AN EQUAL MUSIC
By Vikram Seth 

Doubleday - May 1999 
ISBN: 0767902912
Fiction / Contemporary / Music / Going Deafness

Reviewed by: Brenda Weeaks, MyShelf.Com
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AEM is written in the first person. The character, Michael is telling his story. It takes place in England, with a quartet of musicians. Michael is the Violinist. The other members are Piers, Helen, and Billy. We are taken through Michael's thirty-something life when he is remembering those from the past, one being Julie a pianist whom he loved while in Venice. He has a friend do a search for her, and then spots her in London... when they do get together... they enjoy their mutual love of music and each other.  The problem is Julie's life has changed more than Michael's. Although this doesn't affect his pursuit of her, it does affect their rekindled relationship. One change is that Julie is going deaf... 

I enjoyed this story. I am an ecliptic music fan, but I don't play an instrument. In the first chapter, the music information seemed heavy, hard for me to understand, but I continued and was rewarded. I enjoyed watching Michael's relationships with others in his life, and learning about his friends. 

But if I favored a character it would have to be Julie. Who seems to be lead around by Michael, yet, follows her heart and finds her home... 

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