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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Simple story, with all the ends tied up well. Entire novel is written in verses, which made this a different experience, in a good way. The title is apt for many reasons! :)
Here I begin my review of this book!
In sonnet form, won't you take a look! --
Ha, nope. Part of what makes 'The Golden Gate' so brilliant isn't its use of verse as a "gimmicky" mode of narration, but the fact that the majority of the sonnets stand up as pretty brilliant poetry in their own right (as well as vessels of plot and action, of course). In fact, I think the poetry is more interesting than the plot itself, but maybe I'm just bitter about the fact the queer love story doesn't survive the length of the book. It does suffer from a few dramatic flaws too, in my opinion, like the extremely limited cast of characters, or the semi-predictable Moments Of Drama!, but overall, it was a really fun read - different, engaging, self-deprecating, poignant, fluid. Many words.
In sonnet form, won't you take a look! --
Ha, nope. Part of what makes 'The Golden Gate' so brilliant isn't its use of verse as a "gimmicky" mode of narration, but the fact that the majority of the sonnets stand up as pretty brilliant poetry in their own right (as well as vessels of plot and action, of course). In fact, I think the poetry is more interesting than the plot itself, but maybe I'm just bitter about the fact the queer love story doesn't survive the length of the book. It does suffer from a few dramatic flaws too, in my opinion, like the extremely limited cast of characters, or the semi-predictable Moments Of Drama!, but overall, it was a really fun read - different, engaging, self-deprecating, poignant, fluid. Many words.
I got this book as a gift and was honestly a bit wary at first because the concept—a novel told entirely in sonnets!—seemed a bit hokey and pretentious to me. But in general it's really quite lovely and clever, even if the plot is a bit thin (with the exception of one incredibly shocking moment toward the end). Plus, Seth captures the feel of the Bay Area really well. You were right, dear gift-giver!
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.