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surabhi_brahma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"A novel by Vikram Seth"
Is immediately enough for me
And so, with a calculated bet,
I bought this book to read.
A novel in verse?
Well, there were worse
Things for me to indulge in
And so I did, without chagrin
Now, having read this wonderful book
By a deservedly renowned author
Let me be your rouser
And take you to my nook
As I attempt to tell you why
You ought to give this book a try.
At first, I admit, I was a little weary
I’m not impressed by just gimmick
But by the end I was teary
I was touched by this book’s limerick
Emotions, characters, descriptions, thoughts,
Absolutely unmarred by a background plot
Tells the story of human beings
What is apparent and what is unseen
Who knew a protest against a nuclear bomb
Or the emotions after a loved one’s death
Or a love affair in stealth
Could be written with such aplomb?
I’m just glad ‘The Golden Gate’
Was written into my fate.
casparb's review against another edition
A novel in verse! wow ! And from Vikram Seth!
This is from the 80s so we're doing well there I feel the novel in verse is making its way back into something a bit like the mainstream - my feeling is this will be clearer in two or three years. Naturally we have Anne Carson doing her thing but I know there's more soon to be published which excites me it's a lovely form
Anyway nods of course to Eugene Onegin this is In Onegin stanzas (sonnets, tetrameter). I was surprised by how fluent this read there's a slightly self-conscious feeling from the author which is expected but handled well & while rhymes are comic, its intentional and didn't wear on my patience.
I've seen A Suitable Boy described as a colossal, well-written Indian soap, as a novel. There's kind of a soap-y aspect to this though we're San Francisco & I ought to be clear that I don't intend 'soap' as pejorative I think VS handles the dramatic tangle well for a shorter novel. Also nice that probably the tenderest & most emotionally charged moment of the first half is a queer love story. This kind of falls away later on which is disappointing but it's something for the mid-eighties I suppose.
Overall swift and easy read. Could make a nice intro to the contemporary verse novel esp. with the Onegin stanzas that stamp of heritage - worth pursuing
This is from the 80s so we're doing well there I feel the novel in verse is making its way back into something a bit like the mainstream - my feeling is this will be clearer in two or three years. Naturally we have Anne Carson doing her thing but I know there's more soon to be published which excites me it's a lovely form
Anyway nods of course to Eugene Onegin this is In Onegin stanzas (sonnets, tetrameter). I was surprised by how fluent this read there's a slightly self-conscious feeling from the author which is expected but handled well & while rhymes are comic, its intentional and didn't wear on my patience.
I've seen A Suitable Boy described as a colossal, well-written Indian soap, as a novel. There's kind of a soap-y aspect to this though we're San Francisco & I ought to be clear that I don't intend 'soap' as pejorative I think VS handles the dramatic tangle well for a shorter novel. Also nice that probably the tenderest & most emotionally charged moment of the first half is a queer love story. This kind of falls away later on which is disappointing but it's something for the mid-eighties I suppose.
Overall swift and easy read. Could make a nice intro to the contemporary verse novel esp. with the Onegin stanzas that stamp of heritage - worth pursuing
thebookflicker's review against another edition
4.0
The Golden Gate written by Vikram Seth. It is one of a kind novel that i have read. The novel is written verse composed of 590 Onegin Stanzas following the rhyme scheme AbAbCCddEffEgg. Author has even written acknowledgement, contents in verse 🙂
Author dabbles in love, friendships, Christianity, homosexuality, nuclear warfare, tolerance, feminism. He even mentions in the novel the criticism, struggle he faced while writing the novel.
I personally liked the book , I am not a big fan of poetry but still got immersed in the book. Starting I faced difficulty reading but after some time the reading was smooth ,I kinda lost track of time 😜. The story has wit ,humor and emotions.
The story revolves around a group of friends living in California in twentieth century John, Phil, Janet. John a lonely tech guy ends up meeting Liz through an ad placed by his ex lover Janet. Phil unemployed, divorced & single father has a passionate affair with Ed- Liz’s brother who couldn’t accept himself due too religious guilt. John likes Liz a lot but used to fight with her because of her cat who never liked john 😂.Eventually he breaks up with LIz. Meanwhile Phil & Liz friendship blooms and after breaking up with John , Liz marries Phil. John couldn’t accept Phil’s queers and eventually was mad at him more as he ends up marrying Liz. After all this John ends up falling Janet again but she ends up dying in car accident and he ends up being the god father to Phil & Liz newborn son.
I would definitely recommend this to read, not for the story but the for the way it’s written. It is definitely unique despite the plot not being too extravagant
Author dabbles in love, friendships, Christianity, homosexuality, nuclear warfare, tolerance, feminism. He even mentions in the novel the criticism, struggle he faced while writing the novel.
I personally liked the book , I am not a big fan of poetry but still got immersed in the book. Starting I faced difficulty reading but after some time the reading was smooth ,I kinda lost track of time 😜. The story has wit ,humor and emotions.
The story revolves around a group of friends living in California in twentieth century John, Phil, Janet. John a lonely tech guy ends up meeting Liz through an ad placed by his ex lover Janet. Phil unemployed, divorced & single father has a passionate affair with Ed- Liz’s brother who couldn’t accept himself due too religious guilt. John likes Liz a lot but used to fight with her because of her cat who never liked john 😂.Eventually he breaks up with LIz. Meanwhile Phil & Liz friendship blooms and after breaking up with John , Liz marries Phil. John couldn’t accept Phil’s queers and eventually was mad at him more as he ends up marrying Liz. After all this John ends up falling Janet again but she ends up dying in car accident and he ends up being the god father to Phil & Liz newborn son.
I would definitely recommend this to read, not for the story but the for the way it’s written. It is definitely unique despite the plot not being too extravagant
klazu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
grahamjohnson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What can I say about Vikram Seth but that his talent is enormous? An entire novel, beautifully crafted, in faultless tetrametric sonnets. I have rarely read something so impressive.
lottepot's review against another edition
3.0
I’d say that I admired this book more than enjoyed it, I’m glad I persevered because the last 100 or so pages were the strongest part for me.
kxiong5's review against another edition
5.0
You'd think a book written entirely in verse would be the most pretentious literature on the planet.
You would be proven entirely wrong.
This book is unique in how clever and detailed the writing is, and how a novel so short can be so emotionally compelling. A lot of the book's main themes really resonate in ways I've never seen in other books. In the end, I guess it's the sheer honesty of this writing that made me love it.
You would be proven entirely wrong.
This book is unique in how clever and detailed the writing is, and how a novel so short can be so emotionally compelling. A lot of the book's main themes really resonate in ways I've never seen in other books. In the end, I guess it's the sheer honesty of this writing that made me love it.
dhwanix's review against another edition
5.0
How is Seth such an absolute genius?
I have to admit, there were some parts in between that almost had me bored but the sonnets! His charming rhyme scheme! The anticipation of being amazed by verse that makes even mundane traffic sound romantic. *sigh* When will we get 'A Suitable Girl' in our hands?
I have to admit, there were some parts in between that almost had me bored but the sonnets! His charming rhyme scheme! The anticipation of being amazed by verse that makes even mundane traffic sound romantic. *sigh* When will we get 'A Suitable Girl' in our hands?
emoryalexander's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is a joy to read. Nothing and everything happens over the span of 307 pages, and just like life, continues after the final page
amul27's review against another edition
4.0
When I started reading this book, I did not think I would finish it. But, Seth's impeccable style of writing made this novel in the verse, a delight to read. The story is rather simple- lives of four young people living in San Francisco facing the challenges of life, love and expectations that come with it amid the search for that purpose of life which makes the journey beautiful. But, the presentation where Seth wins it with his lyrical style. It's poignant and touches right notes. I am happy that I picked this book, but, if the same story was written in the prose form, I do not think it would have conveyed what it meant to convey through that form.