of the big piece of drivel that 'A suitable boy' is, was so vain in considering himself unmatched in the race for the Booker in the year his book was published.
Upon learning that his drivel was not even shortlisted, he moaned loudly to a series of journals about the 'injustice' done to him.
The most compelling review of 'A suitable boy' I read was that by Mr. M.Krishnan Nair - a prominent literary critic and a connoisseur of world literature and who was described by wags as the second best read malayali (after EMS).
He wrote thus. "I was duped by the loud and persistent marketing noises made by Vikram Seth's publishers and went out and bought a copy of his book. Usually I have copies of new books sent to me by publishers for my act but this time I decided that Seth's work could be one for my collection. Four pages into the book, I was so repelled that I literarily threw away the book to a corner of my room. I was so miffed at having spent so much (it cost me Rs. 1300/-) to buy this piece of trash. However, a few days later, it occurred to me that the book might not be so abominable at all. This impression, on hindsight, appears to me to have been a result of the amount of money that I spent for it working on my mind. I retrieved the book from where it lay and set about reading it with a newfound zest. I must have managed about twenty to twenty five pages before I threw away the book once again, this time for good!"
Re: Vikram Seth, the author
by sri on Oct 17, 2012 05:30 AM
Why the intense dislike and willingness to wound in your tone? Seth has his style and the others have theirs. Critique them all. No need to hate any of them.
of the big piece of drivel that 'A suitable boy' is, was so vain in considering himself unmatched in the race for the Booker in the year his book was published.
Upon learning that his drivel was not even shortlisted, he moaned loudly to a series of journals about the 'injustice' done to him.
The most compelling review of 'A suitable boy' I read was that by Mr. M.Krishnan Nair - a prominent literary critic and a connoisseur of world literature and who was described by wags as the second best read malayali (after EMS).
He wrote thus. "I was duped by the loud and persistent marketing noises made by Vikram Seth's publishers and went out and bought a copy of his book. Usually I have copies of new books sent to me by publishers for my act but this time I decided that Seth's work could be one for my collection. Four pages into the book, I was so repelled that I literarily threw away the book to a corner of my room. I was so miffed at having spent so much (it cost me Rs. 1300/-) to buy this piece of trash. However, a few days later, it occurred to me that the book might not be so abominable at all. This impression, on hindsight, appears to me to have been a result of the amount of money that I spent for it working on my mind. I retrieved the book from where it lay and set about reading it with a newfound zest. I must have managed about twenty to twenty five pages before I threw away the book once again, this time for good!"
How convenient. When it suits us, Salman Rushdie is a proud Indian. For all other purposes, he becomes persona non grata, who is not even allowed to visit his place of birth. The unfortunate thing is; the Government of the day supports such an action. Hypocrisy at its height