Reviews

Equal Music by Vikram Seth

archytas's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I love Seth's writing, and was rightfully confident that I would very much enjoy this. Is it not a very happy book - Seth's main point seems to be that the characteristics that make great musicians do not make happy people, but that maybe the feel of music is enough to live for. I'm not someone who is easily moved by music, and that made it not quite the right book for me I think. But Seth sets up his central romance, his character's delicate vulnerability and deep longings so beautifully, that I will be hearing this novel for some time.

tripti22's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Reccomended for music lovers. An intense emotional longingness.

fluffy_angel's review against another edition

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4.0

4 stelline solo per le parti riguardanti la sua vita nel quartetto...sennò la storia con Julia la trovo particolarmente inconcludente, lui esagerato.

celiapowell's review against another edition

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4.0

This is one of my favourite books, I think - it's about Michael, a violinist, his lost love Julia, and what happens when he meets her again years later. It's also about music, and love, and betrayal, and musicians. Michael can be a terribly unsympathetic character at times - but still you hope that he will find happiness, or at least peace with himself. My favourite part of this book is how the classical music is described - it makes me want to listen to everything he mentions (particularly Bach's Art of Fugue).

lilylanie's review against another edition

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3.0

Beautiful and sad, a wonderful description of the creative process. A thought-provoking look at love, loss and fidelity. I only wish they’d explain better why they chose the name Maggiore.

surabhi_brahma's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

silently_yoli's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

natsgonenuts's review against another edition

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3.0

By Vikram Seth
“How many seconds or weeks after seeing me…did I survive her thoughts?”

A story about love and music could probably be best told with love and music. An Equal Music is an invitation to find love in the absence of it. It is romantic, the epicenter being the thread of love shared between two people, separated by choice, ignorance and time. Although it starts and ends on the same note, the story is a soft read with characters that are interesting yet not engrossing. It talks of undying love, great romance and unfulfilled intimacy. However, the book feels unnatural in love, and I felt that I was reading a story of someone being uncomfortable in love. I presumed that’s how the protagonist felt, though as the book progressed, I was further confused about the direction of the story and the heart of the protagonist. By the end I realized it was not just a story of two lovers, but two flawed lovers. Both musicians, they shared a tremendous understanding and passion, but lacked conviction of being madly in love, as they would say often.

It is encouraging to read a story that is made of characters you probably cross every day. People of passions do face conflict in following the general acceptable paths laid out by the society, and thus, I was happy reading about a quartet working very hard on making beautiful-soulful music and somehow, by good luck and efforts, making ends meet. I didn’t sense a dissatisfaction from the musical profession, nor was the focus close to the struggles of being a musician. An Equal Music started about love, and remained about love. It still felt bland, the scenario of love was more out of longing and regret than simply the joy of being in it. The entire story is very believable yet has several places where decisions appear to be wrong and destructive. It got me reading about two estranged lovers, yet not root for them. I can’t recall how often that happens, but An Equal Music shared some light in the unreasonable demands of love. Was it even love, or simply a fond memory of it? No answers exist in this book. It a story, a very simple complicated-unsatisfying story.

Reading this book requires at least basic understanding of classical music. Names of instruments, compositions and groups could be distracting and slightly intimidating for someone lacking the know-hows of music. The quartet has four characters, three men (including the protagonist) and one woman. I personally could only admire the cello-player the most, for he seemed most joyous in his ecosystem. The others were clearly people who had issues, deeply rooted issues that they all accepted as character traits instead of problems. The love interest is a reasonable woman doing unreasonable things, leading a double life. She is so conflicted throughout the book that it affects the story, and has a negative impact on the protagonist as well. He does things that are contrary to his words. While she spends her time trying to make peace with her situation, he keeps on waiting, until he decides not to. In many ways, this book is true to how people behave. Yet this is not how people should behave. By the end, I was left with a good story, yet a weak emotion of hope or joy, or even love. Reaching the last page was not sad, and I did not long for more. I enjoyed the writing tremendously, for it was melodic and charming. That seemed enough to still enjoy the book. The story was otherwise a never-ending loop of actions and consequences. For the most part of the book, the two lovers in the book were living a repetition of their own past.

This book should be read once, enjoyed and admired for the writing and the beauty of a well knitted story of music and love.
Admire it. Return it.

For more reviews:
http://doodledesk.wordpress.com/category/book-harvest/

ljm57's review against another edition

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4.0

What a tormented love story this is. Michael is a classical violinist who plays in a London-based chamber music quartet. The wonderfully described detail of the world of top class performance musicians and the often fraught dynamics between temperamental orchestra members is one thread of his story. But then, there is the angst of Michael’s personal life - his long-held love for pianist, Julia whom he left heartbroken in Vienna, many years before when they were both music students. After unsuccessfully trying to make contact with her over the past decade to make amends and hopefully rekindle their passionate love affair, Michael’s life is upended when he finds her living nearby back in London. Loved it. A poignant, emotional journey, beautifully written.

beebonet's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0