Riverhead Books
Age of Vice: A GMA Book Club Pick (a Novel)
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"Cinematic...As a storyteller, Kapoor is a natural."--The New York Times New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the curb and in the blink of an eye, five people are dead. It's a rich man's car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold. Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family -- loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all. In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family's ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters' connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction? Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780593328804
EAN:
9780593328804
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
560
Authors:
Deepti Kapoor
Publisher:
Riverhead Books
Published Date: 2024-02-01
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An incisive view of today's India, exposing its many layers and dimensions in telling detail. Hardly the India we think we know from old colonial times or Western tourism. Illuminating and thrilling, but needs to be read with some focus--not a few pages now and then.
The first third of the book is an interesting enough imitation of bits of Mistry’s masterpiece “A Fine Balance” and Adiga’s “The White Tiger” (and for that Kapoor gets 2 stars). However, once Kapoor starts writing Kapoor - not imitating anyone else - the story becomes confused, pointless, irrational, repetitive, and all that in an irritating telegraphic style to boot. A contrived and unconvincing effort to create "complex protagonists". And the ending is the easy way out only an author with little imagination can write. A waste of time and money.
What a sinister and murky world created by the author. Set in India, the three main characters try to navigate against a corrupt system. I will look forward to other books by this author.
The three main characters are Sunny, the rich son of a crime family boss in India, Sunny's loyal servant and driver Ajay, and Sunny's young journalist girlfriend Neda. Coercion, exploitation, and severe compromise prevail in this "adapt or die" world of modernizing India. Like some other novels that juggle time frames back and forth, this story would probably have been better told with a chronological timeline and tighter writing. The imperfect Age of Vice is supposed to be the first of a trilogy, but this reader is not sure if he'll pick up the second volume when available.
Age of Vice is a thrilling and well-written book. The story is fast-paced and exciting, keeping me hooked from the start. The characters feel real and complex, and the setting brings modern India to life. The writing is beautiful, and the plot is full of drama, crime, and emotion. It shows the dark side of power and wealth in a way that makes you think. If you love deep and action-packed stories, this book is a great choice. Highly recommend!
