suitableboy2024

So many different kinds of clashes in this section! The brutal murder of the 18-year-old Dalit when he returned to his village, the cricket match, the ideological clash & political manoeuvres within the Congress Party, the Hindu re-enactment of the battle over Sita‘s abduction, the Muslim observance of the battle of Karbala, the riots in the streets of Brahmpur, & the Raja of Marh‘s threat to Pran & the entire Kapoor family. 😳 #SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

jlhammar Not to mention Meenakshi having “the miscarriage of her dreams.” I guess that takes care of that problem. The riots were terrifying. Maan was quite brave. And that threatening call to Pran! Very worrisome. It seems like Lata‘s heart may still be with Kabir. 5h

Lindy @jlhammar Oh yes! I forgot about the miscarriage. So much happened in this chapter. And we only have four more to go. 2h

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Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

Well, I learned waaaay more about India‘s early politics and governmental structure in Part 14 than I expected (coupled with internet research to supplement my big knowledge gaps). The will-he-or-won‘t-he aspects of Nehru, India‘s enigmatic first Prime Minister, added some welcome tension to this chapter. I cheered confirmation of my suspicion that Maan is bisexual; also pleased that his father has recognized his good qualities. #SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

squirrelbrain I have to say I found the politics a bit much in this part - not my favourite chapter so far. But, yes, I loved that Maan was revealed as bi-sexual. 1w

jlhammar Yes, such a politics-heavy section this week! I confess to feeling somewhat less invested. And we‘ve passed the 1000-page mark - wow! 1w

Lindy @squirrelbrain I was reminded of a few earlier hints about Maan‘s sexual orientation, one in a conversation with Firoz when Maan had just returned from a month in the village, and the other when he gently rejected the rajkumar‘s advances. 1w

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Lindy @jlhammar Only 320 more pages to go (in my edition)! 😊 1w

KathyR I see this novel as much a social/political history of India's beginning as an independent country as I see it as the story of the search for a suitable boy so I think I enjoyed it more than others. The fight for independence was difficult but pales in the effort needed to build the united secular country that was envisioned. I think Seth does a good job of making the Hindu/Muslim divide real, both in political issues and at a personal level. 7d

Lindy @KathyR Your comments have really helped me appreciate those aspects of the novel. 😘 6d

bekakins Like @squirrelbrain I too struggled a bit with the politics in this part… I can‘t believe how far we‘ve come though! 5d

squirrelbrain I know @bekakins - we‘re on the home straight now! 5d

Lindy @bekakins @squirrelbrain 💪🎉 (edited) 3d

28 likes9 comments

Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

“A child is born; wise women come to look.” [Is Seth talking about Meenakshi & Kakoli? 😂]
“A cobbler writes. A poet mails his book.” — talk about understatement! Haresh & Amit seem to be the major players in Lata‘s love story so I was glad to see a lot of both in this chapter. Kabir is there too. Also glad we didn‘t have to wait to hear about Pran‘s health. In baby news, what will happen with Meenakshi‘s accidental pregnancy? #SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

bekakins Drama drama with Meenakshi‘s pregnancy - she is awful but also one of my favourite characters! Also good to see the tension heating up with Kabir, Haresh & Amit - I wonder which one (if any!) Lata will end up with… 2w

Lindy @bekakins “the tension heating up” — that‘s a good way to put it. I like the way that in this chapter we got more of a sense of competition for Lata‘s affection. And I also like that there continues to be new plot elements; Savita‘s desire to enter law; the robbery; and of course the drama surrounding Meenakshi‘s pregnancy. 2w

jlhammar Substantial section this week. Welcome Lady Baby Uma! Love your wise women speculation 😂 That poor mother monkey 😢 I‘m not sure Haresh is the right match for Lata. I liked Kuku‘s argument for Amit “[He] has a lovely nature. Why, Cuddles bites him less often than anyone else.”😆 Glad Pran is okay for the time being and following doctor‘s orders. 2w

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Lindy @jlhammar Lady Baby! Thanks for reminding me how funny I found that section. 😅 2w

KathyR Can there be any doubt that the robbery is part of the story of Varun's mess of a life? Varun's drunk and blabs about the jewelry to his sketchy friends, and then turns pale when Arun tells him about the robbery, doesn't bother to talk back to him when he's yelled, just slinks into his bedroom. 2w

squirrelbrain Oh yes, I agree @KathyR and there was a fair bit of ‘turning pale‘ in this section, with Billy hearing about Meenakshi‘s pregnancy too. 2w

squirrelbrain @jlhammar I‘m not sure about Haresh either. He seems like a nice guy, but maybe not sophisticated or book-smart enough for her, as snobbish as that sounds. It does feel like Amit is re-entering the fray now. 2w

Lindy @bekakins @jlhammar @KathyR @squirrelbrain Haresh seems like the safe pick (but boring for Lata); Kabir is the most dangerous pick in regards to Lata falling out with her family (but he‘s the most romantic pick); and Amit falls in the middle between them. An interesting field of candidates! 2w

KathyR Are there actually 3 suitable candidates? Given how much Lata has changed her views on the importance of family and her new-found respect for her mother's matchmaking (section 13.12) are Kabir & Amit really in the running? I think not. Amit has sent Lata a poem and book but he doesn't plan to do anything else till Xmas - not exactly a keen suitor. And Menakshi & Kuku's visit probably sealed the family's view of Chatterji unsuitability. 2w

Lindy @KathyR I‘m not ruling out Kabir, even though Rupa doesn‘t consider him suitable. She doesn‘t think Amit is suitable either, but this is fiction and Lata might end up with an unsuitable boy. 2w

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Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

Emotions run high & disparate narrative threads come together. Rupa‘s annoyance over being last to meet Haresh is overshadowed by everyone‘s concern for Pran‘s health. Are any of you reassured on his behalf by the words of Pran‘s masseur? Meanwhile, Kabir is near & Maan may have kissed Saeeda Bai goodbye by kissing someone else. (A good thing?) And what‘s the Nawab‘s secret in regards to Tasneem? I don‘t think Firoz will be found suitable for her.

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

Lindy #SuitableBoy2024 3w

tpixie Great reading challenge! 3w

jlhammar I‘m very worried about Pran. Seems like Maan may not have matured all that much in his time away. Though sabotaging that relationship might be for the best. Glad that Bhaskar is doing well. 3w

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Lindy @tpixie It‘s been a great experience all along 😁 3w

Lindy @jlhammar I‘m worried too. Pran is such a good guy. And speaking of Bhaskar, why can‘t his grandfather recognize the boy‘s mathematical genius? 3w

tpixie @Lindy 🌸🌸🌸 3w

KathyR @Lindy Mahesh does recognize Bhaskar's genius for numbers, but the question of which constituency to run in is not solely about stats. While Rasheed's hometown has the right demographics, it is also an area in which the zamandari will theoretically lose land as a result of Mahesh's legislation. Bhaskar understands numbers but not politics, which is why Mahesh ignores his advice. 3w

bekakins I‘m really worried about Pran too 😬 especially with Savita about to give birth at any moment! The structure of this challenge is really helping to build the tension for me too as normally I would just fly through to find out what happens but have managed to restrain myself so far! 3w

Lindy @KathyR Good point! I hadn‘t thought of that. 3w

Lindy @bekakins It‘s okay to fly ahead now. I‘m eager to find out what happens with Pran too. 😊 Some momentum may help to get through the next section, which is 111 pages in my edition. 🐝 3w

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Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

Old landlords sue the state to keep their lands.
Crushed corpses rot upon the holy sands.

Holy smoke! Momentous moments in this chapter! I don‘t usually get on with courtroom drama but Vikram Seth managed to make even that compelling. But little Bhaskar is my main concern. I hope we don‘t have to wait to long for an update.
#SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

jlhammar So tragic. “Within fifteen minutes more than a thousand people were dead.” 😭 I was so relieved when Bhaskar was found. Hoping he recovers. 1mo

Lindy @jlhammar Yes, so very tragic. @KathyR mentioned elsewhere that Seth based this incident on a real event in 1954 at the Kumbh Mela: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_Prayag_Kumbh_Mela_stampede 1mo

KathyR Even though Bhaskar is a minor character, I was impressed with the way that Seth made him stand out as a lovable & talented kid whose disal 1mo

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KathyR Oops. ...whose disappearance put me on edge, his possible death was a heartbreaking thought. Kabir is the hero of the day, in recognizing him, contacting Mahesh, and convincing his father to visit regularly, but nobody present know what Lata & her mother know about his feelings for Lata. 1mo

bekakins Poor Bhaskar - that chapter had me with my mouth hanging open, thank goodness he was found! 1mo

squirrelbrain Only just caught up today - #camplitsy spreadsheets mean no time for reading. Such a terrible episode, even more so that it is based on a true story. 4w

Lindy @KathyR @bekakins Yes, Bhaskar is a good example of the way Seth describes and deploys his minor characters to maximum effect. These people seem real to me. 4w

30 likes7 comments

Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

I could feel the boredom, heat and elasticity of time that Maan experiences in village life, and yet there‘s so much drama in this chapter too, not least of which is the wolf hunt. If Maan can control his temper, perhaps politics would be a good career path. But I am most curious and concerned about Rasheed‘s future.

Fellow readers, we have only 9 parts left to go! #SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

tpixie Oh! A big classic!! 1mo

Lindy @tpixie Yes indeed! Have you read it? 1mo

bekakins Rasheed is a really interesting character - also enjoyed Maan trying to control his rage - this was a good section! 1mo

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mcctrish A buddy read of this is brilliant 1mo

Lindy @bekakins I think we are witnessing Maan‘s maturation from boy to man (even though he‘s already in his 20s.) 1mo

Lindy @mcctrish Agreed! It‘s been a fantastic experience so far and we are only halfway through. 1mo

squirrelbrain Only 9 parts to go - wow! We‘re doing well, but it‘s such a fascinating read it‘s the opposite of a slog. Poor Rasheed - we feared for him when he changed the deeds and it seems we were right to do so. 1mo

Lindy @squirrelbrain It feels easy to keep motoring through because I haven‘t been bored yet. 😊 1mo

jlhammar Yes, very concerned for Rasheed! I liked getting more of his backstory. It does seem like we are seeing Maan mature and come into his own. I find the music snobbishness that surfaced again (from Sandeep Lahiri) really interesting. “Good music is good music.” Good=western classical. Can‘t believe we are so far through already! Reading one part a week has been fantastic. 1mo

Lindy @jlhammar I‘m glad you mentioned the music snobbery. I noticed the Western authors also (EM Forster, for example). 1mo

KathyR I thought that the preference for classical music over traditional Indian music was one of many examples of the trumpeting of English & Western superiority (in language, music, literature, food, etc) in the novel. Colonial administration has been replaced with an independent Government, but the attitude of English/Western superiority remains, now promulgated by the Indian upper classes and castes. 1mo

34 likes11 comments

Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

“A desperate mother ventures to deploy
Fair means or foul to net a suitable boy.”
The more I get to know Haresh, the better I like him. He remembered Bhaskar‘s question! He was smart to hold back on his impulse to immediately propose to Lata, however. She needs time to warm up to him… if he is indeed the right man. Meanwhile, I fear for Rupa‘s cousin‘s daughter Kiran. Her father is evil. Kiran needs to hop a train and get away from him.

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

Lindy #SuitableBoy2024 1mo

squirrelbrain Just realised, when I saw your post, that I haven‘t read this week‘s instalment! 🤪 Been too busy with work - I shall try to read it this evening. It‘s a slippery slope if you fall behind! 1mo

Lindy @squirrelbrain ⏰🐇😁🍀 1mo

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jlhammar So evil! This part was quite distressing. Lata having to fend off Mr Sahgal and poor Kiran. I enjoyed seeing Mrs Rupa Mehra through other eyes—hadn‘t realized earlier just how good-looking she is! 1mo

Lindy @jlhammar Maybe Rupa will find a suitable man? 1mo

squirrelbrain Phew - I caught up last night! I agree @jlhammar - rather an upsetting section. Poor Kiran - I hope we hear the end of her story, as long as it‘s a positive ending for her. 1mo

bekakins I too was quite distressed by the chapters with Mr Sahel - what an awful man! Like @jlhammar I enjoyed the revelation that Mrs Rupa Mehra is very attractive - and a big fan of Haresh! 1mo

Lindy @jlhammar @squirrelbrain @bekakins Over on Voxer, in our concurrent discussion, @KathyR pointed out that Lata‘s bad experience with Mr Sahgal might colour her overall view of the trip, including her feelings about Haresh. It‘s entirely possible. 1mo

21 likes8 comments

Leftcoastzen

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

#SpringSkies #BookClubRead #buddyread My book club reads that I am behind on !Twilight Sleep , I almost caught up for #WhartonBuddyRead but I‘m only on part 7 for #SuitableBoy2024 everyone else is on part 9 . between all the drop every thing and go errands & other diversions hard time keeping up ! I‘m even late with this post! 😁

Lindy, Lcsmcat, Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, Graywacke

Graywacke Can i send you free time to fritter away, between errands and commitments? I hope you‘re enjoying the reading. 2mo

Leftcoastzen @Graywacke oh, I wish! I would be requesting buckets of time!😂 2mo

Eggs I know the feeling😕 1mo

Lindy Hang in there Linda! Be gentle with yourself. 🥹 1mo

Leftcoastzen @Lindy THANKS! I hope to catch up soon, love the book, life stuff happens. 1mo

51 likes5 comments

Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

“Beneath the neem the village children play.
Worn cattle churn the burning earth to clay.”

This chapter makes it clear why land reform is important. I admire and applaud Rasheed‘s passion for justice. I fear for the trouble it will cause him and others.

#SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

squirrelbrain I found this chapter fascinating too - both for the land reform politics and for the look at a different social strata. 2mo

bekakins Loved Rasheed‘s bold move at the end of this part… but worried about the consequences to come. Interesting section of the book! 2mo

KathyR I thought Seth built up to the last scene in the chapter so well. By then, we had seen Rasheed's compassion in interactions with the labourers & the poorest in the village, we had heard about his vision for a more productive village, we had seen how hard Kecheru worked, and had heard his arguments with his father. So you're not surprised that his father is having the records falsified, or that Rasheed undermines his fraud to help out Kecheru. 2mo

jlhammar Really interesting section. I enjoyed getting to know Rasheed a bit more. 2mo

28 likes4 comments

Lindy

Suitable Boy | Vikram Seth

Part 7 by the numbers:
-1 grouchy dog
-2 new suitors for Lata
-2 main suitors for Kakoli
-2 lovers for Meenakshi
-2 faces of Arun (affable vs tyrant)
-9 eccentric characters in 1 major family (Chatterji) explored
-63 flagged passages in 127 pages
-and the fundamental construct of Indian civilization is 4… no, it‘s 3… no, it‘s 2… no, it‘s 1… no, it‘s 0…
-Uncounted chuckles

I loved this section! #SuitableBoy2024

azulaco, Leftcoastzen, KathyR, bekakins, squirrelbrain, RebelReader, jlhammar, RaeLovesToRead, kassandrik

Leftcoastzen So much going on! Of course on the surface one should be glad that colonialism ended , but it‘s easy to forget there are winners & losers in any reorganization.I know I‘m reacting from a different world view yet it infuriates me a bit that with Purdha , I would have to cover myself & hide away in my own home if the patriarch brought someone home with him. 😔 2mo

batsy Love your summary 😁 2mo

bekakins Really fun section - the Chatterjis are my new favourites love the dynamic between the different siblings and the rhyming couplets they throw around 😆 also Patricia Cox properly made me chuckle! 2mo

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jlhammar Awesome breakdown!😆 Probably my favorite part so far. @bekakins I also loved the Chatterjis and got a kick out of the Patricia bits 😂 I especially liked when Meenakshi declined a mango and Mrs Rupa Mehra “was confirmed in her opinion that [she] was extremely odd. To steel yourself against mangoes showed a degree of iciness that was almost inhuman.”🥭 2mo

Lindy @jlhammar That part gave me a craving for mangoes 🥭😊 2mo

Lindy @batsy 😘 2mo

Lindy @Leftcoastzen Yes! So much activity, one social event after another. I love it. The pro-British and anti-British sentiments are nicely contrasted in this section. In the novel so far, it‘s clear that colonialism has had a devastating effect on the country. 2mo

Lindy @bekakins The Chatterji family is a hoot! And so is Patricia Cox. I wonder if we will see her have the opportunity to drink shamshu. 🍶 2mo

kassandrik My maths and statistics heart is beating fast ❤️ 2mo

Lindy @kassandrik 💓 2mo

bekakins @jlhammar so funny 🤣 and @Lindy I would LOVE it if we get to see Patricia cox trying shamshu! 2mo

squirrelbrain Great summary! I agree @jlhammar - my favourite part so far too. 2mo

Lindy @squirrelbrain 😘👍 2mo

azulaco Oh my goodness, that Meenakshi. She is nothing but trouble! 2mo

KathyR I was not very enthuastic about this part but the comments of other readers has encouraged me to re-read it. (I'm retired ;) ) One of the great benefits of a readalong. 2mo

Lindy @azulaco Meenakshi is playing with fire 💃 2mo

Lindy @KathyR One of the many things I enjoyed about this chapter is the way characters are given depth via snippets of conversation. Also the humour; I was smiling all the way through this part. 2mo

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