Rating: 
Summary: Why Bother?
Review: Seth is a terrific writer, and I have vastly enjoyed previous works. That was my only motivation for plowing through all but the last 80 pages of this maddening work. A complete waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read!
Review: I quite like the way he described the rehersals and the style he played. I myself though played the violin and belonged in an amateur music group, I never quite thought of music-making in a way as Seth puts it. I think the way he writes is quite poetic. The only problem with this book is that the story is a little slow-paced.
Rating:
Summary: music in making
Review: In spite of the totally different setting, An Equal Music shares with A Suitable Boy the theme of disruptive passion which must be overcome stoically. Somewhat shabby in the description of situation and characters, An Equal Music is nevertheless a captivating tale of adultery in the unusual setting of "music in making".
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful achievement
Review: The beauty of music is portayed with detail in this book and that is what I enjoyed most about it. I enjoyed the parts where the quartet rehearse and their concerts. Actually, I am dying to get hold of the Schubert "Trout" Quintet! (I am curious, how many of you have done the same?) This is a rich, poetic book in which the protagonist is music, and you can just about hear if flowing from its pages.My major criticism is that the story suddenly loses pace and interest when Michael and Julia get back from Venice. This is a different book which everyone will surely enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull and uninvolving
Review: How can you possibly write a novel that conveys the beauty and passion of music in mere words? Seth tries hard but fails. And because the characters are so slightly drawn, this novel is merely a classical music primer. After the brilliance of A Suitable Boy, it's disappointing to read this flat, distant novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Music of the heart
Review: A big surprise after "A Suitable Boy". Seth moves off in an unexpected direction with this beautiful and deceptive simple tale of love and music. Julia is a magnificent creation and her "problem", revealed through discreet touches before its enormity becomes apparent, makes her all the more touching. The sparse, simple style brings the music to vibrant life. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful use of music in an audiotape
Review: I'm halfway through listening to the unabridged audiotape, and I agree with whoever said Bates is perhaps not perfect for the part, although he's not bad -- but the music is wonderful and I would like to buy CDs of it. But which versions are best? Can a musician-reader tell us? This is the kind of audiotape to convince people audiotaped novels are a different animal altogether and judging from the comments of those who read the novel perhaps better than the print version of the novel. There is no way the novel could have captured what I am hearing on the audiotape. Maybe in our sophistication we're going back to more of an oral storytelling tradition?
Rating:
Summary: He made me listen to Schubert - brilliant stuff!
Review: Vikram Seth made me buy a Schubert CD containing the famous "Trout" quintet...and i dont blame him. I am not deeply into classical music but the sheer brilliance of Seth's writing was too much for me... - the book seamlessly intertwines the themes of music,love and a love for music. With Seths' lucid narrative of the life of Michael, a musician by profession and his journey through love "lost" and found, the book is definitely for keeps (along with the Schubert CD ofcourse!). However, Seth does get a bit carried away somewhere down the famous canals of Venice and could have compressed the book by 50-60 pages...
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: This was a great read on a number of levels. As I neared the end, I feared that the author was going to end it badly and disappoint me, but he didn't. I'm a violinist and I loved everything he said relating to music, and how he said it. It was unclear from the book whether he is a musician, but if not, he did his homework well. I can't wait to read his other works. Truly a pleasure to read!
Rating:
Summary: At last something deep AND entertaining
Review: Seth's novel deserves the title of 'literary masterpiece' because he truly succeeds in connecting with a broad variety of readers to send his message. He also makes a lot of interesting points about the human relationship to music -- without using shock tactics like many pop authors might. Best of all, he clearly has done his homework on musical concepts and history. If you are at all interested in music, this one is truly a delight to read!
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