Book Review- A Suitable Boy

I'd read A Suitable Boy twice when I was at boarding school, many many moons ago. To say no other book or writer has had the effect on me ASB or Seth have had may sort of be an understatement. My first reading saw me have sleepless nights and finish the book in 4 days, and my second reading took me a generously paced 5. I've wanted for years to go back and reread the novel but had visions of me not being able to sleep and being a social recluse for days on end and I kept putting it off. Last summer in NYC however, I figured it would be the perfect place and setting for me to embark on it again.. I had the time and definitely the inclination, and hence went out and bought the book. Unfortunately it wasn't up till last week I was able to grab the book off my shelf and give it a go for the third time around. I finished it in 6 days.

The book is so much more than it's description- a story about 19 year old Lata whose mother embarks on a journey to find her youngest daughter a suitable groom. The story is about that yes, but is also about the families involved, the cities involved, the entire political situation in India at that point and the fabric of Indian society in general. The book weaves such a rich tapestry around you, paints such a beautiful picture that you're almost sad and bereft when it's done.

When I decided to reread the book this time, I wanted to be reminded by what made me fall in love with Seth in the first place. I after all, used to have a framed letter from him hanging up on my wall through my college years and a laminated picture of him in my wallet (please try to not judge me). Yes, the book is absolutely beautifully written and I found myself getting lost in the characters and feeling their emotions so deeply almost as if I knew them. But what struck me as most weird was my realization of how well the book ages and how I've aged with it. To put into perspective, the first 2 times I read the book, the internet was not commonly found and I had no access to it while at boarding school. Yet, reading the reviews on amazon.com will show you that there is no part of the book even now that seems in any way outdated or irrelevant. This is something I'm hoping Seth will be able to replicate in the sequel to the book that he is working on, named A Suitable Girl and due to be out next year.

As I mentioned earlier, I was also pretty taken aback to see how I had aged with the novel too. Between the 3 potential suitors Lata has, there is Kabir, the Muslim boy in her college she is in love with, Haresh- the shoe-maker that her mother finds the most suitable and Amit Chatterjee, her sister in law's brother who is a charming, witty poet. Aah Amit Chatterjee!! Though Seth denies fashioning the writer after himself, I honestly felt the most connection to this lovely character and during my previous reads, was Team Amit all the way! This time however, maybe because I was older, I was able to look a bit beyond what was immediately on offer and understand a bit better what qualities she should be looking for in a life partner. As I was probably younger than 19 the first two times I'd read it, my view on what to look for in a suitable boy were obviously a lot different than what they are now and I found her choice a lot more shockingly agreeable this time around. I wasn't expecting that.

In any case, if you're looking for a good summer read that will encapsulate you into a whole new world, look no further. It is my most favourite book hands down, and I can't recommend it enough!
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