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jessinthelib's review against another edition
3.0
This book is extremely hard for me to review or even to synopsize. It took me forever to finish as I felt it started slowly, but the middle was very interesting, and then the end had this odd chapter of just info dump which I'm not sure was necessary. Overall, the characters were interesting but not likeable, the foreshadowing became repetitive and annoying, and it read like a Greek tragedy. However, much of the writing was fascinating and unique, the political commentary was brilliant (mostly the parts about the most recent American election), and the social commentary and exploration of current social themes was educational and thought-provoking. So, a mixed bag. My first Rushdie (amazingly enough) and I am sure I'll go and read some more.
stephinfektion's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. What a compelling read! I couldn't put it down! The narrator at times came across as slightly unreliable, but he came clean about his own faults and came to realize his own bias in the end. His telling of the story of the Golden family is poetic, poignant, and precise. The character descriptions are gripping and leave you begging for more, in the best way possible. The story itself is so complex with millions of little layers and connections that are weaved together so delicately and intricately that it's surprising that our narrator was able to keep everything straight! The text itself is pretty dense, but so nicely written that it feels like it's going fast, even in those pretty moments of stillness that Rushdie is a master of. The political background is so well done, and hilarious in just the right spots. A great read for anyone looking for something challenging. Highly recommended from this reader!
jillybebe's review against another edition
3.0
Too much hyperbole. Too much exposition. Too much erudition. Lovely critique of Trump and how we found ourselves in this shituation.
brfaucette's review against another edition
5.0
Rushdie' latest novel about an obsessed filmmaker and his relationship with a mysterious wealthy Indian family is a feat that will be discussed, debated, and pored over as with this tale he has written the first novel to capture the spirit and angst of Trump's America. The language is poetically dense at times as Rushdie embraces postmodernism with his combination of magical realism, film scripts, memoir, and other authors' styles such as Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and even a dose of Pynchon.
theforestlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
Periaatteessa kaikki palikat kohdallaan ja taitava kirjoittaja. Hahmot jäi kuitenkin etäiseksi kaikessa tragediassaankin. Juoni tunti jo kerran nähdyltä. Joskus ei vain sytytä ylistetytkään kirjat, tämä harmi kyllä oli sellainen. Luin väkisin loppuun.
jaspur's review against another edition
I’ve enjoyed the few of Rushdie’s books I’ve read previously. I didn’t read reviews of this book before starting, and didn’t realize I was signing up for a poorly informed 400 page diatribe about the dangers of “gender identity theory”. This book is self righteous, transphobic, and boring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
savvy_rain's review against another edition
4.0
Another absolute masterpiece by Rushdie.
The usage of vivid and developed characters to critique our society and the time we live is done so in a beautiful and engaging manner.
As with all Rushdie works, it takes some patience working through all of the allusions. But looking into the references is well worth it, I promise.
The usage of vivid and developed characters to critique our society and the time we live is done so in a beautiful and engaging manner.
As with all Rushdie works, it takes some patience working through all of the allusions. But looking into the references is well worth it, I promise.
gary09's review against another edition
5.0
Rushdie is a lexicon genius. It is no different in 'The Golden House'. He writes as a New Yorker. Rushdie tells a tale of an immigrant Mumbai family, hiding with new identities, under a mysterious veil of danger in New York City.
This is a very readable novel, without the Muslim/Indian baseline which is foreign to most and makes some Rushdie novels seem somewhat dense. The Golden House is a interesting read by a man who is comfortable in cultures around the globe and does not mind splashing around in his literary bona fides for the readers' enjoyment.
I initially thought that an upper Manhattan setting was not what I expected from Rushdie, but this scenario gives him the opportunity to make some observations about life in exile, even in the midst of comfort, that are clearly informed by his own experience. Highly recommended!
This is a very readable novel, without the Muslim/Indian baseline which is foreign to most and makes some Rushdie novels seem somewhat dense. The Golden House is a interesting read by a man who is comfortable in cultures around the globe and does not mind splashing around in his literary bona fides for the readers' enjoyment.
I initially thought that an upper Manhattan setting was not what I expected from Rushdie, but this scenario gives him the opportunity to make some observations about life in exile, even in the midst of comfort, that are clearly informed by his own experience. Highly recommended!
rustykingswood's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5