Book 153: The Accidental Apprentice by Vikas Swarup
Book 153: The Accidental Apprentice.
Author: Vikas Swarup, 2013.
Genre: Contemporary. Suspense.
Other Details: Paperback. 436 pages.
What would you do if, out of the blue, a billionaire industrialist decided to make you the CEO of his company? No prior business experience necessary. There is only one catch: you need to pass seven tests from the 'textbook of life'. This is the offer made to Sapna Sinha, an ordinary salesgirl in an electronics boutique in downtown Delhi, by Vinay Mohan Acharya, one of India's richest men. Thus begins the most challenging journey of Sapna's life, one that will test her character, her courage and her capabilities. Along the way she encounters a host of memorable personalities, from a vain Bollywood superstar to a kleptomaniac Gandhian. At stake is a business empire worth ten billion dollars, and the future she has always dreamt of. But are the seven tests for real or is Acharya playing a deeper game, one driven by a perverse fantasy? - synopsis from UK publisher's website.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when this was chosen as a reading group selection. Obviously I had heard of Swarup's Q & A, filmed as Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle but had not read it or seen the film. The Accidental Apprentice seemed to be another rags-to-riches fable as this young woman is approached with this extraordinary offer that could transform her and her family's lives. I was hooked from the opening page mainly because the author places a compelling teaser about later events. That teaser paid off and the story and characters proved very engaging. I found it a very enjoyable read.
The novel proved a hit with all but one member of the reading group. It also generated discussion about its themes and setting. We all agreed that the author provided a very vivid portrait of contemporary India.
Vikas Swarup's web page for 'The Accidental Apprentice' - includes link to excerpt (see if you can resist the teaser in those opening lines).