The newspaper comments on the back of the dust jacket regarding 'Slumdog Millionaire' mirror my thoughts on this new book! Is there a similarity in ideas here? Sorry, I wouldn't know not having read the aforementioned book - but I will now! I was immediately intrigued by the plot Swarup has created. However, in today's world, we are constantly being reminded that if an offer appears too good to be true - it probably is. You HAVE to read the book to find out if this is the case. I found the book compulsive reading. From the start I waited for the scam to come to light. If some of the events and incidents were not so serious I would suspect Swarup of writing 'tongue in cheek' because it is too far fetched at times. I warmed to Sapna but she is naive and does not always behave as the stereotypical heroine - just a normal, vulnerable human being. So the question is always there - why her? This book is a very good fantasy read. But also full of wonderful images of Indian / Hindi life. Some of the language may make the Western reader smile, but that is part of the author's charm. The denouements are really good - I had not predicted the ending. Plenty to smile, be sad, get angry about in this novel. Just as I like it!

"I want to make you my CEO." With those seven words, aging Indian business tycoon promises his business empire to Sapna Singh, a young hardworking TV salesgirl. But the story doesn't stop there. First she must complete seven tasks of mythological proportions, each requiring one of the skills and attitudes necessary for a successful business executive. On the negative side, the book employs the usual Indian bugaboos: bribery, slavery, forced marriage, nasty relatives, acid throwing thugs, etc. On the positive side, the author has created a worthy young female role model that I'd like to meet again. She's resourceful, smart, loyal, funny, even a bit romantic. She embodies the characteristics I've observed in many Indian women but not yet seen on the pages of a novel set on the subcontinent. In the effort to avoid being predictable, the author unnecessarily employs some complicated plot twists to carry his story to completion. I'm not sure these were necessary. But the story is fun to follow along with just to spend more time with Ms Singh.

Following Q&A (a.k.a Slumdog Millionaire), I was left longing for more of Ram Mohammad Thomas’ world. Somehow I was in a state of denial, refusing to leave it behind. And so, I picked up Vikas Swarup’s other story of The Accidental Apprentice. The story follows young Delhi salesgirl Sapna Sinha who is chosen by the billionnaire Industrialist Vinay Mohan Acharya to become the CEO of his company, provided Sapna can successfully complete 7 tests. Out of desperation, she accepts, and so embarks on a life journey that will help her confront her past and discover who she truly is. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, each evolving as the story unfolds. I can even say my heart broke a little for Sapna’s best friend Karan. Sapna is a fun resourceful young woman and for me, an inspiration for empowering women in a developping world. I was also pleasantly surprised by Vikas’ writing style as I found it to be much smoother and better written than Q&A. However, despite the inspiring main protagonist, the well-developped characters and the wonderfully painted setting, the story lacks a certain credibility which didn’t allow me to fully immerge myself in the story. Each of the 7 tests is conveyed through a chapter, and while the first couple seem to be realisticly plausible, these feel ‘stretched out’ by the time you get to the middle of the book. One character in particular, met by complete chance, turned out to be a valuable asset in Sapna’s quest, yet her chance encounters with Sapna and the help she provides feels more like the author’s device than pure coïncidence. I have nevertheless truly enjoyed The Accidental Apprentice, and I plan on recommending it to several of my friends. It has also confirmed my love for this author and I look forward to reading his next endeavour.

The Accidental Apprentice Vikas Swarup I must first confess that I’ve never read anything by this author before nor have I seen the film, Slumdog Millionaire. As a writer of Children’s stories, much of my reading material consists of Magical Realism and Fantasy, so this novel was a refreshing diversion…….or was it? One could say that there are elements of the magical within The Accidental Apprentice; after all there are an assortment of characters whom one could liken, to a Prince/Hero, Princess/Heroine and even a Fairy Godmother of sorts,but for me it is the contrived elements of the storyline that contribute most to its ‘fantastical’ feel. I will not use any spoilers here, so in a nutshell, the novel revolves around the protagonist Sapna Sinha, a Sales-Assistant living an ordinary if not mundane life. When leaving a temple one day, she is approached by a billionaire industrialist who asks her to become his successor. However,working with the premise that when something seems too good to be true,it usually is,Sapna is made aware that the offer is only valid if she successfully passes seven tests. The seven tests ‘hook’ is great for stimulating initial interest, but it was the prologue that really hooked me. The first six lines are gripping and leave you with no option other than to read on. However by the end of chapter four I found my enthusiasm for the novel had waned.There was an awful lot of ‘telling’ and not enough ‘showing’ and at times the plot was stretched so far into the realms of the unbelievable that it could almost be comedic. This was particularly apparent in the chapter concerning an arranged marriage. A subject that is extremely serious, yet doesn’t appear to have the impact within the novel. Sapna is not ‘Wonderwoman.’ So I found myself reading faster than normal because I wanted to know the ending and have my questions answered. I wasn’t enjoying and savouring the reading experience as is usual for me. Why was Sapna chosen? What was really behind the seven tests? I am of course, not going to answer these questions for you, you will need to read the book to find out. Overall I would say that this novel starts out with a rocket, but fizzes and splutters halfway. It picks up momentum towards the finale, but isn't able to sustain interest because it becomes predictable. That said, it’s an easy read, not demanding and would therefore probably be most suitable for holiday or lunch break reading.

Written by a man in the first person voice of a young woman, and successfully so, we are propelled into the improbable storyline of a chance encounter with a billionaire industrialist who offers you the opportunity to become a CEO of his conglomerate if you can pass seven life tests. But what is the catch? This is an enjoyable book, best read quickly, with bustling Delhi and rural India as backgrounds. Unfortunately, it is unavoidably predictable, you could never guess the tests but the outcomes are predestined at least until the seventh one and Vikas has already signaled in the first few pages that we will arrive in jail facing a death sentence. I have no doubt it will make a 5 star film.