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Summary: Its like walking through a dream
Review: Although this book is so thick, its so gripping that I could hardly stop reading it once I started. There are so many interesting characters that at the end of the book you would wish you knew more about many of them. Any reader will fall in love with the characters of this book. The book also presents a good and authentic picture of India and its culture. But I still do not agree with Seth's philosophy that any passionate relationship ends up nowhere.
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Summary: I read this book until 4 am every night until I finished it.
Review: Beautiful prose. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens (sort of) in India. I loved this book. Please, please write another, Mr. Seth.
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Summary: i adored this book; couldn't put it down.
Review: just love the way v. seth writes. his use of the english language is enviable. character development fascinating. i hope he writes a sequel to this: life with lata and haresh, newly married; whatever happens to kabir, and maan, and malati, and of course, mrs rupa mehra!.
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Summary: A worthy and delightful experience
Review: The book is a moving panorama of several events set in post-independent India, covering the four families at one level and encompassing the nation, at a higher level. What it offers the reader is a very realistic glimpse into life in Indian families, their rich culture heritage and the strong pathos. What makes it really delightful is Seth's habit of juxtaposing events and situations with the inner feelings and emotions of the characters, thus elevating the book to higher plane - it is not a mere story of four families or saga of events, it is a vehicle for some of Seth's insights into human nature and existence, his philosophy of life, his train of thought. When offering these insights and thoughts, Seth desists from being judgmental, leaving the prerogative and pleasure interpreting it to the reader. This, in my experience, was what made the book enjoyable to me, especially since I found myself identifying with may such insights I came across in the book. I can still see vivid images of Lata, Kabir, Harish, Mann, Pran, Meenaxi, Arun, Savitha, Mrs. Mehra - not just in flesh and blood but in terms of their inner feelings, attitudes and behaviour as well - it is almost like I have seen my own private film based on Seth's writing.While maintaining his individual style of story-telling, even amidst the tender tale of love and marriage Seth has taken care to maintain a smatterring of everything that goes into an American bestseller - passion, extra-marital relations, sexual abuse - but in well-measured doses sans graphic descriptions, building up the tempo with undercurrents and overtones rather than statements and descriptions. But I have some grouses against Seth. At times, while pages are spent in describing events, their denoument is disappointing and leaving the reader felling let down: Mann's tour in Rasheed's village, the political campaigning and Mann's court case are some examples that come to mind. At other times, when characters/ situations have potential for imaginative possibilities, he lets them go without really exploring them - for example, Arun and his explosive character, Meenaxi's medal-selling, even the Mann-Firoz friendship. Also the stabbing incident (featuring Mann and Firoz) and its aftermath sticks out like a sore thumb - the situations and behaviours are out of sync with the rest of the settings. All in all reading the book was a worthy experience and even a month after finishing the book, I have been digging into some chapters at random and rereading them, for the sheer pleasure and understanding they provide.
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Summary: A book that moved me, but finished on a hollow note
Review: Beautiful lush scenes and characters evolve from the first page of this big (huge) novel. I read it religiously following the plots of the many characters. Beautifully written prose drives you to the finish that is unfortunately lame. With so many characters, and such a promising begining and middle, the ending is anticlimatic.
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Summary: A good read
Review: Initially this novel might seem discouraging to some because of its length, but it is beautifully well balanced and richly detailed without bogging you down with complicated plot lines or rambling details. It is a book for the mature reader, and by mature I am not referring to one's age but to one's expectations of fine literature. Neither should the length be seen as a challenge : I, like many of the reviewers here, am anxious to read the sequel.
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Summary: How wonderful it is to read a book that makes you think!
Review: I don't know much about India and I can say that this is why I bought the book and also after reading the NYTimes review. I come from a very different culture, South American so I really enjoyed learing and being exposed to a different culture. Very well written, you could smell the cooking and hear the music as you read along the pages that go by very fast. And for me to say fast, is rare due to a learing desability. He has described the family life and values; ceremonies; religion, in a way that is easy for those that are not from India to understand. I was living in Dallas at the time and happen to be taking some courses as SMU which helped me to understand the "class" system. Waiting for Mr. Seth to write another great story.
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Summary: Excellent book. I am anxiously awaiting a sequel.
Review: This is a brilliant work. It is very long but it has to be this way. How else would we have gotten to know the characters as well as we did? My knowledge of India is extensive, so I did not suffer the feelings of not knowing what was going on. Mr. Seth took me to India in the 50s and allowed me to take a look at what life may have been like back then. Also I believe it helps if you are linguistically able to speak another language. There are many characters in this book and very few had English names. This book is not for fluff readers. If you are used to only bits and snatches of a story then this is not for you.
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Summary: God, Please let there be a part two in the works!
Review: Vikram's journey into the lives of so many individuals in such a short (yes, I do mean short), amount of time left me praying 'please let there be a part two in the works - A Suitable Girl, perhaps.' The end left me wanting more from each character, particularily of Maan and Firoz. 'It is by far my favorite trilogy to date, since Mary Renault's re-telling of Alexander the Great.'
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Summary: As close to perfection as possible...
Review: This is by far one of the best books I have ever read...I recommend to everyone.....a true masterpiece. Every character is so believable....though a knowledge of India and its culture might be a great advantage! Hope Seth comes out with a sequel
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