Customer Reviews

Equal Music: International Edition

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(55)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

An Equal Music is one of my favorite novels. It's a love story, but it's not just about romantic love - it's about the love of a parent for a child, love for a beautiful object that can't love you back, love for the timeless work of brilliant artists, and most of all, the love you have for someone who doesn't really exist anymore, either because they have died or because they've changed. The romantic relationship in the book is intricately woven with the other details of the protagonist's life in such a way that it's not just his relationship with the fellow musician that is a romance, but his relationship with the world and with his art as well. As a whole the novel is both incredibly uplifting and heartbreakingly sad. This book is not a 'fun read,' a fast book or a romance in any conventional sense, but will stay with you long after you've put it back on the shelf. Seth is truly a masterful writer and the way he crafts this story is incredibly intelligent and inspiring.

I must admit, I've never been an ardent fan of classical music and never learned to play an instrument. As I read the book, however, for the first time in my life, I wished I had. Seth's descriptive, highly sensitive, almost poetic writing allows readers like myself to catch a glimpse of the world of classical instrumental music, from the inside. One's heart goes out to Julia for her loss, and also for the fact that she still loved Michael and allowed him to take advantage of that fact. I do not agree with reader Graciella Lopez' review of this book. Seth does not expect the readers to love or admire the character of Michael Holme, but to understand and may be even pity him a bit. Though a good musician, Michael's a selfish loner and rather a loser; there are many men like that out there! The major characters in a good book do not have to be perfect or even lovable. As long as they are recognizable as real, and are capable of drawing some sort of emotion from the reader, they make the book interesting. I strongly recommend this book to all readers, classical music lovers or otherwise, for Seth's writing is superb. This is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold night in front of a crackling fireplace, with Beethoven, Bach or Schubert on the stereo system if possible!

Unlike most of the other reviewers of this book, I love Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven, etc., and have loved them for many years. So I have no patience with those who talk about the main character, Michael Holmes, as a whiner or as immature. Of course he is these things. So what? The fact is, Vikram Seth has given us very plausible characters who act with passion, who are driven by the need to find the exquisite, and who are changed forever by their encounters with this passion. And who among us haven't acted dumbly when we think we are in love and that love goes bad and our lives go bad with it? I know I have. I know I've been selfish, dumb, self-pitying. But these days it's a sin to give in to emotions. One must behave like a "healthy" person, move on, take Prozac, and just get over it. I wonder if all artists, musicians, and novelists were always "rational" and just "got over" things, would great and meaningful art ever be able to be created through such a "rational" mind? In any case, this novel is a great entertainment, beautifully composed and easy to read. I think its ending is just fine. I admit there were parts that could have been better edited, redundancies that made me impatient with Michael and Julia, but these were minor flaws in a fine novel that accomplishes a whole lot. I was very happy to meet all its characters and live among them for a while. I even went off to my local music store and got the Haydn string quartet that Michael loved so much. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, but especially to those who love Bach and chamber music.

I don't know much about western classical music- but it was no drawback. This book gives tremendous insight into the minds and inter-relationships of the quartet of musicians (and more). As a love story it is very satisfying- especially the end- which is extremely graceful and peaceful. The single shock device in the narrative seems contrived for a while, but is then explored adequately. The other characters are wonderfully realised- Michael's father, Mrs.Formby, the violin maker etc. The obsession for music is there in all its passion, glory and frustration- and if you have any obsession in your life (not just music) you will understand it and sympathise and identify with the main character. As with Nick Hornby's soccer (Fever Pitch) and music (High Fidelity). The last time I felt so much at peace during and after reading a book was when I read Remains of the Day (Kazuo Ishiguro- Japanese writer with British characters- another similarity)- and after seeing a film, it was with Babette's Feast- can't explain this! Vikram Seth need not worry about the Booker prize- with his versatility, sensitivity and understanding of human behaviour, he has Nobel prize potential, in the long run and at this rate. Strongly recommended.

Unlike most of the other reviewers of this book, I love Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven, etc., and have loved them for many years. So I have no patience with those who talk about the main character, Michael Holmes, as a whiner or as immature. Of course he is these things. So what? The fact is, Vikram Seth has given us very plausible characters who act with passion, who are driven by the need to find the exquisite, and who are changed forever by their encounters with this passion. And who among us haven't acted dumbly when we think we are in love and that love goes bad and our lives go bad with it? I know I have. I know I've been selfish, dumb, self-pitying. But these days it's a sin to give in to emotions. One must behave like a "healthy" person, move on, take Prozac, and just get over it. I wonder if all artists, musicians, and novelists were always "rational" and just "got over" things, would great and meaningful art ever be able to be created through such a "rational" mind? In any case, this novel is a great entertainment, beautifully composed and easy to read. I think its ending is just fine. I admit there were parts that could have been better edited, redundancies that made me impatient with Michael and Julia, but these were minor flaws in a fine novel that accomplishes a whole lot. I was very happy to meet all its characters and live among them for a while. I even went off to my local music store and got the Haydn string quartet that Michael loved so much. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, but especially to those who love Bach and chamber music.

I couldn't put this book down, and then I listened to ***the CD which accompanies this novel*** You see, Vikram Seth has not only got inside the mind of a musician, but he has also got inside the mind of a musician *going deaf*. How do I know? Because Julia's experiences are exactly those that I have experienced. I spent most of my life singing in choirs, making music in orchestras, teaching music to kids of all ages, studying Music at University level, and enjoying all forms of ensemble music-making, but one day realised that I wasn't hearing properly. So, having had hearing aids fitted, the next stage of my "soundscape" began. I moved from absence of sounds to distortion of sounds. Just like Julia I no longer enjoy ensemble work because there is just too much "noise" with hearing aids in, and uncertainty and lack of confidence with them not in. Visual cues are an integral part of hearing, much more than ever before. Julia doesn't lose her ability to make and live music - she loses her confidence to do it with others.

I picked Julia may have been deaf before the text got there. When you understand the "going deaf" process, the clues are there.

I found myself reading the relevant parts out to my family as I got to them, and was able to tell them that *this* really is what it's like. My family have read the book now too, so they have a better understanding of coping with a family member losing their hearing. In this regard Michael's reactions are perceptive and accurate - these *are* the reactions those around me had to my telling them I was losing my hearing.

Like Julia, though, going deaf just means you need to change direction, career-wise, and the author gives her just the right amount of hope by the end of the novel.

I heartily recommend "An Equal Music" if you enjoy music, especially chamber music, if you are experiencing losing your hearing, and if someone close to you is losing their hearing.

Above all else, Mr Seth implies, the purpose of Art, including music, is to provide pleasure and this work of art, this book, gives the reader pleasure first, an understanding of the process that goes into making art (music) second, and third, a story which centres on a lover/musician and his emotional ups and downs as he engages with the glorious and partly deaf pianist Julia who seems to embody the perfect vehicle for making love/music.
Some of the glories of the book is its sheer sensuousness as it engages the reader in a journey into sensual pleasure and shows how one art, reading, can reveal the pleasures of other arts, sounds, colours, fragrances. The impact of sound/art re Janet Cardiff (b.1957), the consciousness of sounds (p.61) the connections between sounds, the importance of the contract between the performer and the audience and the state of both during performance - associations, memories, mood; the importance of silence. The book is rich in such considerations and provides a real understanding of the connection between the humanity of the performers and the making of music and the development of harmony in performance. It is especially engrossing for any music lover for one of the book's instruments -an Ononi violin - is invested with a powerful personification so that the reader begins to feel for its well being and future much as the musician at the centre of the story does. Similarly, readers gain a real appreciation of what music making entails, including the importance of the score as opposed to an interpretation of that score by other musicians. In the end, the book recalls that wonderful saying, if music be the food of love, play on. Mr Seth's command of language makes the reading an easy pleasure. You may purchase a double CD of music accompanying pieces performed by the characters in the novel, one, A Beethoven Quintet, never before recorded on CD. Let's face it. A joy to read and hear.

I am a classical music fanatic, thus the reason why I secured a copy of this book. Vikram Seth has a way with words and I admire his flair for writing but frankly this time, I really didn't enjoy reading this book because of the plot (A Suitable Boy was really his opus). Michael Holmes (main character) is a selfish, egotistical and insensitive man. He tries to win back Julia (his ex-girlfriend) --- a love that he once had but eventually lost. Circumstances were different when they met each other again because Julia was already married. He had his chance to be with her before but he blew it. I cannot understand why he wants to ruin Julia's life (a life which involves a husband and a son) in order to satisfy his wants and longings. At his age, Michael can be so immature --- he definitely needs to grow-up!

If not for my passion for quality music --- I would not have finished reading the book. Well, it was delightful to know that inspite of Julia's handicap --- she was determined to play music. She did not consider her being deaf a deterrent to what she loves doing most.

I hope that the author will be able to write a new novel as striking as A Suitable Boy. An Equal Music falls flat in comparison.

While reading the reader can't help loathing the protagonist, and his lover, but gradual unfolding of the characters makes one realise the natural flaws of human nature and how one tries to justify it, coming to terms with oneself in the end, after going through a screeching self afflicted melodramatic recluse. In fact, the melodrama here is technically very well handled to bring out the natural shortcomings of the cahracters. Even a person not passionate about classical chamber music will feel the passion of musician, or any artist in general, riding the troughs and crests of the the great creations, trying to clasp that elusive 'something' which a one fathoms momentarily while coming across a beautiful piece of art but can't hold on to it. On the negative side, this book could have done with better editing with some middle portions seeming to drag on forever, but on the whole, definitely a very good book.

A wonderful book for all those who know and love classical music. The characters are often irritating, exasperating and unlogical in their behaviour - which gives this novel the ring of truth. Of course the real key to the book is Michael's role as second violinist. A flawed character, who has the talent to be a soloist - but lacks the background and confidence. Which leads him to abandon Julia - until, with her, he also plays the second violin. Who stands on the edge of becoming first violin, both in life, and in music, but lacks the courage to take this leap. Which leads him to take the path of music, rather than love, and seek fulfilment, rather than happiness. He seems not to understand why he always ends up in this role - but the reader does. There are many plots and sub plots in the book, delicately and convincingly entwined. And the finish was for me most credible. Not "happy end", not trajedy, but just what one would expect of a second violinist......... And therein is concealed a message for many of us.