Product Description

Written in verse, this was Vikram Seth's first novel. Set in the 1980s, in the affluence and sunshine of California's silicon valley, it is the story of twenty-somethings looking for love, pleasure and the meaning of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60180 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

IT'LL NEVER WORK! (to the tune of Baddiel&Skinner unplanned)
A novel written in sonnets; Well it worked for Pushkin and it most definitely works for Vikram Seth.

I first discovered Vikram Seth, when i was sent a copy of his first (travel) book 'From Heaven's Lake' to review. This book was brilliant and I boldly described it as one of the greatest travel books which would ever be written. Nearly twenty-five years later, I have not changed my opinion about that book one iota.

I approached 'Golden Gate' however, with hesitancy. It all seemed a bit gimmicky and although I was a big fan of Pushkin's 'Eugene Onegin', also written in sonnets, I felt that Seth's book would be, at best, an anachronism. How wrong I was! This book is truly one of THE great works of modern literature and cannot be praised highly enough. It is quite simply, beautiful.

Vikram Seth has now found international fame as a result of the bestselling 'A Suitable Boy', but, in my opinion, this is his greatest work. It's just a shame I won't be around in a hundred years to remind everyone of how perceptive I was! (and humble; we mustn't forget humble)

After this amazing book, you will think in iambic tetrameter
This book, written complete in sonnet verse is simply amazing. When you open the cover and discover that not only, the main text, but the Acknowlegments, Table of Contents, Dedication, and "About The Authour" are also written in sonnet form, you'll know that Seth means business.

The entire book is written in Iambic Tetrameter (with strict rhyming to boot), yet though I thought this would be forboding, it really wasn't, and is amazingly readable. You'll even find yourself, having put the book down, thinking and talking in the line length that the authour uses!

The book itself, details the lives of a close knit group of Californians, initially centering about a programmer (though the omnisient narrator darts around a bit) and his life, relationships, and the waxing and waning of his friendships. Seth achieves this with utmost brilliance as the protagonist falls in and out of love, even venturing into brief promiscuity.

The Golden Gate ends with a few broken hearts, and is indeed vaguely depressing towards its finale. Seth's style, however, is true to the end, and indeed it is a well recommended read (even if just for the experience!). Just pick it up and be immersed - you won't be able to put it down.

An amazing combination of dexterity and understanding
Read this book. Seth manages to sustain throughout the length of a novel a demanding verse form which allows him to demonstrate a high degree of technical dexterity and poetic wit. More important, he tells a tale which demonstrates a deep sympathy with all his characters: Seth pardons all because he understands all. Once you've read the story for the plot you will read it again to savour the many felicities of language and, pervading all, nothing less than a philosophy of life based on the acceptance of others and the value of friendship and love.