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Available
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Publication
Rupa & Co. (2006), 276 pages
Description
Press 1 for technical support. Press 2 for broken hearts. Press 3 if your life has totally crashed. . . . Six friends work nights at a call center in India, providing technical support for a major U.S. appliance corporation. Skilled in patience–and accent management–they help American consumers keep their lives running. Yet behind the headsets, everybody’s heart is on the line. Shyam (Sam to his callers) has lost his self-confidence after being dumped by the girl who just so happens to be sitting next to him. Priyanka’s domineering mother has arranged for her daughter’s upscale marriage to an Indian man in Seattle. Esha longs to be a model but discovers it’s a horizontal romp to the runway. Lost, dissatisfied Vroom has high ideals, but compromises them by talking on the phone to idiots each night. Traditional Radhika has just found out that her husband is sleeping with his secretary. And Military Uncle (nobody knows his real name) sits alone working the online chat. They all try to make it through their shifts–and maintain their sanity–under the eagle eye of a boss whose ego rivals his incompetence. But tonight is no ordinary night. Tonight is Thanksgiving in America: Appliances are going haywire, and the phones are ringing off their hooks. Then one call, from one very special caller, changes everything. Chetan Bhagat’s delicious romantic comedy takes us inside the world of the international call center, where cultural cross-wires come together with perfect pathos, hilarity, and spice.… (more)
Media reviews
"I first read it and wrote about it when I was in India last year, and it’s stayed in my head ever since."
User reviews
LibraryThing member rashmish
I would suggest not to waste time in reading such a boring book by chetan bhagat. The things mentioned here about the call from god and related story is quite hypothetical and could not be imagined. if anyone is still intrested in reading it just go through last 10 pages you will understand the
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whole story. Show Less
LibraryThing member emigre
The author worked for a horrible boss and cited him as an inspiration for this book. If only all bad working experiences could be translated into bestsellers.
I was surprised this was getting an American release, as Americans aren't exactly shown in a flattering light here. The 35=10 rule just
The call center narrative is woven into the flashbacks the protagonist has of his past dates with his dream girl, now about to be whisked away by an Indian-American suitor to an American life. I didn't get too attached to the romance aspect of it, mostly I liked the insight into the life of the average 20-something Indian, trying to make a good living but not selling out.
I was surprised this was getting an American release, as Americans aren't exactly shown in a flattering light here. The 35=10 rule just
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about made me spit up. The Indian call center teaches all call agents that a 35-year-old American is as intelligent as a 10-year-old Indian. I wonder how Americans will take this saying. I suppose you sort of have to insult the people who call all night long to complain about idiotic problems now and then to stay sane and not end up screaming at them after one stupid question too many. The author does acknowledge that inspite of the vast intelligence Indians have, the country is plagued by corruption and thus very behind America.The call center narrative is woven into the flashbacks the protagonist has of his past dates with his dream girl, now about to be whisked away by an Indian-American suitor to an American life. I didn't get too attached to the romance aspect of it, mostly I liked the insight into the life of the average 20-something Indian, trying to make a good living but not selling out.
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LibraryThing member pvenky
Good light reading. As an Indian working in the US (like Ganesh!) it is interesting to read about the call center culture. If this portrayal of the Indian youth today is repressentative, then I must say a lot has changed since I last lived in India. As to the portrayal of America and Americans in a
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negative light, while it is quite startling, I can believe that this section of the Indian youth (those who work in call centers) predominantly has that sentiment as they only get to interact with Americans who have problems figuring out appliances and computers. I now want to read the author's other book. Show Less
LibraryThing member swl
Charming, but most valuable to me as a window into this culture. This book was first released in India where it was a best-seller - and when Ballantine picked it up they didn't remove much of the contempt for Americans.
I'm confused by the prologue/God sequence, which leave me wondering if I'm
The characters were interesting to me, though mostly as an introduction to current Indian stereotypes; their resolution was far too neat.
I'm confused by the prologue/God sequence, which leave me wondering if I'm
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missing cultural markers or whether this is just a darn strange book. I didn't much mind, however, not being as prickly about deity references as some.The characters were interesting to me, though mostly as an introduction to current Indian stereotypes; their resolution was far too neat.
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LibraryThing member SmithSJ01
The synopsis tells you enough about the plot that I won't go into the details. This is such a quirky read and linking it to `The Office' (as Amazon has done) is not bad actually, it has that feel. I picked this up on a recommendation from a friend; she was spot on. When I read the opening chapter I
In the opening page we are asked to do a task - think about something you fear, that makes you angry and one thing you don't like about yourself. I had a think, came up with an idea and plodded on with the reading. When you reach the end of the novel you find yourself thinking about what you said in the beginning and viewing it in a different way. Clever stuff!
God calling the characters who work in the call centre is a brilliant modern way of asking you not to find religion or allow Him into your heart but really just to trust and know you are watched over. It gave me a nice warm feeling! The characters are funny, they do some good things and some dreadful things all of which we are allowed to view through our own eyes and through the eyes of different characters.
Overall a great read that is well written with funny characters.
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thought yeah right, this isn't going to be that good but Bhagat's writing style is so easy you are soon swept along with the narrative. In the opening page we are asked to do a task - think about something you fear, that makes you angry and one thing you don't like about yourself. I had a think, came up with an idea and plodded on with the reading. When you reach the end of the novel you find yourself thinking about what you said in the beginning and viewing it in a different way. Clever stuff!
God calling the characters who work in the call centre is a brilliant modern way of asking you not to find religion or allow Him into your heart but really just to trust and know you are watched over. It gave me a nice warm feeling! The characters are funny, they do some good things and some dreadful things all of which we are allowed to view through our own eyes and through the eyes of different characters.
Overall a great read that is well written with funny characters.
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LibraryThing member Acrackedportrait
THis book, along with 'Memoirs of Midnight' by Sidney Sheldon, battles it out for the worst I've read. But to be fair, the idea wasn't bad. Its a pity, cause a good idea fell in the hands of an inept author. Its selling, so let it sell.
LibraryThing member shelleyraec
I wanted to like this much more than I did - the characters are actually quite fun, and there are some lines that made me giggle but somehow the story just didnt hold together for me.
LibraryThing member milti
Horrible! Not even half as good as the first book!
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
I was delighted to pick up a rare copy of this book in the UK and raced through it in 2 days flat. I loved it for its straightforward, humorous style, and while the synopsis threatened something uncomfortably religious, it’s not. (It’s religious in the sense that Yann Martel’s “Life of
As the title suggests, the story takes place over one night and is set in an Indian call centre, the sort of place I’ve been dealing with recently in connection with a Kodak printer I unwisely bought. It was fascinating – offshore call centres are so unpopular here it’s a positive selling point if a company doesn’t use them – and don’t get me started on the ones that cold call you with bogus ‘surveys’..... And yet all the time we know these are real people doing tough jobs on the other side of the world. Here in this book is their viewpoint and their world, a world of the idiot boss and nasty mother-in-law, a world of high tech and growing nationalism. They don’t like those bogus Western names any more than we do, and they are unashamedly scornful of their American “clients” (I particularly liked the ‘35-10 rule’). I’m going to be much nicer to those guys from Kodak in future but I still wish I had never bought the flipping printer.
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Pi” is religious I’d say).As the title suggests, the story takes place over one night and is set in an Indian call centre, the sort of place I’ve been dealing with recently in connection with a Kodak printer I unwisely bought. It was fascinating – offshore call centres are so unpopular here it’s a positive selling point if a company doesn’t use them – and don’t get me started on the ones that cold call you with bogus ‘surveys’..... And yet all the time we know these are real people doing tough jobs on the other side of the world. Here in this book is their viewpoint and their world, a world of the idiot boss and nasty mother-in-law, a world of high tech and growing nationalism. They don’t like those bogus Western names any more than we do, and they are unashamedly scornful of their American “clients” (I particularly liked the ‘35-10 rule’). I’m going to be much nicer to those guys from Kodak in future but I still wish I had never bought the flipping printer.
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LibraryThing member LemurKat
There was something oddly readable about this book, even though the writing style felt stilted, and dialogue forced (and everything said a little too obvious) and the plot itself was somewhat saccharine, sappy and included divine intervention. However, it only took up one day of my life and was
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quite amusing, although I do not feel it deserves more than two stars - "it was ok". The whole "message" was a little too obvious and shoved down the reader's throat and the insulting of American's intelligence rather got on my nerves. Even though, for the record, I am not American. Besides, I do hate the call centres that ring up and tell me my computer has a virus! Show Less
LibraryThing member brianjungwi
A somewhat enjoyable though predictable novel focusing on six employees and their relationships while working the evening shift at one of India’s technology call centers. Shymal, who uses the name Sam when talking to American consumers, works at a generic call center on the outskirts of Dehli.
Shymal finds himself contending with Priyanka, his ex – girlfriend newly engaged through an arranged marriage to an overseas Indian. His coworkers have their own difficulties, and they find themselves dominated by an incompetent and self – serving boss. With the threat of losing their jobs, the colleagues trade barbs and complain incessantly about their American consumers. Over the course of the night they scheme and prod each other wondering if they will be employed in the morning, and if their various relationships can be salvaged.
The last fifth of the novel falls flat as Bhagat employs his Deus Ex Machina to wrap the story and provide its characters with life altering perspectives. The ending is picture perfect Bollywood and is never in doubt while also providing The Life of Pi type profundity. Although the novel’s onset is entertaining, and Bhagat has a good sense of dialogue, the ending feels rushed and forced.
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Working alongside a lonely old man, an aspiring model, a neglected wife, an angry idealist, and his ex – girlfriend Shymal is at his wit’s end as the firm looks to layoffs to save costs.Shymal finds himself contending with Priyanka, his ex – girlfriend newly engaged through an arranged marriage to an overseas Indian. His coworkers have their own difficulties, and they find themselves dominated by an incompetent and self – serving boss. With the threat of losing their jobs, the colleagues trade barbs and complain incessantly about their American consumers. Over the course of the night they scheme and prod each other wondering if they will be employed in the morning, and if their various relationships can be salvaged.
The last fifth of the novel falls flat as Bhagat employs his Deus Ex Machina to wrap the story and provide its characters with life altering perspectives. The ending is picture perfect Bollywood and is never in doubt while also providing The Life of Pi type profundity. Although the novel’s onset is entertaining, and Bhagat has a good sense of dialogue, the ending feels rushed and forced.
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LibraryThing member MomsterBookworm
Initial cursory reading of the first few pages intrigued me enough to want to read more. However, as the story unfolded, the plot development unraveled and fell through. As a published author with several books under his belt (I wonder, really), I must say that the writing style was quite juvenile
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and very rough. The only 'nice' thing about it, if you are looking for it, is that one could say that it played out like a B-grade Bollywood movie. I am not in the habit of posting a negative review on a book, because to each his/her own -- but I really do not recommend reading this (unless critiquing is your cup of tea), nor would I take the chance on reading another one of this author's books, on the perchance that it might have some redeeming qualities. Show Less
LibraryThing member zeborah
Not really the right book for me; I have little patience with romantic woes to begin with, particularly from the point of view of the Nice Guy. The point of the book is that he gets his head back together in due course (and unlike most Nice Guys he actually does care about people when his head's on
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the right way to show it) so it was a better reading experience once I started reading on fast-forward and skipped a bunch of the flash-backs. I do like the conceit, and the parts focused on the call centre itself - and on the other problems facing their other colleagues - were a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member thisisstephenbetts
It's not great literature, but it is entertaining enough, with engaging characters. Ultimately, though, it's really more of cultural interest.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
276 p.; 7.8 x 0.51 inches
ISBN
8129108186 / 9788129108180
Other editions
One Night @ The Call Center by Chetan Bhagat (Paperback)