An Equal Music - Vikram Seth

When something is difficult or impossible , it is always better to try out something else which has something in common with the first difficult something. Like if watching Abhishek's 'Om Jai Jagdish' is an unearthly (unheavenly too , if you are doubtful) task , then it is better to watch 'Bluffmaster' - afterall , both have Abhishek , but the second was obviously much better :D . But let me cut this self-made philosophical crap and come directly to the point. I dumped Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy after the 900th page , which made an unsuitable read anyway and picked up An Equal Music which is like only 400 pages long. And i am glad i did , it made a better read than the first.

Talking about An Equal Music , i do not understand why people prefer A Suitable Boy to this , which is close to a classic. If it is because it being the longest novel in the world , to hell with Seth! Now after have read AEM , I can safely declare that ASB is not even a patch on the former , yes , yes AEM is much much better!

Now I do not think that Seth is made of Nobel Prize-worthy stuff (No ladies and gentlemen , that is NOT my suggestion (that he has the potential to be a Nobel Laureate) incase you feel like hitting me with an iron rod for suggesting disastrous situations , but of The Illustrated Weekly Of India's ;)) , but An Equal Music does make a good read. It is not one of those books which leave a 'lasting impression' after you read it , but it does , yes it does , entertain you and keep you engaged throughout.

And so , all you out there , who have shelled out a 500 bucks for A Suitable Boy , my humble suggestion would be either to get a refund or otherwise , sell it to the raddiwala and get a copy of An Equal Music instead. No , if you do want to read ASB , do go ahead , but i am not responsible for any brain damages or anything of that sort...











And read this interview for some starters :)










PS - If you think that this post is cranky , then think again. If you still think so , then i have only one thing to say - i fully agree with you :)