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A Suitable Boy: THE CLASSIC BESTSELLER AND MAJOR BBC DRAMA Paperback – 13 October 2020
by Vikram Seth (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 4,053
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AND MODERN CLASSIC: NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES
'A phenomenon, a prodigy, a marvel' Evening Standard
ONE OF THE BBC'S 100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLD
A modern classic, this epic tale of families, romance and political intrigue, set in India, never loses its power to delight and enchant readers.
At its core, A Suitable Boy is a love story: the tale of Lata - and her mother's - attempts to find her a suitable husband, through love or through exacting maternal appraisal. At the same time, it is the story of India, newly independent and struggling through a time of crisis as a sixth of the world's population faces its first great general election and the chance to map its own destiny.
'Seth is the best writer of his generation' The Times
'Fiction on a grand scale. By the time you reach the last page you will have absorbed a splendid story, full of the tangle and perfume of India' Sunday Telegraph
'The greatness of the novel, its unassailable truthfulness, owes less to research than to imagination, an instinctive knowledge of the human heart' Observer
'You should make time for it. It will keep you company for the rest of your life' The Times
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Review
No one, surely, could wish this novel shorter ... the greatness of the novel, its unassailable truthfulness, owes less to research than to imagination, an instinctive knowledge of the human heart - OBSERVER
A long, sweet, sleepless pilgrimage to life ... such writing reminds us that there are secrets beyond technique, beyond even style - GUARDIAN
Vikram Seth is already the best writer of his generation - THE TIMES
A quietly monumental novel . . . [Seth] has given that unlikeliest of hybrids, a modest tour de force - TLS
Conceived on a grand scale of the great 19th century novels - War and Peace, Middlemarch - A Suitable Boy grows to match them in breadth and depth . . . [A] massive and magnificent book - Sunday Times
A phenomenon, a prodigy, a marvel of 19th century storytelling in the language of today - EVENING STANDARD
An immensely enjoyable novel which describes with unhurried pace the panorama of India . . . Everything appears familiar to us, yet in fact it is newly minted by a master artist - Hindustan Times
Review
No one, surely, could wish this novel shorter ... the greatness of the novel, its unassailable truthfulness, owes less to research than to imagination, an instinctive knowledge of the human heart - OBSERVER
A long, sweet, sleepless pilgrimage to life ... such writing reminds us that there are secrets beyond technique, beyond even style - GUARDIAN
Vikram Seth is already the best writer of his generation - THE TIMES
A quietly monumental novel . . . [Seth] has given that unlikeliest of hybrids, a modest tour de force - TLS
Conceived on a grand scale of the great 19th century novels - War and Peace, Middlemarch - A Suitable Boy grows to match them in breadth and depth . . . [A] massive and magnificent book - Sunday Times
A phenomenon, a prodigy, a marvel of 19th century storytelling in the language of today - EVENING STANDARD
An immensely enjoyable novel which describes with unhurried pace the panorama of India . . . Everything appears familiar to us, yet in fact it is newly minted by a master artist - Hindustan Times
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Publisher : W&N; 1st edition (13 October 2020)
Language : English
Paperback : 1552 pages
ISBN-10 : 1474618790
ISBN-13 : 978-1474618793
Dimensions : 12.8 x 6.8 x 19.6 cm
Best Sellers Rank: 197,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
794 in Asian Literature (Books)
2,986 in TV, Film & Game Tie-In Fiction
9,175 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,053
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From Australia
Steve Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in Australia on 4 April 2015
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Epic novel full of intricate detail and interesting stories. Made me feel a part of the families. Can't wait for A Suitable Girl!
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Genie Criscione
4.0 out of 5 stars To know India, read this book
Reviewed in Australia on 25 June 2019
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The novel tells a story against the background of Indian politics, separation of India and Pakistan and all the ways that impacted life in these two countries
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Wandering Freely
5.0 out of 5 stars I can't fault it!
Reviewed in Australia on 2 July 2015
A tour de force of a novel. An absolute epic that the reader deserves 5 stars for if they finish. Being a huge fan of India and Indian fiction, this book gave me everything I wanted and I can't fault it.
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Maz
3.0 out of 5 stars Rich and textured, your patience will be rewarded
Reviewed in Australia on 18 July 2019
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** spoiler alert ** *spoiler alert*
This was a book where I enjoyed the journey more than the final destination ... and this sounds very odd, considering that the book was 1500 or so pages long. My rating of the book is a little low because I was very angry and annoyed at the end at Lata, as it seems like many Goodreads members are. Seth made us get very attached to the good-looking, dashing Kabir and although I had lost hope for him when we found out he was Muslim in the first couple of hundred pages, since the book was so long I really thought something big was going to happen and these two would end up together.
I understand why Lata moved away from him at the beginning, but I just don't understand her reasons at the end of the book for not choosing him. I think it's because we often subconciously get attached to the first character we are introduced to as the seeming protagonist, and we start to pin our hopes and dreams and excitement related to a book on that character. In A Suitable Boy, although Lata comes around a lot and features in the synopsis of the book at the back cover, it is not right to think of her as the main character. So, I have to come to peace with her decision because I realise that I actually don't like her very much - and Kabir does, indeed, deserve better.
The beauty in A Suitable Boy lies in the multi-dimensional world that Seth has built for us, and of all the characters he brings to the forefront, each richer than the next. These are all people we know, these are people we come to know through the book, and their interactions with each other are so very real. Most interestingly, the way they end up interacting with each other is so organic and authentic that it is simply literary genius.
Don't let the title of the book mislead you. It is not just a story about a mother searching for her perfect son-in-law -- it is the story of a new country coming to terms with its independence and struggling to build its identity. Of Hindus, Muslims, politicians, courtesans, landlords, serfs, the privileged and the struggling. I think if anyone asks me what's a good book to read to start understanding South Asian politics, I will recommend this book.
In the end, I was sad to have finished the book. I wanted to know what happens to Kabir, Maan, Savita and Varun. My favourite characters would have to be the jolly, liberal and volatile Maan and his father, the stern and secular Mahesh Kapoor. Every interaction of the adults with Bhaskar was also a delight to read. There are many more characters in the book: the angry Anglicised Arun, the vacuous Meenakshi, the industrious Haresh, the flighty Amit, the modern Malati, the lovely Pran -- and of course, the dramatic, hilarious, teardrop factory Mrs. Rupa Mehra. I could really write a mini-review on each of these characters, and tell you all about them - they have been described to that extent.
Now that I've reached the end of my review, I kind of wish to increase my rating of the book from 3 stars to 4. However, I will stick to my original feelings.
I am not sure if I recommend this book - this book has been on my father's bookshelf for years and years but I never picked it up because it was so thick. I don't think you should read it if you're not ready for it yet...because the last thing I want anyone to do is stop halfway through the book. Read it when you're ready. Do it on a Kindle like I did because then you don't have to carry a thick book around. But I can honestly say that this book does not feel 1500 pages long, you will absolutely get submerged into the characters' worlds and devour it.
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Linda
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting history and characters
Reviewed in Australia on 23 August 2020
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The story is not swift moving and it is very wordy - but I guess that helps add some depth to the characters - perhaps.
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Sydney1981
2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing
Reviewed in Australia on 13 January 2017
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Just finished this book and feel like I've just lost 3 weeks of my life. The ending is TERRIBLE, and after such a long winded, excessively drawn out story, I feel completely guttered.
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From other countries
Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book
Reviewed in Italy on 24 August 2017
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The description of 1 year in the life of a group of friends and relatives in the 50's India. The description includes both small and large history (Hindu Muslim riots, the caste system, Indian politics of the time) and the two are beautifully interwoven. I particularly liked the amused and at the same time affectionate eye of the author on the characters of the book.
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Marina
5.0 out of 5 stars Long novel worth the effort!
Reviewed in Spain on 20 November 2015
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It's a long, long book.
I've been wanting to read it for a long time, because the reviews are really good.
I couldn't find a new copy so I bought a non-used second-hand one on a store called Tolka unused books and I'm really glad: the book was new!
There is a sentence on the cover from the New York Times: "Make time for this book. It'll keep you company for the rest of your life" So true!!
I totally recommend it but with some reservations:
a) It's about India and Indian culture, so if you're not interested in that particular theme, you shouldn't go for it;
b) Being such a long novel, there are passages that seem quite slow or not "to the point";
c) It took me some time to take in all the different characters, but after that "adaptation period" I'm completely hooked.
It's a family saga extremely well written.
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Cliente Amazon
4.0 out of 5 stars Great long book
Reviewed in Brazil on 14 February 2022
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I really enjoy the experience of this book. I was curious about it because of the Netflix series. It has great female characters, my two favorites are Mrs Mahesh Kapoor and Menakshi. I am waiting "Suitable Girl" with joy in my heart.
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伊藤よしひろ
5.0 out of 5 stars 1500ページ、読むべきか無視するべきか
Reviewed in Japan on 23 August 2014
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ペーパーバック: 1504ページ
出版社: Phoenix (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ) (2013/11/7)
ISBN-10: 1780227892 のレビュー。
1. どんな小説か？
舞台はインドの架空の州、カルカッタとベナーレスの中間ぐらいの地域。1949年末から1952年初頭まで1年半の期間で、作者が生まれた頃の時代。四つの家族を中心に、中心人物 Mrs Rupa Mehra が娘 Lata の結婚相手を捜すというストーリー。同時にザミンダール制廃止法案、第一回総選挙といった歴史も織り込まれる。
Commonwealth Writers' Prize: Best Book (1994)
BBC's Big Read 55位 （『アンナ・カレーニナ』とロアルド・ダール『The BFG』の間）
2. どうしてこんなに長いのか？
主な登場人物約30名の性格、身分、生活がじっくり描かれます。それ以外にも名前が出てくる人物約100名。一年間の宗教行事（ヒンドゥー、イスラム、民間信仰）が織り込まれ、若い世代と老人世代の生活感覚が描かれます。それ以上に緻密に描かれるのは、日常生活の細部。郵便制度からガザルの詩句、野菜の値段から便器まで、あらゆる事象の細部がぎっしりページを埋めています。
3. どんなタイプの小説？
20世紀の小説の技法をまったく無視したような、古風な作風です。魔術的リアリズムとかメタ構造とか難しい技法いっさいなし。寓話的要素もないし、映画やコミックの技法の影響もありません。トルストイの『戦争と平和』のような語り口です。いまどき、こんな古臭い手法を用いたのが、一般読者や批評家に新鮮に感じられたのでしょうか。ポスト・コロニアリズムに対するある種の批判ではないかと読んでいきましたが、そうでもないようです。とにかく、ゆったりとした展開です。
4. どういうふうに読んでいけばよいのか？
うーん。物語に身を任せる、と言っても、展開がゆるやかすぎるのですね。中心人物の心の動きを追いかけていく古風な読み方が要求されますが、同時に細部を楽しむ態度も必要です。つまり、時代の雰囲気、生活の細部を楽しむ余裕がないと、退屈で途中で止めたくなるでしょう。それに、各人物がじっくり描かれますので、若い世代の感覚だけ追いかけて読むと、途中何十ページも別の話が続きます。ある程度惰性で読む態度も必要でしょう。興味ある部分はじっくり、そうでない部分は流して読むことも必要。わたしも、クリケットに関する部分など、飛ばし読みしました。音楽、園芸、料理、靴製造ビジネス、スポーツ、英文学、カースト制、土地制度、医療、鉄道などなど、興味ある部分はネットや事典で調べることも必要でしょうが、全部根をつめて読むこともないでしょう。
5. 文章の難しさは？
むずかしい技法ありません。しかし、簡単ではない。かなり硬い表現が使われて、それがある種のユーモアを醸し出す文体です。英語話者が読むと、かなり可笑しい(hilarious)文体であるようです。それから、ヒンディー語/ウルドゥー語のことわざ、格言などが直訳で出てきたり、単語がそのまま何の解説もなく出てきます。ただ、ヒンディー語/ウルドゥー語の単語や親族呼称に関しては読んでいけばわかるので、特に知識は必要ないでしょう。英文学、ベンガル文学からの引用や詩・歌についても、知識があれば楽しめるでしょうが、そこまで準備万端で挑むのは無理でしょう。つまり、身も蓋もない言い方ですが、読んでいけばよい、ということです。
6. そのほか、感想は？
最初、このような話を英語を書くとは、作者にとってどんな意味があるのか？ などと疑問に思いました。でも、読んでいくと、そんなことはどうでもよくなりました。主な登場人物は英語で話し、英語の書物を読んでいるのです。つまり、上流階層が中心なのです。この点、好き嫌いが別れるかもしれません。（もちろん、あらゆるカースト・階層の人物が登場しますが）
娘（19歳）の結婚相手を捜す母の物語として読むと、期待をはぐらかされるかもしれません。この母、強烈な個性なのですが、若い世代の男性のほうが、より深く描かれています。それよりも、わたしは老人世代の男性に興味を持って読んだのですが。
若い世代、つまり十代から二十代の人が読んだらもっと楽しめるのかもしれません。しかし、現実問題として、この長さは、二十歳前後の人たちにはキツイでしょうね。BBC's Big Read に選出されたということは、一般読者に読まれているということで、ベストセラーでもありますが、翻訳は出そうにないですね。
1. 어떤 소설인가? 무대는 인도의 가상의 주, 캘커타와 베너레스의 중간 정도의 지역. 1949년 말부터 1952년 초까지 1년 반의 기간으로, 작자가 태어났을 무렵의 시대. 네 가족을 중심으로 중심 인물 Mrs Rupa Mehra가 딸 Lata의 결혼 상대를 찾는 이야기. 동시에 자민다르제 폐지법안, 제1회 총선거 등의 역사도 포함된다. Commonwealth Writers' Prize: Best Book (1994) BBC's Big Read 55위(『안나 카레니나』와 로알드 다르『The BFG』사이)
2. 왜 이렇게 긴가? 주요 등장 인물 약 30명의 성격, 신분, 생활이 차분히 그려집니다. 그 이외에도 이름이 나오는 인물 약 100명. 1년간의 종교 행사(힌두, 이슬람, 민간 신앙)가 짜여져, 젊은 세대와 노인 세대의 생활 감각이 그려집니다. 그 이상으로 치밀하게 그려지는 것은 일상 생활의 세부 사항. 우편 제도부터 가자루 시구, 야채 가격부터 변기까지 모든 사건의 세부 사항이 가득 페이지를 채우고 있습니다.
3. 어떤 종류의 소설? 20세기의 소설의 기법을 전혀 무시한 것 같은, 고풍스러운 작풍입니다. 마술적 리얼리즘이나 메타 구조라든지 어려운 기법 일체 없음. 우화적 요소도 없으며 영화나 만화 기술의 영향도 없습니다. 톨스토이의 '전쟁과 평화' 같은 말투입니다. 지금, 이런 옛 냄새가 나는 방법을 이용한 것이, 일반 독자나 비평가에게 신선하게 느껴졌을까요. 포스트·콜로니아리즘에 대한 어떤 종류의 비판이 아닌가 라고 읽어 갔습니다만, 그렇지 않은 것 같습니다. 어쨌든, 느긋한 전개입니다.
4. 어떤 식으로 읽어야 할까?
흠. 이야기에 몸을 맡긴다고 해도 전개가 너무 느슨합니다. 중심인물의 마음의 움직임을 쫓아가는 고풍스러운 읽는 방법이 요구됩니다만, 동시에 세부를 즐기는 태도도 필요합니다. 즉, 시대의 분위기, 생활의 세부 사항을 즐길 여유가 없으면 지루하고 도중에 멈추고 싶어질 것입니다. 게다가, 각 인물이 차분히 그려지므로, 젊은 세대의 감각만 쫓아 읽으면, 도중 수십 페이지도 다른 이야기가 계속됩니다. 어느 정도 위성으로 읽는 태도도 필요하겠지요. 흥미있는 부분은 차분하고, 그렇지 않은 부분은 흘려 읽는 것도 필요. 저도 크리켓에 관한 부분 등을 읽었습니다. 음악, 원예, 요리, 신발 제조 비즈니스, 스포츠, 영문학, 카스트제, 토지 제도, 의료, 철도 등 등 흥미있는 부분은 인터넷이나 사전에서 조사하는 것도 필요하겠지만, 전부 뿌리를 잡아 읽는 것도 없을 것입니다.
5. 문장의 어려움은? 어려운 기법은 없습니다. 하지만 쉽지 않다. 꽤 딱딱한 표현이 사용되어 그것이 어떤 종류의 유머를 자아내는 문체입니다. 영어 화자가 읽으면 꽤 웃음(hilarious) 문체인 것 같습니다. 그런 다음 힌디어
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