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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Loveable characters:
No
This book was not enjoyable. Salman in her flop era. It just never went anywhere interesting. Every character was not just unlikable but also fully uninteresting. And Salman tried so hard to make us feel something for them and everyone especially the narrator just was not even remotely interesting or sympathetic. And like you gotta pick one of those traits for your main characters.
Salman Rushdie can write, and while this one might not be his best novel of all time, it is actually very good, in part because of and in part despite some of the literary pretensions here. The strongest elements of the book are the most narrative ones: Apu's in particular in his search for meaning, D's search for identity, Nero's story of why the family left India in particular. Drawing in the Mumbai terror attacks works effectively because it fits within the broader narrative and explains so much of the family's buried history. By contrast, the modern-day political take on the rise of trump is largely forgettable, since Rushdie never really manages to tie it into any real aspect of the characters lives, mostly just their times. Petya maybe, but his character is the least formed of the family and primarily there for the quirkiness, which is endearing, and not the social commentary, which is not. Overall, it's a large and messy tale but one with some amazing writing and enough story to keep things proceeding from the fated beginnings to the equally fated conclusions, kind of Shakespeare adjacent but in a much more ironic way.
I'm conflicted about this book. It is beautifully written. Rushdie has a way with the English language and you feel the ennui and pathos of his characters. You feel swept up in the rantings and musings of the Goldens and our narrator. There are parallels to be drawn to our lives. There is commentary on the state of our nation, who we trust, who we believe in, what we think capable of happening.
But not much happens for most of the novel, it is slow expository worldbuilding-by-observation and not by *doing*. Pages of sideways references to events that I am surprised landed in a contemporary novel (GamerGate, for example). But I don't care. It reflects on the characters' focuses but means nothing to me, the reader. Even, oddly enough, for events I cared about, like the narrator's descriptions of the 2016 Presidential campaign. Or the aforementioned video-games-and-misogyny cultural battleground.
I just don't care that much. A beautifully written hot mess of a novel.
But not much happens for most of the novel, it is slow expository worldbuilding-by-observation and not by *doing*. Pages of sideways references to events that I am surprised landed in a contemporary novel (GamerGate, for example). But I don't care. It reflects on the characters' focuses but means nothing to me, the reader. Even, oddly enough, for events I cared about, like the narrator's descriptions of the 2016 Presidential campaign. Or the aforementioned video-games-and-misogyny cultural battleground.
I just don't care that much. A beautifully written hot mess of a novel.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rushdie is such a good author. I don't always agree with what he has to write but I always love reading it. Found myself empathising with the Trump family, which is insane. Gentle, forgiving, and beautiful.
dark
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like it but can't get past the pretentiousness of the character and prose. I certainly did not like the book near as much as the book likes itself...
Yipeeee! Done with this slog of a read - way too many themes thrown into this book and not a lot of deep value given how much the author tries to cover rather superficially. Glad book club didn’t choose this book
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked the writing And NYC and film and pop culture references. I liked the framework of Rome and fairytale undertones. I thought it was sad though when at times it seemed hopeful. I liked it though!!! Trying to figure out the narrator.
This book is a journey. And what a journey it is. I loved it.