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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
গুডরীডস রিভিউ-এর নামে কিছুক্ষনের গালগল্প, জীবনের-এক-টুকরো টাইপের ভ্যাজর ভ্যাজর করা'ই যায় অন্য দিনের মতন ...কিন্তু এই বইটাকে আবার বড্ড বেশি ভালো লাগে যে আমার । তার চেয়ে যদি রিভিউ না করে, এই অ্যাত্তোবড় একটা রেকমেন্ডেশন দিয়েই যদি ক্ষান্ত দিই ?
যদি উপক্রম হয়, নিশ্চয়ই পড়বেন এই বইখানি ।
তবে একটু সময় দিয়ে পড়তে হবে। বিক্রম শেঠের ইংরেজি ভাষা সামুরাই-এর তলোয়ারের মতো ক্ষুরধার, কিন্তু দুর্বোধ্য নয়, বইটা আমাদের মতন সাধারণ মানুষের পড়ার জন্যেই লেখা। তবে কবিতার ছন্দে লেখা তো, ছন্দটাও বুঝে পড়লে হয়তো বেশি ভালো লাগবে।
অর্থাৎ, একটু ভালোবেসে, একটু আদর করে পড়বেন বইটা - আমি নিশ্চিত, যতটা দিয়েছেন, তার থেকে অনেকটা বেশি ভালোবাসা ফেরত পাবেন বইটার কাছ থেকে।
যদি উপক্রম হয়, নিশ্চয়ই পড়বেন এই বইখানি ।
তবে একটু সময় দিয়ে পড়তে হবে। বিক্রম শেঠের ইংরেজি ভাষা সামুরাই-এর তলোয়ারের মতো ক্ষুরধার, কিন্তু দুর্বোধ্য নয়, বইটা আমাদের মতন সাধারণ মানুষের পড়ার জন্যেই লেখা। তবে কবিতার ছন্দে লেখা তো, ছন্দটাও বুঝে পড়লে হয়তো বেশি ভালো লাগবে।
অর্থাৎ, একটু ভালোবেসে, একটু আদর করে পড়বেন বইটা - আমি নিশ্চিত, যতটা দিয়েছেন, তার থেকে অনেকটা বেশি ভালোবাসা ফেরত পাবেন বইটার কাছ থেকে।
Written in prose- which is amazing in itself. Add in that it is a great story of friends and lovers in an amazing city. What's not to like?
An entire novel set in 80s San Francisco written completely in verse- chapter titles, acknowledgements, dedication and about the author included. It seems absurd, and yet Vikram Seth makes it work beautifully. Despite what would seem to be a restricting format, Seth manages to fit an amazing plot with great characterizations within the bounds of sonnets. The book follows the lives of a group of 20-something yuppies in Silicon Valley and how they deal with relationships, loneliness, love, death, ennui, depression and happiness. The novel is engaging throughout while never missing a beat. This is the first Vikram Seth novel I've read, and I'll be expectantly looking forward to reading the rest of his bibliography.
I read [b:A Suitable Boy|904265|A Suitable Boy|Vikram Seth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328044924s/904265.jpg|1651078] years ago and loved it. Because I did, I then read [b:An Equal Music|50366|An Equal Music|Vikram Seth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403192766s/50366.jpg|2307024], which I liked a lot. But knowing Seth's first novel, this one, was in verse, I put it off. If I'd remembered it, after reading its inspiration, [b:Eugene Onegin|27822|Eugene Onegin|Alexander Pushkin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388373138s/27822.jpg|1795311], I may have read it sooner; but at least the mention of ASB by a non-GR friend got me to take this out of the library.
It took a little while to get into the rhythm, so to speak, but once I did, it was smooth sailing. (I was even dreaming in rhymed sentences last night -- don't ask me what they were, though.) I was drawn in to the lives of the characters, the narrative voice (Vikram himself), the story with its range of emotions; but what I liked the most, I think, was its prevailing tone, which, even with its sometimes serious topics, is just plain fun.
*
Seth wrote this while working toward a PhD in the economic demography of China while at Stanford. I wonder if he ever finished that ...
And according to Wikipedia, he's working on a sequel to ASB called "A Suitable Girl," to be published in 2013. I look forward to that, as I think Seth is brilliant.
It took a little while to get into the rhythm, so to speak, but once I did, it was smooth sailing. (I was even dreaming in rhymed sentences last night -- don't ask me what they were, though.) I was drawn in to the lives of the characters, the narrative voice (Vikram himself), the story with its range of emotions; but what I liked the most, I think, was its prevailing tone, which, even with its sometimes serious topics, is just plain fun.
*
Seth wrote this while working toward a PhD in the economic demography of China while at Stanford. I wonder if he ever finished that ...
And according to Wikipedia, he's working on a sequel to ASB called "A Suitable Girl," to be published in 2013. I look forward to that, as I think Seth is brilliant.
Although this novel is written in verse, the reader almost forgets that fact after a while because in all other respects, this is just like any other novel with a well paced plot, varied cast of characters, plenty of dialogue and the usual suspense about who is going to hook up with who plus some wry commentary from the author about the challenges of writing in verse.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm no expert on poetry.
That is to say, I'm not well-versed
Although I'm not a foe, and free
Of suppositions. Not rehearsed
But willing to read some. Take a look,
And have a crack at this fine book,
Concerning several love affairs.
Both hetero and same-sex pairs.
For those who fancy pets and critters
Here you'll find them: one iguana
And three cats. But on a
tier of emotional heavy hitters
Seth gives the reader, it appears
Ample laughter, joy, and tears.
That is to say, I'm not well-versed
Although I'm not a foe, and free
Of suppositions. Not rehearsed
But willing to read some. Take a look,
And have a crack at this fine book,
Concerning several love affairs.
Both hetero and same-sex pairs.
For those who fancy pets and critters
Here you'll find them: one iguana
And three cats. But on a
tier of emotional heavy hitters
Seth gives the reader, it appears
Ample laughter, joy, and tears.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love the fact its written in verse... the characters just aren't that interesting...
More like a 3.5 overall- I liked the prose and the writing overall; but the plot was kind of boring and nothing happened for ages.
Spoiler:
Phil was a bully and I really disliked his character- he was a bully to Ed and a shit friend to John.
Spoiler:
Phil was a bully and I really disliked his character- he was a bully to Ed and a shit friend to John.
medium-paced
The poetry writing was good and interesting within this story. However, the story itself was about some messed up group of friends in San Francisco, which is just not a very original. So I liked the writing device, but it would have been better if applied to a more compelling story.