I can talk about the moving power of music. Both music and life demand the same things, it is only in certain moments the right notes of joy, bliss, and happiness are struck. Oh, the emotional repertoire! Book Format: Paperback. He doesn't gain anything or change, not really. You look down and see his foot, barely perceptible, tapping out the beat. 95. Few people like to play second seat. He writes a novel in verse, then a massive soap opera and here a mawkish love story set to music. Michael Holme is a violinist, a member of the successful Maggiore Quartet. What has been troubling you all this while hits you then for the vessel doesn't have a bottom. Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers As beautiful and familiar as his beloved violin. Does he recognize you? ‘An Equal Music’ is indeed a musical story. Something went wrong. A 1999 novel by Vikram Seth, An Equal Music follows the story of an English violinist, Michael, who is a member of a string quartet. If only I could understand why. Examples abound ranging from Victorian to Chinese, Indian to Italian. The entire main plot of this book is technically serviceable, but serves no r. I even question giving this book as much as 2 stars. Examples abound ranging from Victorian to Chinese, Indian to Italian. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. An enemies to lovers romance. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2018. When you glance at it, you see the evidence of all that is great about hand carved elegance. But I like that Seth didn't make a heroic main character. It's a story of Michael and his music quartet, and it's a story of Michael and Julia and their love. This book promised SO much and delivered so little. An Equal Music: A Novel (Vintage International) (Paperback) By Vikram Seth. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. on $35+ orders. You keep looking but it is flawless at first look. The language is immensely beautiful. His pupil and lover Virginie draws his attention to a Beethoven quintet he has not heard of and he obsessively tracks down both sheet music and vinyl disc. I read almost half of this book yesterday, and was left somewhat perplexed. (Prices may vary for AK and HI.). His fingers move upon his instrument in fluid motion that holds your attention, hypnotizing you until your eyes meet his. He plays second violin. They slowly tune each other’s existence as it was meant to be heard, rising up from the wells at the very core of their beings. This goes beyond playing a piece of music, whether Schubert or Bach or Beethoven, and enters his soul and through the prose of Vikram Seth enters the soul of the reader. Do you know him? Yes, those things are true enough. Please try again. Listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction, An Unequal Music (1999) is a contemporary novel by bestselling author Vikram Seth. I’ve come to believe that it’s a soulful book. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The love story is tricky and interesting, though a bit of a downer. Start by marking “An Equal Music” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Now Julia, married and the mother of a small child, unexpectedly … It’s not a typically happy book – because it shows you a lot of happiness and then takes it away. THe laughter and lightheartedness in A Suitable Boy are absent here; the characters are treated with almost too much dignity, the small and large tragedies of their lives take on too much importance, but I think I will be sad when it ends. 95 $13.95 $ 13. Special Order: Please Call or Email. Against the magical backdrop of Venice and Vienna, the two lovers confront the truth about themselves and their love, about the music that both unites and divides them, and about a devastating secret that Julia must finally reveal. Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2017. I have read and re-read this wonderful book, wishing it could go on and on. This two-CD set adds the inevitably missing dimension to a great book, with performances of works which feature in the story. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. It is of highest quality and has been played over and over. Both music and life demand the same things, it is only in certain moments the right notes of joy, bliss, and happiness are struck. In this story, the characters struggle with notes, compositions, and life. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Don't be looking for a happy ending. The book's greatest strength is its depiction of the dynamics and tensions in the quartet. I first read the book years ago when it was newer, and find it to be just as wonderful or better to reread. So I should not be annoyed: Seth perfectly captures emotional dilemmas in a life stage that I have mercifully outgrown. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. By a vessel, I do not mean the seafaring kind but one that can hold something in it. For those who love classical music with all its intricacies, There are things I loved about this book and things I did not love, but the bottom line is that after finishing it I sat for 15 minutes and just pondered it. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Ask Me Why: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance. Then one of us discovered the "An Equal Music" CD in which Vikram Seth himself has gathered all the pieces. I am not up to date on classical music, although I learned a lot from reading this book. I thought the bones of the story were solid, and the images of music provoking. It is hard to believe this is the same author of A Suitable Boy! You don’t get do play all those fancy solos. Please try your request again later. A member of the Maggiore Quartet, Michael is undertaking a challenging work of Beethoven's and convinces Julia to come with him on tour to Vienna and Venice. The … This is a beautiful love story and it is a musical tale. Vikram Seth: An Equal Music. There was some nice writing about music, but apart from that -, Dive into the heart and mind of a obsessive, melancoly, melodramatic violinist who can't let go of the love of his life, a person who he had ditched out on. Just as Seth wrapped you up in the world of upper-caste India in the mid 50s, amidst amazing social and political change, now you are led gently into the contemporary classical music scene of London, Vienna, Venice; a love story, a tragedy, a loving tribute to chamber music and insights into the world of performance. The fact is that a person going through a failed love affair generally tends to be those things. He has long been haunted, though, by memories of the pianist he loved and left ten years earlier, Julia McNicholl. Refresh and try again. He leaves the disc in the back of a … Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020. The importance of music cannot be emphasized too strongly for, from the title page to the last paragraph music permeates each character. I can attest to the soul-stirring power of words. I found him selfish, arrogant and pathetic, so much so he ruined the book for me. An Equal Music is a love story. I agree with your rating & your review comments. The language is immensely beautiful. I have read a few reviews stating a disdain for the narrator - he's whinny, he's selfish, he's annoying. It is the story of Michael, of Julia, and of the love that binds them. As with 'A Suitable Boy', I grew to respond to the characters so deeply that I grieved to be parted from them at the end; it was like the loss of old friends. Preview. They remind each other, without words, of the past. Your vessel is an object of craftsmanship. This is a beautiful love story and it is a musical tale. Vikram Seth divides his time between India and London. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2015, Vikram Seth is a brilliant author. An Equal Music: A Novel. He's unattainable. I used to automatically do the left hand gesture while playing the open cello C string that is described in this book. THe laughter and lightheartedness in A Suitable Boy are absent here; the characters are treated with almost too much. Not any performer but the one in the quartet you came to hear. I like that. What now do they want of each other? He loves his violin. One gets me low, the other lets me go.”, Premi Llibreter de narrativa Nominee (2000), 32 Historical Romance Series to Binge-Read after 'Bridgerton'. I have never gone as low and as fast in my opinion of a book as with 'An Equal Music'. The author of the international bestseller A Suitable Boy returns with a powerful and deeply romantic tale of two gifted musicians. I did not find his pursuit of Julia romantic, but felt for the poor woman and begged Michael to leave her alone and stop being such a child. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. While I did enjoy the, I agree with your rating & your review comments. Argue with that all you wish! Description. Interesting, impelling, thoughtful. A wonderfully satisfying read. Welcome back. How far would you go?—“One of the best books I've read in a long time.”—Amazon Reviewer, Vintage; 1st Printing edition (May 2, 2000). anyone with an ear for music and a heart for romance. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. In this story, the characters struggle with notes, compositions, and life. I even question giving this book as much as 2 stars. Why ask for happiness; why hope not to grieve? All of us are involved in music in one way or another and were eager to listen to the pieces rehearsed and played in the book. —Publishers Weekly. “Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?”, “What is the difference between my life and my love? Your vessel is an object of craftsmanship. Average Rating: (3.5) stars out of 5 stars 25 ratings, based on 25 reviews. Or do they? Book Format. Click to read more about Editions: An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. His second novel, An Equal Music, deals with the troubled love-life of a violinist. You don’t get do play all those fancy solos. the way he integrates music into the lives of the characters (all professional musicians) is more than convincing, it's intoxicating. In An Equal Music Seth exposes the reality and the difficulties of coming to terms with flawed characters as imperfect as ourselves; cadences … The author of the international bestseller A Suitable Boy returns with a powerful and deeply romantic tale of two gifted musicians. The author of the international bestseller A Suitable Boy returns with a powerful and deeply romantic tale of two gifted musicians. I did not find his pursuit of Julia romantic, but felt for the poor woman and begged Michael to leave her. The scenes in Italy were quite brilliant but the protaganist seemed a bit over the top in his refusal of goodbye. It is enough, it is to be blessed enough, to live from day to day and to hear such music-not too much, or the soul could not sustain it-from time to time.” ― Vikram Seth, An Equal Music Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Take a rollicking ride across America during the Great Depression! The central character in the story, not only in the practice sessions but in real life too, searches for ‘an equal music.’. Our Book Club found this to be one of the best for group discussion mostly because everyone had reacted so differently to the reading. Beautifully written, and it says just enough without giving away too much. -The Baltimore Sun "Seth depicts, with Canaletto-like skill, the shimmering air and light of Venice at dawn, even as he neatly reproduces the loving tensions of the Maggiore [Quartet]." Walmart # 558385498. Convinced myself that the main character reconciled himself to everything at the end, though now re-reading I'm less sure about that - it seems much more ambiguous. I was surprised by how much i loved this book. But imagine words like the ebb and flow of music. Please try again. I'm a decently skilled amateur who still plays in chamber ensembles occasionally. After the first 25 pages, I felt that I'd stumbled on to something incredible (no doubt helped by the very simple writing, which was a refreshing change from Salman Rushdie's tediousness); but after a 100 pages it became clear that it was incredible, just the wrong type - incredibly bad. "A rich and soulful novel, steeped in wanderlust and whimsy." He has long been haunted, though, by memories of the pianist he loved and left ten years earlier, Julia McNicholl. Several pieces have been especially recorded and one (Beethoven's Op.104) receives its first ever recording for CD. As you take your seat and the room becomes hushed with anticipation your eyes are on the performer. The language is immensely beautiful. THERE IS A COMPANION CD WHICH HAS ALL THE MUSIC!! Vikram Seth's novel An Equal Music, an elegant classical-music romance, naturally invited the release of an accompanying CD with performances of the music so nicely woven into its story of a pushing-midlife London violinist who encounters a woman, a concert pianist, whom he had loved years before while both were music students in Vienna. Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2003. As if he’d let me. Throughout the book, one sees how much time human beings spend tuning ‘things’ so that they can live in harmony. A lovely read. While touring Vienna and Venice with the Maggiore Quartet, Michael Holme and Julia McNicholl, renew their mutual passion for each other, and the music they shared years earlier. Inspiring! 95. It must be something to smile at each other like that. Read this book in my 20s and LOVED it. Listen on Apple Music. There is one thing the book really excels in: describing music. In this story, the characters struggle with notes, compositions, and life. Or can I? This 2-CD set is filled with all the works which are at the heart of Vikram Seth's remarkable musical novel in readings specially selected by the author. . I am not sure how Vikram Seth gets away with it. I found him selfish, arrogant and pathetic, so much so he ruined the book for me. The author of the international bestseller, A Suitable Boy: A Novel (Modern Classics), From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet, Red Mountain: A Novel (Red Mountain Chronicles Book 1), Keeping Tabs: A Women’s Fiction Novel of Doubt, Dogs, and Determination, GENT: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance (#BitterSweetHeat Book 1), Redefining Us: A Friends to Lovers Standalone (A Reclusive Novel Book 1), Tame The Mind: An Exploration Of Love, Sex, Happiness, "A beautifully written novel of music, romance, and the endless search for transcendent passion....A joy to read." There's a problem loading this menu right now. I am not a professional musician, I played piano when I was young, but not that well, and to the reviews I've seen that found classical music oriented parts of the book to difficult or too obscure or too distracting, so as to be suitable only for those w. Dive into the heart and mind of a obsessive, melancoly, melodramatic violinist who can't let go of the love of his life, a person who he had ditched out on. Such an amazing writer. Email or call for price . He is only barely more infantile at the end of the book than at the beginning. Both book and CD can stand alone, but together they make a dream package. I'm pleased that you loved this book Sweta. Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2015. Am not equal to dissecting or reviewing An Equal Music. He is only barely more infantile at the end of the book than at the beginning. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 But not just so. A cozy winter romance filled with paws, pastries and an almost-handsome landlord. If I hadn't been reading this for a class, I wouldn't have been able to get more than a third of the way through. He doesn't gain anything or change, not really. Throughout the book, one sees how much time human beings spend tuning ‘things’ so that they can live in harmony. My childhood savior. You can't take your eyes off it but still something nags at the bac. Put all the adjectives you like. But I like that Seth didn't make a heroic main character. I was disappointed in this book. Learn more about the program. Beyond that, I wonder how many novels come with a matching classical music CD? This book appealed to the writer, the artist, the poet in me. Just as Seth wrapped you up in the world of upper-caste India in the mid 50s, amidst amazing social and political change, now you are led gently into the contemporary classical music scene of London, Vienna, Venice; a love story, a tragedy, a loving tribute to chamber music and insights into the world of performance. I didn't find much to like in the main character (beyond his talents as a musician, which came across) and couldn't see any reason for this great love that existed between him and Julia. Whilst the other characters are pleasantly depicted in their individual personalities and the musical references fun to follow up with, the fact that the story is told from the viewpoint of Michael makes it rather tedious in time. Michael’s world, his friends, his activities and interests involve classical music at some level. Unfortunately, she's changed more than he has over the past ten years. Vikram Seth's novel An Equal Music is as evocative a portrait of the world of chamber music as you could wish for, but Seth is the first to say that words "can only attempt to describe what cannot truly be described". He loves his violin. Authority-hating, swottish, and self-centred Michael Holme from Rochdale plays violin for London-based-but-often-Euro-touring Maggiore Quartet.