SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Ram Mohammad Thomas, an Indian Everyman, is an uneducated waiter who wins a billion rupees on a popular TV quiz show. After he wins, he’s arrested and brutally interrogated because the authorities believe he cheated. As Ram details the events of his life, each vignette provides clues to his ability to answer the many obscure questions. Vikas Swarup's novel, originally titled Q & A, has more substance, more characters, and more drama than the Oscar-winning film made from it. Christopher Simpson's superb performance shows remarkable facility with accents. He highlights character traits and flaws, showing particular deftness with one character's speech impediment. Simpson ratchets up the level of intensity, etching enduring portraits of real people, making every meticulously recounted moment engaging, convincing, and riveting. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2010 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]