Tuesday, August 28, 2007
book reports: A Suitable Boy
A Suitable Boy
by Vikram Seth
I love this book. I've read it three times in the past 12 years, I believe. It is such a powerful portrait of Indian culture and a glimpse into the myriad cracks and divides in Indian society.
The two main plotlines revolve around a young woman from a Hindu family who is in love with a Muslim man, and a man from a Hindu family who is in love with a Muslim courtesan. The "suitable boy" of the title is the man that the young woman's family is trying to find for her to marry, so she will not ruin her life and disgrace her family by marrying her Muslim boyfriend.
The book is very long and touches on a lot of tiny facets of Indian culture that most Americans would not encounter... from the veggie cutlets that the girl's mother eats because she's a vegetarian, to the low status of leatherworkers, to the type of songs that the courtsan sings. Really fascinating and moving.
by Vikram Seth
I love this book. I've read it three times in the past 12 years, I believe. It is such a powerful portrait of Indian culture and a glimpse into the myriad cracks and divides in Indian society.
The two main plotlines revolve around a young woman from a Hindu family who is in love with a Muslim man, and a man from a Hindu family who is in love with a Muslim courtesan. The "suitable boy" of the title is the man that the young woman's family is trying to find for her to marry, so she will not ruin her life and disgrace her family by marrying her Muslim boyfriend.
The book is very long and touches on a lot of tiny facets of Indian culture that most Americans would not encounter... from the veggie cutlets that the girl's mother eats because she's a vegetarian, to the low status of leatherworkers, to the type of songs that the courtsan sings. Really fascinating and moving.
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