Come and tell me why I should persevere wtih A Suitable Boy?

[deaconblue]

I have got to the end of chapter one - there are about 20 sub-chapters so I've read about 60 pages. But it's taken me two weeks, I usually read a novel a week. The type is tiny, there are so many characters I keep having to look back at the family trees and only Lata interests me so far. But I hear it's a master piece so persuade me please...

Oh good god yes, it is one of my favourite books ever.

Please persist, you will love it.

Absolutely my favourite book ever. I'd suggest taking yourself off to a Greek beach, where you have nothing else to do. Well that worked for me anyway.

Do stick with it, it all makes sense in the end.

Well, it's beautiful, and moving, and one of my favourite books ever. And it sounds like you're getting along with it well enough other than it taking a long time to read the tiny typeface.

I absolutely love it so would wholeheartedly recommend that you continue, but of course there are many other excellent books out there if you find this one heavy going.

... and if you get hooked, be sure to read A Fine Balance next!

It is great and, as others have said, does knit together at the end. I found it easier to ignore skim the political stuff.

I tried several times to read this, and only finally managed it when I was stuck on the sofa, breastfeeding DD in those early weeks....you need to be kind of forced to carry on with it (in the nicest possible way!

it was worth it, I seem to remember (13 years ago now...)

So that you can disagree with the ending!

I read it years ago, found it hard going in some parts, yet easy, absorbing and flowing in other parts. But I remember being very puzzled by the ending. It wasn't what I expected and I disagreed with it. I couldn't face that massive reread immediately, one day I shall definitely do so.

Re A fine balance - read that a couple of weeks ago and bought A Suitable Boy off the back of that really. Fine Balance got me hooked straight away. But I will persevere...

@shoppingbags - great minds! I really recommend Amitav Ghosh's books too if you're into the whole post-commonwealth type fiction.

I must attempt this again... I got about a third of the way through on my last transatlantic business trip.... which was 9 years ago so I'll have to start over. Dunno when though, the Greek beach idea won't work ... Greek beaches are for watersports not reading!