Rating: 
Summary: A beautifully rendered audiobook
Review: Punto de fuga The audio tape version of "An Equal Music," by Vikram Seth, could be reviewed as a predictable love story of an obsessive (and depressed) man with his only love, a married woman. However, the beauty of the writing itself, the passion of the music, and the fine performance by Alan Bates makes this an audio tape that expands the possibilities of the medium: "An Equal Music" truly gains by being an audiobook. English actor Alan Bates, who has brought his special skills to other audiobooks (Amsterdam, Oliver's Travels) does the reading. His beautiful voice wonderfully conveys the passion and the joy of music, the themes of trust and connection, and the loveliness of the words. Mr. Bates's reading is reason enough to purchase this tape, but not the only reason. Brief selections of the music described in the text add to the listener's enjoyment and whet one's appetite for whole renditions of the music pieces. Teasingly, the most interesting of the pieces described (a string quartet rehearsal, in pizzicato of a version of The Art Of Fugue), is only described and not performed. Seth elusively touches on the themes of love and trust, and brings the book to its end with a performance of Bach's Art Of Fugue. I especially enjoyed this choice of musical theme for many reasons, among them because in Spanish (my native language) the word 'fuga' has multiple interpretations: A fuga is not only a word conveying many meanings, but is also elusive as of itself. (see Note below) The ending, therefore, becomes the punto de fuga, the point at which, in art, parallel lines converge due to perspective. I highly recommend this beautifully rendered audiotape. Note: Fuga: nombre, femenino, (Latin, fugam): Accion y efecto de fugarse. 2. Momento de auge o intensidad de una accion. 3. Salida, escape accidental de un fluido por un orificio o abertura 4. Evasion al extranjero de valores necesarios para el propio pais. 5 musica: Composicion musical de estilo contrapuntistico, basado en el uso de la imitacion procedente de un tema generalmente corto, pero bien diferenciado. . . . // Punto de fuga, punto de un dibujo en perspectiva en el que concurren rectas que son paralelas en la realidad which means: 1 escape, 2 climax in a plot, 3 accidental exit of a fluid from an opening. 4 Overseas departure of assets necessary to a country 5 Musical composition in counterpoint, based on the use of imitation of a short, but well differentiated theme . . . // Punto de fuga: point in a drawing done in perspective where straight paralell lines converge (Unfortunately, in English this term is translated as vanishing point, so I doubt Mr. Seth had this specific meaning in mind). Definitions from El Pequeno Larousse Ilustrado, p. 469, 1996
Rating: 
Summary: Play on, write on, Vikram Seth!
Review: This is a lovely book: unpretentious and touching, it is a love story involving triangles, the foremost of which is between Michael, Julia, and music. It was Michael's relationship with music, in the form of Karl, his early mentor, that forced the pair of lovers apart over a decade before the story opens. Seth seems to be asking if the love of music by the artists can be equal to the love found in a relationship. Like the reader from Canada, I too found myself playing the pieces mentioned in the story (the Trout is a favorite of mine) and seeking the Fugues. Nevermind the hyper-critics: read this beautiful homage to music and be enriched by it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Music To My Ears
Review: Not only did I want to drop the main character I wanted to pay for his anlysis. He was a pedantic cretin for most of the book...stalker and light weight sort of date that one would fish to pay for his bill and just get rid of him! Thank god she was deaf so she didn't have to hear his drivel. She made a great save in getting rid of this two bit violinist. He made himself so precious and introspective he became ultimately only interesting to himself. He is the reason that lip reading should be banned!
Rating:
Summary: Why the title?
Review: I liked the book very much, partly because I share the author's love for the music the quartet plays, and his appreciation of it. I wondered about the title. Perhaps, at the end, we are to see the two principles coming to an understanding that they are to lead different but not entirely separate lives. An equal music, like the performers in the quartet, in their music making and their ritual tuning chord.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring as can be
Review: Mundane, it comes across as a glorified Mills and Boon romance
Rating:
Summary: Vapid, tepid and insipid
Review: I was thoroughly bored. The romance is forced and seems artificial, as does most of the music talk. The book is an exercise in futility (on both the writer's and reader's parts).
Rating:
Summary: A Marvelous Melody
Review: An Equal music is a wonderful book, one to be relished and reflected upon. Exquisite locales, a mosaic of music, a touching love story. The use of present tense all through brings the book alive, almost like a motion picture before your eyes. You can hear the music playing, feel the cool breeze of a late night walk in Venice. However, the most beautiful parts of the book are the poetic potrayals of the emotions of the protagonist Michael. A must-read for every sensitive sou
Rating:
Summary: Reader from Tokyo bang on the money
Review: I wish to echo the sentiments expressed by "A Reader from Tokyo". This is a near perfect book that not only works as a piece of literature but as something of an education. I personally am trying to track down a copy of Bach's "Art of the Fugue" as well as some of the other pieces referenced throughout the novel. In fact, my only quibble with the book is that I wish it had provided a music bibliography with more precise details than the characters sometimes provided. Anyway, a very worthwhile read and one that makes you appreciate classical music more than you might already. And the ending leaves room for a sequel: my suggestion is that Michael wakes up from a coma and it turns out he and Julia nbever went to Italy: I call it The Phantom Venice.
Rating:
Summary: Passionate !
Review: I read most of this one on airplanes and it transported me to a different world! the author's description of scenes all over europe is just fascinating. I never thought one could describe 'music'so lucidly, in words! I definitely recommend reading it.
Rating:
Summary: He knows his music.
Review: I'm of two minds about this book. The story itself is not compelling. But when have we ever had a novelist so knowledgable about making music and the people who make it? As a musician myself, I recommend it to other musicians who want to read something that rings true.
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