This book is surely not the newest book on the block. It was published I believe in 1992 and I remember the amount of adulation it had received but somehow, I never found the time or shall I say, the energy to read 1400 odd pages at a stretch but I’m glad I waited because I surely lacked the patience & appreciation in my early 20’s!
I have to say I haven’t read anything like this before especially, in the Indian context. What ’Gone with the Wind’ might be for the western readers, ’’A Suitable Boy’’ could perhaps be for Indians! It touches the very core of India...from the very Anglicised ’high society’ to the poor tenants and landowners; it gives you a beautiful picture of what was on the minds of common people, masses, politicians and the framers of the our Constitutional laws in post-independence era....for once, it’s refreshing to read something different besides the tragic Hindu-muslim bloodshed post-partition!!! The author manages to interlace 4 different families with different backgrounds...the Kapoors, Chatterjis, Khans and Mehras...and tells a story which would resonate with generations to come, he touches the essence of being an Indian!
Here I would give kudos to the author’s writing style...he is descriptive yet has subtle humour and along the way, gave a peek of the social and political state of the country in early 1950’s. I have to admit, there were times when I was tempted to skip some of the lengthy procedures and court scenes because as a reader, you want to keep up the pace and not lose the enthusiasm but my only advice is be patient at such times! It is a treat to read and it does linger in your mind long after you have finished reading.