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How to Kidnap the Rich
An exhilarating and propulsive debut novel from an emerging talent—a fresh, bitingly hilarious, sweeping satire of modern-day India for fans of Aravind Adiga, Trent Dalton, and Mohsin Hamid.The first kidnapping wasn’t my fault. The others—those were definitely me.Brilliant yet poor, Ramesh Kumar grew up working at his father’s tea stall in the Old City of Delhi. Now, he makes a lucrative living taking tests for the sons of India's elite—a situation that becomes complicated when one of his clients, the sweet but hapless eighteen-year-old Rudi Saxena, places first in the All Indias, the national university entrance exams, thanks to him.Ramesh sees an opportunity—perhaps even an obligation—to cash in on Rudi’s newfound celebrity, not knowing that Rudi’s role on a game show will lead to unexpected love, followed by wild trouble when both young men are kidnapped. But Ramesh outwits the criminals who’ve abducted them, turning the tables and becoming a kidnapper himself. As he leads Rudi through a maze of crimes both large and small, their dizzying journey reveals an India in all its complexity, beauty, and squalor, moving from the bottom rungs to the circles inhabited by the ultra-rich and everywhere in between.A caper, social satire, and love story rolled into one, How to Kidnap the Rich is a wild ride told by a mesmerizing new talent with an electric voice.
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First published June 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 375 reviews
February 20, 2022
Indian novels - there are the moony, mournful, melancholic, meandering ones like The God of Small Things, The Inheritance of Loss, The Clear Light of Day – they all win awards - and there are the rackety, ratatat, bang-up-to-the-minute, slangy, bawling brawling middle of a traffic jam ones like Slumdog Millionaire and The White Tiger and this one. They all get made into films. Well, this one hasn’t yet but it exudes a confidence that says it’s only a matter of months and I believe it.
The first sort include many droopy recollections of the grand days of a family now in terminal decline, money nearly all gone, boo hoo. These are stories told by women. The second sort are rags to riches tales told by a motormouth chancer who is going to tell his unlikely story at breakneck speed until you or him keels over from exhaustion. These are stories told by men.
The title How to Kidnap the Rich gives it away – our genre here is satirical comedy caper, and our tone is full-on caustic loathing of all things Indian. Sample nasty comment – referring to the bad parts of Old Delhi :
Where people lived like gnats on a lemur’s ballsack, where everyone was missing teeth or organs or legs and nothing got better even as the GDPs and the HDIs were going up, up, up all over United Nations Powerpoint slides.
Rahul Raina is an equal opportunities insulter, so naturally the rich will get the sharp end of his tongue too :
In a few years he’d turn into his dad and hate himself until he died. You know, the normal life-cycle of the upper-class Indian male.
Ramesh, our narrator, is upfront about his bad attitude :
My hate could have made India the world’s leader in renewable energy.
He likes to editorialise about India in ways which can take your breath away :
You can’t say anything nice about your parents. That’s the first commandment of being Indian.
or
We Indians are the horniest people on the internet, as any comment section on any video will tell you. We crowd around women, be beg for attention, we will even ask nymphs in sixteenth-century frescoes for their phone numbers.
He loves to shoot from the hip. His industrial strength projectile sneering can happen at any time :
We turned up to a glass-windowed office. The receptionists were white. That’s how I knew I’d really made it.
or
He looked full of charity and joy and other things that make no money.
MORE FUN WITH YOUR SIMILES
One of the things I love to do with modern novels is collect the outrageous similes that authors love to spice their prose with – here are some favourites.
He was totally disarmed, like Pakistan after a war.
I had been squeezing my head fuller than a three-child family on a motorbike
Staring at us like an uncle at a wedding buffet that’s run out of butter chicken
His face expressing terror…like he had just accidentally beaten his boss at the golf course
We would be welcomed like sons returning without white girlfriends from MIT
She was busier than our civil servants are in January editing government websites to remove any mention of last year’s targets (Wins the prize for the most convoluted simile!)
I should stop now or this review will be like one of those damned film trailers that include all the best jokes.
DID YOU LIKE IT?
The first third of this novel is terrific – line after line of great comedy (if you like it bitter). Unfortunately the kidnapping plot then takes over – yes, there is actual kidnapping here, and there are tough guys who say shit like
Tell Pratap to put the knife down, madarchod, or I’m giving your sweet rasgulla one in the balls.
And shoved into the middle of it all like an undercover cop at a BLM rally there is a tiresomely winsome Love Story, naturally, since this will be a film and we need one of those. The loved one is alas straight from central casting. There are two or three cardboard villains, of course. Everything in its rightful place. But as the plot sent the characters ricocheting around Delhi like seismographs in a tsunami the author seemed to run out of killer one-liners and I couldn’t care enough about the villains to want them to suffer. I wanted to like this way more than I did. But that’s me. Mr Hard to Please.
The first sort include many droopy recollections of the grand days of a family now in terminal decline, money nearly all gone, boo hoo. These are stories told by women. The second sort are rags to riches tales told by a motormouth chancer who is going to tell his unlikely story at breakneck speed until you or him keels over from exhaustion. These are stories told by men.
The title How to Kidnap the Rich gives it away – our genre here is satirical comedy caper, and our tone is full-on caustic loathing of all things Indian. Sample nasty comment – referring to the bad parts of Old Delhi :
Where people lived like gnats on a lemur’s ballsack, where everyone was missing teeth or organs or legs and nothing got better even as the GDPs and the HDIs were going up, up, up all over United Nations Powerpoint slides.
Rahul Raina is an equal opportunities insulter, so naturally the rich will get the sharp end of his tongue too :
In a few years he’d turn into his dad and hate himself until he died. You know, the normal life-cycle of the upper-class Indian male.
Ramesh, our narrator, is upfront about his bad attitude :
My hate could have made India the world’s leader in renewable energy.
He likes to editorialise about India in ways which can take your breath away :
You can’t say anything nice about your parents. That’s the first commandment of being Indian.
or
We Indians are the horniest people on the internet, as any comment section on any video will tell you. We crowd around women, be beg for attention, we will even ask nymphs in sixteenth-century frescoes for their phone numbers.
He loves to shoot from the hip. His industrial strength projectile sneering can happen at any time :
We turned up to a glass-windowed office. The receptionists were white. That’s how I knew I’d really made it.
or
He looked full of charity and joy and other things that make no money.
MORE FUN WITH YOUR SIMILES
One of the things I love to do with modern novels is collect the outrageous similes that authors love to spice their prose with – here are some favourites.
He was totally disarmed, like Pakistan after a war.
I had been squeezing my head fuller than a three-child family on a motorbike
Staring at us like an uncle at a wedding buffet that’s run out of butter chicken
His face expressing terror…like he had just accidentally beaten his boss at the golf course
We would be welcomed like sons returning without white girlfriends from MIT
She was busier than our civil servants are in January editing government websites to remove any mention of last year’s targets (Wins the prize for the most convoluted simile!)
I should stop now or this review will be like one of those damned film trailers that include all the best jokes.
DID YOU LIKE IT?
The first third of this novel is terrific – line after line of great comedy (if you like it bitter). Unfortunately the kidnapping plot then takes over – yes, there is actual kidnapping here, and there are tough guys who say shit like
Tell Pratap to put the knife down, madarchod, or I’m giving your sweet rasgulla one in the balls.
And shoved into the middle of it all like an undercover cop at a BLM rally there is a tiresomely winsome Love Story, naturally, since this will be a film and we need one of those. The loved one is alas straight from central casting. There are two or three cardboard villains, of course. Everything in its rightful place. But as the plot sent the characters ricocheting around Delhi like seismographs in a tsunami the author seemed to run out of killer one-liners and I couldn’t care enough about the villains to want them to suffer. I wanted to like this way more than I did. But that’s me. Mr Hard to Please.
June 7, 2022
The White Tiger meets a parody of Slumdog Millionaire: By coincidence, poor Indian teenager Ramesh acquires an education and proceeds to start an illegal business writing the Indian SAT's for children of the rich. When one of them, Rudi, gets an exceptionally high score and is celebrated in the national media, Ramesh blackmails the family into making him his manager in exchange for not giving away that in fact he, Ramesh, was the one who wrote the exam in Rudi's name. Rudi becomes a quiz show host, and they both get kidnapped...
Raina writes in a very sarcastic tone reminiscent of Aravind Adiga (who, let's face it, should never have won the Booker), but the voice of Ramesh is crafted as wittier. Underneath the absurd plot that reads like the script for a fun Hollywood blockbuster, there is lots of social criticism regarding the hierarchy of Indian society, the conservative values of families, corruption, as well as the discrimination of women, Muslims, and people with darker skin tones.
Granted, the text is overly long and Raina overdoes it with descriptions of scenes and settings, but hell, this is a pageturner, and exactly the kind of reading that I needed after weeks packed with the likes of Jon Fosse, Geetanjali Shree, and Georgi Gospodinov - sometimes, I need in-your-face fiction with some speed and punchlines. And while this won't win the Nobel anytime soon (Fosse will, I hope), it's entertaining and smart.
Raina writes in a very sarcastic tone reminiscent of Aravind Adiga (who, let's face it, should never have won the Booker), but the voice of Ramesh is crafted as wittier. Underneath the absurd plot that reads like the script for a fun Hollywood blockbuster, there is lots of social criticism regarding the hierarchy of Indian society, the conservative values of families, corruption, as well as the discrimination of women, Muslims, and people with darker skin tones.
Granted, the text is overly long and Raina overdoes it with descriptions of scenes and settings, but hell, this is a pageturner, and exactly the kind of reading that I needed after weeks packed with the likes of Jon Fosse, Geetanjali Shree, and Georgi Gospodinov - sometimes, I need in-your-face fiction with some speed and punchlines. And while this won't win the Nobel anytime soon (Fosse will, I hope), it's entertaining and smart.
Read
February 18, 2024Super-sour satirical romp that turns the Slumdog Millionaire trope upside down. It's pretty brutal about all its targets and everything is a target (Indian society at all levels, white tourists and saviours, the TV industry, geopolitics, accountants, snacks...) but there is actually quite a sweet heart buried very deep underneath. It is also extremely funny, with great vivid description and some absolutely epic one liners ("He was totally disarmed, like Pakistan after a war" oh my *god*). I didn't quite feel the ending was as tight as the rest of the book but overall a really strong, funny read, though not for the easily offended.
April 11, 2021
"The driver grunted, looking at me with hatred in his eyes. Not Rudi. Just me. Why am I so hated? What have I done, apart from commit many crimes that would shame me in the eyes of the gods?"
How to Kidnap the Rich is a big ol' fuck you.
It's a fuck you to lots of things - the corrupt Indian middle class, Westerners' over-romanticisation of India, the naivety and feel-good factor of Slumdog Millionaire, politicians, influencers, the entertainment industry, and basically everything. Rahul Raina has had it up to fucking here with society and he's not afraid to show it, with dark comedy that cuts with surgical precision and an unflinching journey into the corrupt heart of the rich and powerful.
There are two things that are immediately made clear about the protagonist, Ramesh. One is that he is deeply flawed, and the other is that despite those flaws - or because of them - he is very likable. Rudi, the spoiled son of a rich couple who accidentally became top of the All Indias exam after Ramesh took the exam for him, is far less likable, but his character development throughout the novel is absolutely excellent. Raina is under no illusion that someone can change at the drop of a hat after going through a traumatic experience and suddenly experiencing a moment of spiritual clarity that turns you into an enlightened philanthropist; Rudi certainly changes for the better, but not entirely, in a way that's realistic and true to human nature.
This is a crime novel, a dark comedy, an unshrinking satire, and the dictionary definition of chaotic neutral. It's one of the funniest, well-plotted books I've read in a long time, and along with This One Sky Day , is part of a list of books that had better make the Booker Longlist 2021 or I am going to be sick as a parrot.
April 1, 2021
Rahul Raina definitely writes for a Bengali audience. I felt like I was in the midst of Ramesh Kumar oppressive corner of Old New Delhi. A motherless child, Ramesh worked hard doing most of the physical labor for his abusive father, a man, who operated a tea stall stationed on the busy streets. Despite his lack of consistent schooling, as an young man, Ramesh becomes a successful stand-in for rich children who need to do well on standard Indian Tests to get into Ivy League colleges. Yep, this was his career choice, professional test taker (illegal of course). This alone seemed very sketchy to me since Ramesh was desperately poor and since Indian schools require tuition to be paid up front, how is it that he is so successful in taking challenging tests? Raina does nod to this but doesn't give a viable answer (yes, I know I'm over thinking this).
I found the story to be very repetitive and Raina's attempts at humor were over the top. I didn't find them particularly funny, and as the story proceeded these comedic statements became a bit annoying and after a while just boring. The lead up to the kidnapping mentioned in the publisher's blurb still hadn't happen by page 60 and I wondered when it would occur. Up to that point, I just felt the same information was rehashed. Again, this is probably me being to picky
This story also seemed to be written with a movie in mind. I think he was trying to appeal to the readers of "Crazy Rich Asians" genre. I think this would have made a good short story, as it is currently written, it just seemed bloated for an old fart like me. It may be much more appealing to a twenty something audience.
Thank you to Goodreads and Harper Perennial who graciously provided me with a free copy of this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found the story to be very repetitive and Raina's attempts at humor were over the top. I didn't find them particularly funny, and as the story proceeded these comedic statements became a bit annoying and after a while just boring. The lead up to the kidnapping mentioned in the publisher's blurb still hadn't happen by page 60 and I wondered when it would occur. Up to that point, I just felt the same information was rehashed. Again, this is probably me being to picky
This story also seemed to be written with a movie in mind. I think he was trying to appeal to the readers of "Crazy Rich Asians" genre. I think this would have made a good short story, as it is currently written, it just seemed bloated for an old fart like me. It may be much more appealing to a twenty something audience.
Thank you to Goodreads and Harper Perennial who graciously provided me with a free copy of this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2021
If you loved White Tiger you will enjoy Kidnap The Rich
Honestly, I love a great title and a book with a great cover so I was instantly drawn to this book. In How to Kidnap The Rich we meet Ramesh Kumar, he grew up in the slums of the Old City of Delhi. He grew up being physically and verbally abused by his father who sells tea from a stall. One day a nun from a private school saw his potential and decides to tutor him. Ramesh soaks up all the knowledge because he knows that’s what is going to get him out of his situation.
Fast forward to a few years later and Ramesh is making bank by taking tests for the sons of India’s most elites. His clients are willing to pay big money just to have their sons acing their national university entrance exams. On one exam Ramesh did so well, the son Rudi is place first in the country and propelled to celebrity status! Ramesh takes this as his sign, he is about to be rich and nothing will stop him. That is until… he get’s kidnapped with his cash cow!
First let me say, this book started off extraordinarily strong, down to the dedication was laugh out loud funny. I really enjoyed the writing for the first part then it fell off. The jokes and situation continued to be over the top and just borderline boring. I felt the book was overly written and tried way too hard in certain parts. While I did enjoy 30% of the book, the other parts not so much.
If you enjoyed WHITE TIGER this book kinda feels like it but not as well written. It is funny in certain parts but then it got repetitive and over the top… overall an ok read.
Honestly, I love a great title and a book with a great cover so I was instantly drawn to this book. In How to Kidnap The Rich we meet Ramesh Kumar, he grew up in the slums of the Old City of Delhi. He grew up being physically and verbally abused by his father who sells tea from a stall. One day a nun from a private school saw his potential and decides to tutor him. Ramesh soaks up all the knowledge because he knows that’s what is going to get him out of his situation.
Fast forward to a few years later and Ramesh is making bank by taking tests for the sons of India’s most elites. His clients are willing to pay big money just to have their sons acing their national university entrance exams. On one exam Ramesh did so well, the son Rudi is place first in the country and propelled to celebrity status! Ramesh takes this as his sign, he is about to be rich and nothing will stop him. That is until… he get’s kidnapped with his cash cow!
First let me say, this book started off extraordinarily strong, down to the dedication was laugh out loud funny. I really enjoyed the writing for the first part then it fell off. The jokes and situation continued to be over the top and just borderline boring. I felt the book was overly written and tried way too hard in certain parts. While I did enjoy 30% of the book, the other parts not so much.
If you enjoyed WHITE TIGER this book kinda feels like it but not as well written. It is funny in certain parts but then it got repetitive and over the top… overall an ok read.
December 18, 2024
Well this was an entertaining romp through the streets of Delhi!
Ramesh, an educational consultant - aka someone paid by rich families to sit the national All India exams for their not-so-smart sons - inadvertently comes top of the entire country, meaning his client, Rudi, is catapulted into the celebrity stratosphere.
I enjoyed this novel and its twists and turns, and the comparisons with The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire will be inevitable, being an almost an amalgamation of the two in many ways.
Ultimately I feel it would be better suited to the big screen at times, and towards the end it verges on cartoon caper territory. The ending came out of nowhere - I kinda get what the writer, Rahul Raina, is saying (I think), but it was rather abrupt and there was zero inkling or build up to it.
The writing is bold and audacious and occasionally comical but feels a little try-hard at times, and as someone who is not Indian or a member of the diaspora, a few of the references were lost on me. This is fine of course, and an audience more attuned to Indian culture may gain more from this.
A quick and entertaining read. 3.5* rounded down, as I felt it lost its way in parts of the second half.
Ramesh, an educational consultant - aka someone paid by rich families to sit the national All India exams for their not-so-smart sons - inadvertently comes top of the entire country, meaning his client, Rudi, is catapulted into the celebrity stratosphere.
I enjoyed this novel and its twists and turns, and the comparisons with The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire will be inevitable, being an almost an amalgamation of the two in many ways.
Ultimately I feel it would be better suited to the big screen at times, and towards the end it verges on cartoon caper territory. The ending came out of nowhere - I kinda get what the writer, Rahul Raina, is saying (I think), but it was rather abrupt and there was zero inkling or build up to it.
The writing is bold and audacious and occasionally comical but feels a little try-hard at times, and as someone who is not Indian or a member of the diaspora, a few of the references were lost on me. This is fine of course, and an audience more attuned to Indian culture may gain more from this.
A quick and entertaining read. 3.5* rounded down, as I felt it lost its way in parts of the second half.
May 4, 2023
Романът на Рахул Райна, който (надявам се в скоро време) ще видим разигран по HBO, е
с много ярка и открояваща се атмосфера, представена с обилни количества хаплив хумор и ирония от неговия главен герой Рамеш. Зачетеш ли се, мигновено се пренасяш на прашните улици на Делхи, където под жаркото слънце неговото ранно детство преминава в бедност, мизерия и липса на топла бащинска обич.
Поздравявам човека, който е отправил идеята за екранизация, защото книгата има всичко, от което се нуждае един комедиен екшън филм или сериал, който да ти разнообрази уикенда. Смях, измами, много действие, свежи герои, издънки, трогващ финал, неочаквани приятелства и още по-неочаквана първа любов, още издънки… Но и много храна за размисъл между тях.
В неочакван момент в живота на Рамеш проблясва надежда за по-добро бъдеще и той смело я приема, без да подозира какви други лишения и обрати ще го очакват по-напред по пътя. Но както всички знаем животът е шарен и в романа на Райна виждаме всичките му цветове през очите на двадесет и четири годишния измамник Рамеш, който се опитва, макар и не винаги с късмет, да ги навигира насред хаос и корупция, дебнещи зад всеки ъгъл.
“Комиксите бяха в дъното на класната стая, където боята от тавана се сипеше по тях като благословия от небето. Поглъщах историите, седнал вътре през междучасията, докато всички други се цапаха навън. За мен ползата от училището бе, че можех да стоя на закрито, далеч от жегата и шума, че това беше място, където можех да съм чист и тих, но какво ли знам аз?”
с много ярка и открояваща се атмосфера, представена с обилни количества хаплив хумор и ирония от неговия главен герой Рамеш. Зачетеш ли се, мигновено се пренасяш на прашните улици на Делхи, където под жаркото слънце неговото ранно детство преминава в бедност, мизерия и липса на топла бащинска обич.
Поздравявам човека, който е отправил идеята за екранизация, защото книгата има всичко, от което се нуждае един комедиен екшън филм или сериал, който да ти разнообрази уикенда. Смях, измами, много действие, свежи герои, издънки, трогващ финал, неочаквани приятелства и още по-неочаквана първа любов, още издънки… Но и много храна за размисъл между тях.
В неочакван момент в живота на Рамеш проблясва надежда за по-добро бъдеще и той смело я приема, без да подозира какви други лишения и обрати ще го очакват по-напред по пътя. Но както всички знаем животът е шарен и в романа на Райна виждаме всичките му цветове през очите на двадесет и четири годишния измамник Рамеш, който се опитва, макар и не винаги с късмет, да ги навигира насред хаос и корупция, дебнещи зад всеки ъгъл.
“Комиксите бяха в дъното на класната стая, където боята от тавана се сипеше по тях като благословия от небето. Поглъщах историите, седнал вътре през междучасията, докато всички други се цапаха навън. За мен ползата от училището бе, че можех да стоя на закрито, далеч от жегата и шума, че това беше място, където можех да съм чист и тих, но какво ли знам аз?”
August 11, 2021
Странный заголовок, но, боюсь, он на совести издателя (и в кои-то веки не отечественного!). Это идеальный материал для экранизации - вроде Риз Ахмед уже в процессе - история о бедном парне с окраины Дели, которого растил мерзотный папаша, но благодаря одной встрече, у Рамеша в будущем маячит нечто большее, чем вечная пахота с отцом на чайном стенде.
Взрослея, Рамеш обнаруживает в себе недюжинные способности к обучению и начинает зарабатывать сдачей экзаменов за богатых детишек. К моменту, когда его новый клиент, 18-летний Руди, станет номером один на Всеиндийских экзаменах, Рамеш вообще не представляет, что готовит ему будущее.
Рахул Райна написал анти-миллионера из трущоб и думается мне, что таких книг полно. Fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek и с примесью сатиры на индийское общество. Отличные слагаемые для экранизации, факт. Рамеш довольно забавный чувак, он наш нарратор и он не скупится на хлесткие слова по отношению как к своим, так и к белым. Колониальная история проходит красной нитью, но Райна с сожалением наблюдает, как страна продолжает сочетать поклонение Западу с закостеневшими традициями.
Циничная, местами злая и быстрая книга. Мне такой не хватало, так что прощаю все возможные недостатки, которые находят другие читатели.
Взрослея, Рамеш обнаруживает в себе недюжинные способности к обучению и начинает зарабатывать сдачей экзаменов за богатых детишек. К моменту, когда его новый клиент, 18-летний Руди, станет номером один на Всеиндийских экзаменах, Рамеш вообще не представляет, что готовит ему будущее.
Рахул Райна написал анти-миллионера из трущоб и думается мне, что таких книг полно. Fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek и с примесью сатиры на индийское общество. Отличные слагаемые для экранизации, факт. Рамеш довольно забавный чувак, он наш нарратор и он не скупится на хлесткие слова по отношению как к своим, так и к белым. Колониальная история проходит красной нитью, но Райна с сожалением наблюдает, как страна продолжает сочетать поклонение Западу с закостеневшими традициями.
Циничная, местами злая и быстрая книга. Мне такой не хватало, так что прощаю все возможные недостатки, которые находят другие читатели.
September 13, 2021
Kevin Kwan said this book is “monstrously funny and unpredictably wild” and I cannot agree more. This book is just insane and I loved it. One of the funniest books I ever read.
This is the story of Ramesh who’s very poor and is basically abused and neglected by his chai wallah father. But then an angel comes into his life and her name is Claire. She educates him and becomes a mother figure in his life. He is super intelligent but life throws him in unexpected circumstances. He starts the business of exam fraud where he takes a huge amount of money from the client and takes entrance exams in their place. Soon, he takes an exam for Rudi, an annoying teenager, and he accidentally scores the highest marks in the country and propels Rudi into stardom. And from there comes the money, fame, and a lot of kidnapping.
I had a blast reading this book. The first half is slower than the second half but I think I enjoyed the first half more. In the first half we get to know about Ramesh, his childhood and how Claire changed his life. In the second half, the rollercoaster of kidnapping starts and it is just crazy. Definitely feels like a Bollywood movie, in fact this book’s vibe is just like Delhi Belly (2011) and I love this movie!
This book is satirical and hilarious but I don’t think this kind of humor will appeal to everyone. It is more like dark humor and very subtle. I personally loved the dark humor and all the sarcasm, and I think this book is very well written. This book shows the uglier side of India and its rich people which I loved to read about.
This book actually has a very low rating on Goodreads and I can totally understand why people won’t like this book. As the characters are Indian and the book is set in India, I think it’s highly probable that readers who are not Indian or not familiar with Indian ways will most probably not appreciate this book.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book. It was hilarious, gritty, and edgy, and I loved every bit of it. I can see clearly that this book is not for everyone but those who likes dark humor and satire will definitely enjoy this book.
This is the story of Ramesh who’s very poor and is basically abused and neglected by his chai wallah father. But then an angel comes into his life and her name is Claire. She educates him and becomes a mother figure in his life. He is super intelligent but life throws him in unexpected circumstances. He starts the business of exam fraud where he takes a huge amount of money from the client and takes entrance exams in their place. Soon, he takes an exam for Rudi, an annoying teenager, and he accidentally scores the highest marks in the country and propels Rudi into stardom. And from there comes the money, fame, and a lot of kidnapping.
I had a blast reading this book. The first half is slower than the second half but I think I enjoyed the first half more. In the first half we get to know about Ramesh, his childhood and how Claire changed his life. In the second half, the rollercoaster of kidnapping starts and it is just crazy. Definitely feels like a Bollywood movie, in fact this book’s vibe is just like Delhi Belly (2011) and I love this movie!
This book is satirical and hilarious but I don’t think this kind of humor will appeal to everyone. It is more like dark humor and very subtle. I personally loved the dark humor and all the sarcasm, and I think this book is very well written. This book shows the uglier side of India and its rich people which I loved to read about.
This book actually has a very low rating on Goodreads and I can totally understand why people won’t like this book. As the characters are Indian and the book is set in India, I think it’s highly probable that readers who are not Indian or not familiar with Indian ways will most probably not appreciate this book.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book. It was hilarious, gritty, and edgy, and I loved every bit of it. I can see clearly that this book is not for everyone but those who likes dark humor and satire will definitely enjoy this book.
May 27, 2021
There are many books set in India that take a 'rags to riches' theme but this is one that dares to do so whilst still being (sometimes self-consciously) funny. It plays on the prejudices of the rich and their expectation to exploit the poor as well as the ambition of those poor people to fight their way up the ladders, whilst knowing they'll never be treated the same as the already established rich.
Ramesh is the motherless son of a libidinous chaiwallah, growing up in the dirt and decay of Old Delhi before father and son 'relocate' to the relative wealth of New Delhi, setting up on Bangla Sahib Road, near to the famous and very beautiful Sikh gurdwara. One day, a French Catholic nun spots young Ramesh and decides to change his life through education. Starting from just about nothing, he claws his way through an unwelcoming education system, supported by his other-worldly mentor. Ramesh is smart and his intelligence is his product. He sets up as an education consultant - in other words, a person who takes exams for wealthy but lazy or stupid young men. For a generous payment, Ramesh promises a place in the top 10000 examinees but gets a bit carried away and accidentally places his client, Rudi, first in the All India exams. The results open up a world of opportunities for both Rudi and Ramesh (as his 'manager' and 10 per-center).
The book touches on some of India's key themes. Prejudice between the classes, fear of Pakistan, fear of failure, the role of education in opening up opportunities and multiple aspects of exploitation. India obsesses about academic success. If you are there at the right time of the year, billboards with photos of top performers are used to advertise their schools. Newspapers are full of photos of smartly dressed and scrubbed clean youngsters beaming with joy at their results, heads filled with the prospect of top Indian universities or future success in the USA.
The kidnapping theme is bizarre and quite hard to believe. The recruitment of an intelligence officer to support the boys seems very far-fetched, but if you take this as a funny book with tough themes, it's not too hard to suspend disbelief and just roll with it. Knowing Delhi and having spent a lot of time watching (bad) Indian TV helps bring a lot of extra colour to the story, but isn't essential. Knowing a few good Hindi swear words may help but I'm sure you can guess they're rude even if you're not sure quite how specifically they're being used.
An enjoyable romp with a slightly odd ending but still worth a read.
Ramesh is the motherless son of a libidinous chaiwallah, growing up in the dirt and decay of Old Delhi before father and son 'relocate' to the relative wealth of New Delhi, setting up on Bangla Sahib Road, near to the famous and very beautiful Sikh gurdwara. One day, a French Catholic nun spots young Ramesh and decides to change his life through education. Starting from just about nothing, he claws his way through an unwelcoming education system, supported by his other-worldly mentor. Ramesh is smart and his intelligence is his product. He sets up as an education consultant - in other words, a person who takes exams for wealthy but lazy or stupid young men. For a generous payment, Ramesh promises a place in the top 10000 examinees but gets a bit carried away and accidentally places his client, Rudi, first in the All India exams. The results open up a world of opportunities for both Rudi and Ramesh (as his 'manager' and 10 per-center).
The book touches on some of India's key themes. Prejudice between the classes, fear of Pakistan, fear of failure, the role of education in opening up opportunities and multiple aspects of exploitation. India obsesses about academic success. If you are there at the right time of the year, billboards with photos of top performers are used to advertise their schools. Newspapers are full of photos of smartly dressed and scrubbed clean youngsters beaming with joy at their results, heads filled with the prospect of top Indian universities or future success in the USA.
The kidnapping theme is bizarre and quite hard to believe. The recruitment of an intelligence officer to support the boys seems very far-fetched, but if you take this as a funny book with tough themes, it's not too hard to suspend disbelief and just roll with it. Knowing Delhi and having spent a lot of time watching (bad) Indian TV helps bring a lot of extra colour to the story, but isn't essential. Knowing a few good Hindi swear words may help but I'm sure you can guess they're rude even if you're not sure quite how specifically they're being used.
An enjoyable romp with a slightly odd ending but still worth a read.
August 1, 2021
Originally I gave this book 3 stars, but after bookclub discussion I would amend that to 3& 1/2/ stars.
A rip-roaring start that read like a stand-up routine. Then it slowed to encompass and explore the back story.
Ramesh had a hard beginning to life with his mother dying in child-birth. His father was cruel and only had use of Ramesh for what he could physically contribute to the tea stand he ran.
After a difficult start to life Ramesh meets Sister Claire and their story was a saving grace. I really enjoyed the relationship between these two and was championing them both
The class and caste systems in place in India was eye-opening. The emphasis placed upon educational success was what gave Ramesh the ability to make a living. The corruption of the country and the way that money made life more palatable and bearable was intriguing.
I really liked how the character of Rudi grew through the novel and the development of the 'friendship' between him and Ramesh.
The title doesn't do the book justice and is misleading.
There are many times you chuckle out loud. And equally as many times as you cheer Ramesh and his cohorts on.
Overall, a funny and entertaining read. With a birdseye view into the inner workings of modern day India.
A rip-roaring start that read like a stand-up routine. Then it slowed to encompass and explore the back story.
Ramesh had a hard beginning to life with his mother dying in child-birth. His father was cruel and only had use of Ramesh for what he could physically contribute to the tea stand he ran.
After a difficult start to life Ramesh meets Sister Claire and their story was a saving grace. I really enjoyed the relationship between these two and was championing them both
The class and caste systems in place in India was eye-opening. The emphasis placed upon educational success was what gave Ramesh the ability to make a living. The corruption of the country and the way that money made life more palatable and bearable was intriguing.
I really liked how the character of Rudi grew through the novel and the development of the 'friendship' between him and Ramesh.
The title doesn't do the book justice and is misleading.
There are many times you chuckle out loud. And equally as many times as you cheer Ramesh and his cohorts on.
Overall, a funny and entertaining read. With a birdseye view into the inner workings of modern day India.
April 14, 2021
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc. I’m a big Bollywood buff and love stories by Indian authors (I’m of Christian Pakistani background myself). This was a fun read, with a witty, satirical narrative set in contemporary Delhi. Unfortunately this book didn’t quite work for me, even though it started off as promising.
This follows our protagonist, Ramesh, a 24-year old who makes his living taking exams for sons of wealthy parents so they can get their visa and go to America, as well as brag about their offspring’s educational status. His luck changes though when sitting the exams for Rudi. Rudi’s results show that he got the top marks. In. The. Whole. Of. India. His parents cash in on his son’s status, as he’s offered advert deals, and even the chance to host a TV game show called Beat the Brains. And Ramesh wants his cut too. His fate is tied with Ramesh as he blackmails his way into becoming Rudi’s assistant. Ramesh does the work behind the scenes while Rudi gets the glory. All is well. They’re practically millionaires. Until they both get kidnapped...
I loved the voice of the protagonist. The writing holds no punch. Rahul Raina is straight up direct. The characters are morally messy and grey, which is fine. But there were several plot problems I couldn’t get on board with:
* first of all the first half of the book sets up the pictures and most of the narrative is set in the past showing how Ramesh was ‘saved’ from poverty by Sister Claire. The actually kidnapping doesn’t happen until 50% into the story.
* Poor female characters. All Indian men in this book are perverts and constantly horny. All women are there to be f***ed or are nurturers aka Sister Claire and Priya, the protagonist’s love interest. I felt the writing got really repetitive.
* The last 25% of the novel. You’ve got to really suspend your disbelief. Things were just happening. Some of the action wasn’t even shown. It was over in a sentence. I found the last act: hammy and OTT. Tbh I found the last act really confusing and the ending was meh. Like what was the point of this story exactly??! Also in the ending things happen ridiculously fast for Ramesh. It defied the logistics of the story. It’s basically rehashing Netflix Wild Wild West documentary. Also if it’s that easy then what was the point of the whole book. Who knew it that easy for an Indian to get a visa to America, buy a mansion and set up a successful business. Especially for a man just out of jail 🙄 Where was the editor??????
This had potential. I liked the parts where Ramesh was the assistant; it flashes of The White Tiger, an exquisitely observant book on class in modern India. However outlandish plotting let this book down for me. It’s 2/5.
This follows our protagonist, Ramesh, a 24-year old who makes his living taking exams for sons of wealthy parents so they can get their visa and go to America, as well as brag about their offspring’s educational status. His luck changes though when sitting the exams for Rudi. Rudi’s results show that he got the top marks. In. The. Whole. Of. India. His parents cash in on his son’s status, as he’s offered advert deals, and even the chance to host a TV game show called Beat the Brains. And Ramesh wants his cut too. His fate is tied with Ramesh as he blackmails his way into becoming Rudi’s assistant. Ramesh does the work behind the scenes while Rudi gets the glory. All is well. They’re practically millionaires. Until they both get kidnapped...
I loved the voice of the protagonist. The writing holds no punch. Rahul Raina is straight up direct. The characters are morally messy and grey, which is fine. But there were several plot problems I couldn’t get on board with:
* first of all the first half of the book sets up the pictures and most of the narrative is set in the past showing how Ramesh was ‘saved’ from poverty by Sister Claire. The actually kidnapping doesn’t happen until 50% into the story.
* Poor female characters. All Indian men in this book are perverts and constantly horny. All women are there to be f***ed or are nurturers aka Sister Claire and Priya, the protagonist’s love interest. I felt the writing got really repetitive.
* The last 25% of the novel. You’ve got to really suspend your disbelief. Things were just happening. Some of the action wasn’t even shown. It was over in a sentence. I found the last act: hammy and OTT. Tbh I found the last act really confusing and the ending was meh. Like what was the point of this story exactly??! Also in the ending things happen ridiculously fast for Ramesh. It defied the logistics of the story. It’s basically rehashing Netflix Wild Wild West documentary. Also if it’s that easy then what was the point of the whole book. Who knew it that easy for an Indian to get a visa to America, buy a mansion and set up a successful business. Especially for a man just out of jail 🙄 Where was the editor??????
This had potential. I liked the parts where Ramesh was the assistant; it flashes of The White Tiger, an exquisitely observant book on class in modern India. However outlandish plotting let this book down for me. It’s 2/5.
April 4, 2022
Оставам с впечатление, че няма лоша книга за Индия :) Тази също беше доста интересна.
February 19, 2022
This book was glorious
Want to read
January 15, 2021From the description I noticed a few similarities to the Korean film Parasite, but set in India. Seems like it's worth taking a look when it comes out.
May 29, 2021
A fast-paced satire ripping through every caste and corner of New Delhi
A young man in New Delhi makes his living by taking exams for the teenage children of the city's rich and powerful. When his top score turns one of his clients into a national celebrity, the pair quickly get swept up in a whirlwind of corruption, crime and conspiracy.
The blurb definitely drew me to Slumdog Millionaire comparisons, but there are more than enough differences to feel original.
From its first lines, our narrator and protagonist Ramesh sets a striking tone -- biting, irreverent and often a touch vulgar as he lampoons every aspect of modern India, rich or poor.
The characters are punchy, if a bit one-dimensional. With the exception of Ramesh, villains are villains and the women in his life are angels. I couldn't help but be charmed by his romance with TV producer Priya, even if it did stray into manic pixie dream girl territory at times.
The ending felt a bit disjointed to me, as did a long flashback sequence about the French nun responsible for Ramesh's education, but for the most part, the story moves at a clip.
Overall, the book has its shortcomings and is very much a debut novel, but it was entertaining enough and I might keep an eye on this author in the future.
3.5 stars rounded down
Thanks to Harper Perennial for my advance review copy, furnished via Goodreads giveaway
A young man in New Delhi makes his living by taking exams for the teenage children of the city's rich and powerful. When his top score turns one of his clients into a national celebrity, the pair quickly get swept up in a whirlwind of corruption, crime and conspiracy.
The blurb definitely drew me to Slumdog Millionaire comparisons, but there are more than enough differences to feel original.
From its first lines, our narrator and protagonist Ramesh sets a striking tone -- biting, irreverent and often a touch vulgar as he lampoons every aspect of modern India, rich or poor.
The characters are punchy, if a bit one-dimensional. With the exception of Ramesh, villains are villains and the women in his life are angels. I couldn't help but be charmed by his romance with TV producer Priya, even if it did stray into manic pixie dream girl territory at times.
The ending felt a bit disjointed to me, as did a long flashback sequence about the French nun responsible for Ramesh's education, but for the most part, the story moves at a clip.
Overall, the book has its shortcomings and is very much a debut novel, but it was entertaining enough and I might keep an eye on this author in the future.
3.5 stars rounded down
Thanks to Harper Perennial for my advance review copy, furnished via Goodreads giveaway
May 2, 2022
A guy who has dragged himself out of poverty in Delhi by sitting the All India exams for the children of super-rich families finds his life entwined with one of those he does the exam for. This is a bit of an issue for him as the children of the super-rich notoriously aren’t all that well-adjusted as human beings, and he isn’t exactly a ray of sunshine either. Cue a number of kidnappings, double crossings, a love story and some mild peril.
This was great - fast paced, sucked me right in with the story and the setting and is believably of that place. I’ve never been to India but I felt like I was there and the culture - caste system and everything - was palpable, and accessible.
Amazing.
This was great - fast paced, sucked me right in with the story and the setting and is believably of that place. I’ve never been to India but I felt like I was there and the culture - caste system and everything - was palpable, and accessible.
Amazing.
June 9, 2022
За съжаление нищо впечатляващо. Интересен замисъл, който показва реално живота в Индия, който определено не е лек. Не ни се спестява нищо и не се украсява излишно. Втората част на книгата е по-динамична и с е случват доста неща.
Но не успя да ме хване, да ме накара да се вълнувам. На моменти ми беше откровено скучно. HBO ще правят сериал - от любопитство бих го изгледал, за да видя дали телевизионната версия ще е по-добра.
Пълното ми мнение тук ===> https://www.bookadventureclub.com/202...
Но не успя да ме хване, да ме накара да се вълнувам. На моменти ми беше откровено скучно. HBO ще правят сериал - от любопитство бих го изгледал, за да видя дали телевизионната версия ще е по-добра.
Пълното ми мнение тук ===> https://www.bookadventureclub.com/202...
December 30, 2021
The cover is very Bollywood and I am here for it. But what’s on the inside?
60% crime fiction
40% satire
A huge scattering of wit and bite throughout
It'll have you turning the pages one minute and laughing out loud the next so if you like your crime with a dash of sharp humour, you'll enjoy this one.
60% crime fiction
40% satire
A huge scattering of wit and bite throughout
It'll have you turning the pages one minute and laughing out loud the next so if you like your crime with a dash of sharp humour, you'll enjoy this one.
July 18, 2021
High energy, great sense of place and an engaging narrator - I enjoyed this. I felt like I was in Delhi with all its sights, smells and contrasts. A fun and superficial book on one hand but there are some pointed observations of the divide between rich & poor in India. The plot became over the top & silly towards the end. It would be great on screen.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
April 24, 2022
Too far fetched and condensed into the last few chapters
May 28, 2021
This book took a paradoxical and sometimes humorous spin on the culture of the Indian people. A Cinderella story if you must of a young boy raised by his abusive father only to find a way out and became a rich successful idol in the most unexpected way. This is one book that offers one thrill after another, after another. It’s a non-stop ride full of satire and pokes fun at the castes of Hindu culture. As much as this was full of fast action and page flipping fire; there were serious topics that were touched upon that really melt your heart. From the very beginning you know despite what happens later, what a good heart the main character truly has shown he has and how full of loving another he is capable of.
*****
Ramesh born the same day his mother died was raised by his unlovable and abusive father. He would work at selling tea with him instead of going to school until one day a nun came and changed his life. He is a very good student but had to make some difficult choices and sacrifice what he wanted in life and his education. Although he was among the smartest in the Country, he ends up taking the National University Entrance Exams, not for himself but for the son’s of India’s Elite. He ends up getting Rudia Saxona to place first in the All India’s. With this comes, fortune, fame and power for Rudia and Ramesh talks himself into being Rudia’s manager.
But with what can go wrong with winning All India’s after Rudia become a celebrity on a talk show can only be next to impossible. But yet, it happens, drugs, kidnapping, ransom, another kidnapping, until one crime leads to another and everyone is suspect. Where every second and every breath you are in fear for your life. Who do trust?
*****
Ramesh born the same day his mother died was raised by his unlovable and abusive father. He would work at selling tea with him instead of going to school until one day a nun came and changed his life. He is a very good student but had to make some difficult choices and sacrifice what he wanted in life and his education. Although he was among the smartest in the Country, he ends up taking the National University Entrance Exams, not for himself but for the son’s of India’s Elite. He ends up getting Rudia Saxona to place first in the All India’s. With this comes, fortune, fame and power for Rudia and Ramesh talks himself into being Rudia’s manager.
But with what can go wrong with winning All India’s after Rudia become a celebrity on a talk show can only be next to impossible. But yet, it happens, drugs, kidnapping, ransom, another kidnapping, until one crime leads to another and everyone is suspect. Where every second and every breath you are in fear for your life. Who do trust?
October 3, 2021
As a former resident of Delhi I absolutely loved this book. Raina perfectly captures the feel of Delhi, in all its different forms, from Old Delhi to East Delhi. He has a fantastic sense of humor and his commentary on culture, both Indian and Western, is hilarious and so accurate. The plot gets a little outlandish towards the end, but due to its title I don't think readers will be disappointed, I just preferred the first two thirds of the book.
Since I'm a tutor I also really enjoyed the scheme that the main character comes up with to earn money for his day job, and I thought the whole thing was very entertaining and imaginative.
I also enjoyed the Hindi slang thrown around by the main character, Ramesh, although I think people who are not familiar with Delhi or Indian culture and have no knowledge of Hindi words would get pretty lost, not understand the inside jokes, and might not enjoy this book very much. For those people I would probably suggest the HBO series, whenever it comes out, since this book has been optioned by them already.
I loved this book and it brought back many memories of living in Delhi.
Since I'm a tutor I also really enjoyed the scheme that the main character comes up with to earn money for his day job, and I thought the whole thing was very entertaining and imaginative.
I also enjoyed the Hindi slang thrown around by the main character, Ramesh, although I think people who are not familiar with Delhi or Indian culture and have no knowledge of Hindi words would get pretty lost, not understand the inside jokes, and might not enjoy this book very much. For those people I would probably suggest the HBO series, whenever it comes out, since this book has been optioned by them already.
I loved this book and it brought back many memories of living in Delhi.
January 3, 2025
It just wasn’t for me!
April 3, 2023
Mir wurde von den ganzen Plottwists schwindelig. Ein ewiges Hin und Her und irgendwie konnte ich mit keinem der Figuren mitfühlen - allesamt schwer unsympathisch. Man merkte hin und wieder, dass es Rainas Debüt ist, weil es an einigen Stellen eben doch sehr unbeholfen ist.
January 20, 2024
Just a really good fun book to read. I can see it being made into a film
February 2, 2022
3.5 stars. Raina delivers this story with razor sharp wit. I found the tone of this book really unique; acerbic one-liners aplenty mixed with the narrative of Ramesh's (the protagonist's) life. The first half of this book was interesting but I found it hard to get into- it mostly told the tale of how Ramesh got to where he was. The second half of the book really picked up and told the chaotic story of multiple kidnappings (context definitely required) which I found much more engaging. I was most invested in the relationship between Ramesh and Rudi which bounced between brotherly and antagonistic. The author paints a vivid picture of Delhi (both New and Old) and critiques modern India in a way that is both caustic and good-natured. Overall, not laugh-out-loud funny but still a fun read talking about a lot of complex themes in a very entertaining way. I'll definitely be watching the film adaptation!
May 6, 2021
How to Kidnap the Rich is a fresh, feisty satire rich in Indian culture and bustling atmosphere and quickly becomes a wild adventure. Brilliant yet poor, Ramesh Kumar grew up working at his father’s tea stall in the Old City of Delhi. Now, he makes a lucrative living taking tests for the sons of India's elite—a situation that becomes complicated when one of his clients, the sweet but hapless eighteen-year-old Rudi Saxena, places first in the All Indias, the national university entrance exams, thanks to him. Ramesh sees an opportunity—perhaps even an obligation—to cash in on Rudi’s newfound celebrity, not knowing that Rudi’s role on a game show will lead to unexpected love, followed by wild trouble when both young men are kidnapped. But Ramesh outwits the criminals who’ve abducted them, turning the tables and becoming a kidnapper himself.
As he leads Rudi through a maze of crimes both large and small, their dizzying journey reveals an India in all its complexity, beauty, and squalor, moving from the bottom rungs to the circles inhabited by the ultra-rich and everywhere in between. A caper, social satire, and love story rolled into one, How to Kidnap the Rich is a wild ride told by a mesmerizing new talent with an electric voice. I found myself likening it to Slumdog Millionaire but with acerbic, scathing humour throughout. It's a story rich in culture and reflects the importance of excelling in education in India today. A compulsive, captivating and enthralling read and a thoroughly unpredictable wild ride with a whipsmart and deliciously fun plot. Set in the pulsing, crowded city of Delhi we journey with Ramesh as he gets himself into as much trouble as one possibly could. Thoroughly enjoyable, great entertainment.
As he leads Rudi through a maze of crimes both large and small, their dizzying journey reveals an India in all its complexity, beauty, and squalor, moving from the bottom rungs to the circles inhabited by the ultra-rich and everywhere in between. A caper, social satire, and love story rolled into one, How to Kidnap the Rich is a wild ride told by a mesmerizing new talent with an electric voice. I found myself likening it to Slumdog Millionaire but with acerbic, scathing humour throughout. It's a story rich in culture and reflects the importance of excelling in education in India today. A compulsive, captivating and enthralling read and a thoroughly unpredictable wild ride with a whipsmart and deliciously fun plot. Set in the pulsing, crowded city of Delhi we journey with Ramesh as he gets himself into as much trouble as one possibly could. Thoroughly enjoyable, great entertainment.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 375 reviews