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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I ... I just can't. I fold. White flag raised: this book is simply not worth my time. Neil Gaiman, on the other hand, most definitely is.
You know, I think this is far from his best work. In fact, this is probably my least favourite book of Rushdie's that I've read. I admit to high expectations, what with the furore surrounding this book, but the story breaks apart at the end and I found myself not caring about the characters. I can certainly understand why some people were offended by it.
Overall, I liked this a lot. I went in expecting a dry story about Muhammad, but instead got a frequently funny book about alienation and one's struggle to fit in as an immigrant. The protagonists are both stuck between cultures.
Although the long sub-plots can get tiresome and pull you out of the main story, the long digressions are often just as good as the main plot. The novel is brimming with ideas and little stories, and most of them are good.
Although the long sub-plots can get tiresome and pull you out of the main story, the long digressions are often just as good as the main plot. The novel is brimming with ideas and little stories, and most of them are good.
I did not realize that reading this book would be such a massive undertaking. I found it really hard to wrap my head around the narrative at times, but there were some scenes where it just clicked and was so so so good.
I tried really hard this time! I've always wanted to read this and figure out what infuriated Muslims so much. I've tried to read it twice before. This time I listened to it and made it through 5 of 18 CDs before abandoning it. Rushdie's humour is marvelous and his characters so quirky. But I can't keep pace with the floridity of his stories and the breadth of the symbolism throughout. I feel what he is trying to say is beyond my grasp and I wasn't enjoying the puzzlement of the experience.
Me ha gustado mucho, es una suerte de Good Omens y American Gods pero centrada en creencias islámicas e hindús. Me he perdido un poquito por desconocimiento de estas historias, pero también me ha ayudado a entender algunas cosas y a buscar más información sobre ellas.
I would probably give this one 6 stars if I knew more about Islam, Hinduism, and India. There's a lot I missed because of my ignorance. But I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez and I love Haruki Murakami so it's not unreasonable that I now love Salman Rushdie because he writes like them. It's an epic story about faith and love and the battles we humans face within ourselves and with each other. But mostly, I love this book because Rushdie puts words together that make dreams feel solid and real. He is a magician of words and the story, while most of the time surreal, was beautiful--like swimming in a beautiful painting. I just had to let the words roll over me.
One point. I read this in tree book form. I rather wish I had read it in e-book form because he uses a LOT of big words. And the e-book dictionary would have come in handy and less cumbersome than toting around a regular dictionary.
Can't wait for Midnight's Children.
One point. I read this in tree book form. I rather wish I had read it in e-book form because he uses a LOT of big words. And the e-book dictionary would have come in handy and less cumbersome than toting around a regular dictionary.
Can't wait for Midnight's Children.
This book was long and got worst as I read it. At first it was a pretty good surreal adventure for the 2 leads, but then it just dragged on and became really stupid. I would have banned this book but not for religious reasons. It’s just BAD
This book is a wild ride - a deep dive into racism, poverty, police brutality (especially against POC and the poor), misogyny, isolation, familial estrangement, and mental illness.
I'm glad I read it, but the process wasn't pleasant. It's not a book I'd ever recommend as enjoyable, but it feels important.
I'm glad I read it, but the process wasn't pleasant. It's not a book I'd ever recommend as enjoyable, but it feels important.