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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolute genius. Love the intertwined stories and the religious influences along with the great descriptions of 1980s London and Mumbai. Was a lot funnier than I expected it to be. Feels like it would make a great script for a long arthouse movie/miniseries, but that will probably never get made due to fear of outrage, which ironically is a major theme of this book. So many of the philosophical ponderings in this book still apply today, almost 50 years later. The world hasn’t progressed since then, especially on the topics of religion, discrimination, and immigration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation
I’m not entirely sure what I just read, but I’m pretty sure it was magnificent. It was a strange experience and I’m not sure the whole thing isn’t some sort of dream or hallucination. It was certainly ambitious and Rushdie is an impressive writer.
A bit silly. Not his best work. Not really blasphemous IMO.
Picked up the book because the Rushdie affair is mentioned at least once every semester in my religious studies course. Points made about the affair are always super repetitive - probably 'cause no one read the book. Honestly the controversy made the book seem more crucial and thought-provoking than it actually is. The controversy was ironic because I think, without it, it would be just like every magical realism x religion book ever. Honestly I think reading Rushdie's memoir might help understand his reasoning better. Maybe I would pick this up again in the future, but it's just not on the top of my list right now for religious studies.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It will take me a long time to write a proper review of this historic book. It's a whirlwind literary masterpiece, and a force, that not only made history with its fiction but also turned our reality into its own ironically prophetic fiction.
Temidden van de stortvloed aan ideeën is het me niet helemaal duidelijk wát Salman Rushdie precies met dit boek wil vertellen. Goed versus kwaad (engel versus duivel) of de inwisselbaarheid ervan? Religiewaanzin? Hoe immigranten nooit volledig geïntegreerd geraken?
Los van dit punt is dit wel een magisch boek met fantastische verhaallijnen dat geen moment verveelt. Ik miste zoals hierboven aangehaald het grote idee en de samenhang van dit boek, maar de laatste hoofdstukken zijn zo sterk dat ik toch nog twijfelde om het vier sterren te geven. Maar kom, 't is een boek van bijna 600 pagina's, dus ik blijf bij mijn eerste gedacht.
Los van dit punt is dit wel een magisch boek met fantastische verhaallijnen dat geen moment verveelt. Ik miste zoals hierboven aangehaald het grote idee en de samenhang van dit boek, maar de laatste hoofdstukken zijn zo sterk dat ik toch nog twijfelde om het vier sterren te geven. Maar kom, 't is een boek van bijna 600 pagina's, dus ik blijf bij mijn eerste gedacht.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes