Helpful Score: 5
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I can't praise it enough. It has insight, humor, pathos, history, interesting glimpses into the culture of India, and beautiful writing. Fortunately (from my point of view), it is also a long book. I never wanted it to end.
Helpful Score: 5
The less you know about India ,the more you will enjoy this book. Do not misunderstand me, it is because you will be intrigued,enchanted and unable to stop reading about these Indian characters in India. Six or seven pages into the novel, you will know in advance the book isn't going to be long enough...and it is a seriously thick book. This novel is akin to a cultural introduction via fiction. This novel is an approachable history of Partition, that will tear at your heart and make you wonder why this is never taught in High school history. This book entertains, explains and has the ability to let you be a fly on the wall of a culture that is, on the exterior, inexplicable. These characters are so real, I partly believe they must live somewhere! Vickram Seth is simply brilliant, he is utterly readable, get this book...live in a place you may never see, understand motives of an unwed Indian girl and a skirt-chasing handsome Indian bachelor. Every page a revelation.
Helpful Score: 4
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I was glad it was so long because I never wanted it to end. In its way, a sort of epic tale, it has gentle humor, love, friendship, understanding for both Hindus and Muslims, bits of history, insight into the dynamics of Indian families, vivid depictions of Indian life--I could go on and on; and it is beautifully written.
Helpful Score: 3
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I was glad it was so long because I never wanted it to end. In its way, a sort of epic tale, it has gentle humor, love, friendship, understanding for both Hindus and Muslims, bits of history, insight into the dynamics of Indian families, vivid depictions of Indian life--I could go on and on; and it is beautifully written.
Helpful Score: 1
Even though this book was a monster read (1349 pages), I enjoyed it very much. I learned interesting history and religious customs of 1950's India. It took me a month to read it in between many other books I read but I always looked forward to getting back to read about the interesting characters which began to feel like friends to me. I enjoyed reading about the many suitors that Lata Mehra had and how her mother tried to manipulate her marriage. Torn between 3 men in the end, I believe that Lata finally made the right choice. I can't wait to read Seth's new novel, A Suitable Girl, when it is published in 2016.
