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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, now it is official: Salman Rushdie is never going to be a favorite of mine. I have devoured three of his books now (at least partial) and he just isn't my cup of tea. His style is brillant, sprankling, imaginative and he is a real creative story teller, but I just doesn't resonate with me. It has nothing to do with the cultural distance (because Rushdie is a thoroughly Western writer), but uttermost with style and spirit. Sorry, Salman. Furthermore, I think that every one has the right to say what he has to say, even it is considered blasphemic by others.
I'm not sure what to make of this book, to be honest. The atrocious grammar, whether on purpose or not, was annoying and confusing; the way Rushdie melded words together was frustrating (I think he may have done this to indicate the quickness that Indian people sometimes speak but it was still frustrating). The whole book, in general, was confusing, disconnected and discombobulated. I rarely understood what was going on except that I recognised some verses from the Qu'ran and some Urdu poetry which were mentioned in the acknowledgments at the end, but that was about it. Overall, as most hyped-up books are I find, it was disappointing and I never thought it was going to end.
On a side note, and I know that the purists out there are going to hate me for this, I found that reading it on a Kindle (or similar device) was much more beneficial than reading the physical book. It was easy to highlight a character or a place name and have the Kindle explain who or what their role was and as this is a highly complex book, it may help you to understand the story a bit better. Better than that, save yourself a few pounds and don't bother because the hype really isn't worth it.
On a side note, and I know that the purists out there are going to hate me for this, I found that reading it on a Kindle (or similar device) was much more beneficial than reading the physical book. It was easy to highlight a character or a place name and have the Kindle explain who or what their role was and as this is a highly complex book, it may help you to understand the story a bit better. Better than that, save yourself a few pounds and don't bother because the hype really isn't worth it.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
From the beginning I was struck by Rushdie's beautiful prose. I'd be plodding along, trying to pick up the plot, when I'd be floored by a line. The story itself was enchanting, but three quarters through I felt like something changed. It may have been a case of peak aftershock, but I felt a bit let down. However, the story I was reading, which turned out to be a superficial despite its the depths of its subject and narrative, surprised me.
The Satanic Verses felt like a gothic thriller, smart satire, and modern detective story blended smoothly into one. I probably won't read it again, but I'm very glad I read it.
The Satanic Verses felt like a gothic thriller, smart satire, and modern detective story blended smoothly into one. I probably won't read it again, but I'm very glad I read it.
okay...well...that was one of the oddest reading experiences i have ever had. i can think of no other book (and i have been trying to think on this for a few days now) that had me loving it, laughing out loud, and kinda awed...but then also feeling mired down, slogging and not wanting to pick it back up. if i was a reader who quit on books...i would have thrown in the towel around the halfway point. my enchantment had sorely waned by then.
what's surprising to me is how much the majority of this book didn't work for me (70% of it) and yet i still feel like something awesome just went on. a couple of days ago, i decided this was a 3-star read for me. i didn't love it and i didn't loathe it. i was glad to finally be reading it and think it is a book people need to read. but last night...the ending just pulled me back to how i felt during the first section of the book and i was smitten all over again. you really had me all over the map with this one, mr. rushdie.
love, religion, politics, identity and belonging are giant, meaty subjects. a bit of magical realism thrown in raises questions...like, "wait, was that really magical realism?" or, "what is rushdie doing to my head??"
since i began reading this book, many people have told me it's a book they have shied away from, feeling intimidated by it. but, you shouldn't feel that way. i would think people who have some understanding of islam night have a different experience reading this than a person who has no knowledge of islam. so i would recommend you do a bit of reading on it before giving the satanic verses a whirl. at the very least, read about the satanic verses that had been part of the Qur'an but then later taken out. but, having said that, i did not find this novel dense or tough or overly complicated. so don't be afraid!
generally, i don't tend to do very well with magical realism. i have a hard time just going with the flow where this genre is concerned. i am way too full of 'yeah, but...' for my own good sometimes. what i liked about how rushdie used it here (or did he?? haha!) was how certain things could be explained in more than one way. so, because my brain is the way it is, being told in the story that, gave me more solid footing for that story line.
what i loved in the story:
* the butterflies. i mean...jeez.
* chamcha's story line with his father and how that came together in the end...JEEZ!!
* the humour
what didn't work so much for me:
* the flow was very clunky. i have now read and learned that many people criticized the book for being messy and disjointed. i don't feel this to be the case but it was not a smooth read. transitions from one scene or storyline to the next were jarring. i am not sure if that was to keep us on our toes or just poor editing?
* allie and gibreel - i found this an interesting story line
i read once that salman rushdie said novels do not lay down rules, but ask questions, and he claimed that by asking questions, good fiction can help to create a changed world.
i have no idea if he said this in the context of the satanic verses or if he was speaking generally. but i think if he came to write the satanic verses with this intent...he succeeded hugely. this book kinda doesn't follow any traditional rules. it's a bit of a post-modern mashup with post-colonialist fiction. it's satirical. it's funny. it's critical yet hopeful. and...and i don't use this word too often in relation to fiction...it's pretty epic.
what's surprising to me is how much the majority of this book didn't work for me (70% of it) and yet i still feel like something awesome just went on. a couple of days ago, i decided this was a 3-star read for me. i didn't love it and i didn't loathe it. i was glad to finally be reading it and think it is a book people need to read. but last night...the ending just pulled me back to how i felt during the first section of the book and i was smitten all over again. you really had me all over the map with this one, mr. rushdie.
love, religion, politics, identity and belonging are giant, meaty subjects. a bit of magical realism thrown in raises questions...like, "wait, was that really magical realism?" or, "what is rushdie doing to my head??"
since i began reading this book, many people have told me it's a book they have shied away from, feeling intimidated by it. but, you shouldn't feel that way. i would think people who have some understanding of islam night have a different experience reading this than a person who has no knowledge of islam. so i would recommend you do a bit of reading on it before giving the satanic verses a whirl. at the very least, read about the satanic verses that had been part of the Qur'an but then later taken out. but, having said that, i did not find this novel dense or tough or overly complicated. so don't be afraid!
generally, i don't tend to do very well with magical realism. i have a hard time just going with the flow where this genre is concerned. i am way too full of 'yeah, but...' for my own good sometimes. what i liked about how rushdie used it here (or did he?? haha!) was how certain things could be explained in more than one way. so, because my brain is the way it is, being told in the story that
Spoiler
gibreel was diagnosed as being paranoid schizophrenic, for instancewhat i loved in the story:
* the butterflies. i mean...jeez.
* chamcha's story line with his father and how that came together in the end...JEEZ!!
* the humour
what didn't work so much for me:
* the flow was very clunky. i have now read and learned that many people criticized the book for being messy and disjointed. i don't feel this to be the case but it was not a smooth read. transitions from one scene or storyline to the next were jarring. i am not sure if that was to keep us on our toes or just poor editing?
* allie and gibreel - i found this an interesting story line
Spoiler
but the ending was a huge disappointment. it felt like a tacked-on after-thought to me which kinda sucked given how much time we spent with them up until that point.i read once that salman rushdie said novels do not lay down rules, but ask questions, and he claimed that by asking questions, good fiction can help to create a changed world.
i have no idea if he said this in the context of the satanic verses or if he was speaking generally. but i think if he came to write the satanic verses with this intent...he succeeded hugely. this book kinda doesn't follow any traditional rules. it's a bit of a post-modern mashup with post-colonialist fiction. it's satirical. it's funny. it's critical yet hopeful. and...and i don't use this word too often in relation to fiction...it's pretty epic.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
لا تستأهل كل الضجة التي أثيرت حولها، فالرواية تظل مجرد رواية ولا أدري ما دخل العقائد بخيال الكتاب؟
وهل التاريخ أوالدين الإسلامي بهذه الهشاشة حتي يشوهه خيال روائي؟!
وهل التاريخ أوالدين الإسلامي بهذه الهشاشة حتي يشوهه خيال روائي؟!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes