtiching between Mumbai, Delhi and Agra, one can easily identify with the progress of the story.

The author has ensured that at no point of time the pace slackens and after a few chapters, I was looking for the event that would lead to Ram answering the question thrown at him, correctly.

I read this book, having 302 pages in 3 hours flat, as it is gripping as well as an interesting read, how a street smart kids goes on to win a Billion bucks, a wife and a life long friend, en route to success.

I would rate this book higher than the 'Da Vinci Code' and is a must read for one and all.

I don't think that Vikas Swaroop has written any other books till date, and going by this one, I am certainly looking forward to his next creation.

A notice to all the people who are members of the India Today Book Club:They have given the cost of this book as Rs 990/- and claim to give saving to the members of Rs 655/-. This is a fraud, as the printed price on the jacket is Rs 395/- and members of the Indiatimes Book Club can get it even cheaper as I did for Rs 335/-.

If anyone of you who reads this review and is a member of the India Toady Book Club, please do not get cheated by them.