Set in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan Partition, Vikram Seth's magnum opus is an expansive family saga that chronicles the lives of 4 families living in Purva Pradesh.

The Mehras, Chatterjis, Kapoors and Tandons find themselves embroiled in the nation's tempestuous socio-political clime, as each of them strive to hold onto their principles in a vastly changing terrain.

A Suitable Boy is a book that will remain with me forever. Right from the commonplace occurrences in the lives of these characters to the detail-oriented writing of Seth, this book has so much to offer.

There are about 15-20 characters whose storylines are followed over the course of the book. And while that may seem to be a lot, it is surprisingly easy to keep up with the story because of how interconnected their lives are.

My favourite chapters to read were the ones about Lata, Pran, Savitha and the Chatterji family.

In terms of themes, the title explores topics like communal tension, spirituality, colonialism, marriage, politics, class hierarchy, etc.

Almost every part (of the 19 parts) dabbles in a different facet of life with such realistic portrayals that you can't help but connect it to the real world.

While the sheer size of this book may scare away a few readers, I'd highly highly recommend that you begin reading it and take your time. Because through the stories of all these characters, you will find yourself reflecting on your perspectives and learning so much along the way. It's a truly rewarding experience.

A couple of things that I wasn't a fan of were the depiction of politics and classical music. This is solely because I'm not interested in the subject matter, and it has nothing to do with how it has been covered.

I had hoped for the ending to have been different. But anyway, I'm truly glad to have picked it up. I really hope we get to read the sequel soon!