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lsparrow's review
1.0
I slogged through this one determined to get through it all.
Although I think that Salman has important things to say, and issues that I think are important and may even agree with - however his way of writing is so off putting that I found it difficult not to be irritated. He seem so concerned with people not seeing him as arrogant - he wrote the book in third person however the way it is written it feels like the first draft was first person and on a subsequent edit he changed all the pronouns and such so it was written third person to try to seem less self absorbed. It is a memoir which by nature are self absorbed. I felt that there were a lot of details that did not add to the story or the theme and then he did not explore issues or situation which I felt had a lot to say.
I also think that his dislike of Pakistan biased me against him - how could he hate the land that I love so much.
I also felt it difficult to sympathize when he seemed to not understand that freedom of speech does not mean that everyone is obliged to like what you say/write or even to like you. In fact often we censor ourselves in a society particularly for this reason. also there is no obligation for publishers to publish - that is not included in freedom of speech. I agree with many of his points on freedom of speech and it's importance and do admire his commitment to it.
I also found although he did not appear to have much insight he experienced what often happens to some who lives in constant danger which is were it becomes so normalized that you no longer have this huge fear and are irritated by the safety mechanism that others enforce, which is understandable if you have been though something of this nature but is otherwise seems like either he was not in danger or he didn't appreciate the support.
I found Salman's blatent classism and elitism difficult to tolerate.
Although I think that Salman has important things to say, and issues that I think are important and may even agree with - however his way of writing is so off putting that I found it difficult not to be irritated. He seem so concerned with people not seeing him as arrogant - he wrote the book in third person however the way it is written it feels like the first draft was first person and on a subsequent edit he changed all the pronouns and such so it was written third person to try to seem less self absorbed. It is a memoir which by nature are self absorbed. I felt that there were a lot of details that did not add to the story or the theme and then he did not explore issues or situation which I felt had a lot to say.
I also think that his dislike of Pakistan biased me against him - how could he hate the land that I love so much.
I also felt it difficult to sympathize when he seemed to not understand that freedom of speech does not mean that everyone is obliged to like what you say/write or even to like you. In fact often we censor ourselves in a society particularly for this reason. also there is no obligation for publishers to publish - that is not included in freedom of speech. I agree with many of his points on freedom of speech and it's importance and do admire his commitment to it.
I also found although he did not appear to have much insight he experienced what often happens to some who lives in constant danger which is were it becomes so normalized that you no longer have this huge fear and are irritated by the safety mechanism that others enforce, which is understandable if you have been though something of this nature but is otherwise seems like either he was not in danger or he didn't appreciate the support.
I found Salman's blatent classism and elitism difficult to tolerate.
karinlib's review
4.0
I need to say at the outset, I am a Jesus follower, and Salman Rushdie is an atheist, but I agree with him that no person should be silenced because of their belief, and that is what Iran tried to do to him. Rushdie prevailed, despite the threats. Anyway, this book should be widely read. I had trouble putting it down.
ninakeller's review
5.0
The story of Salman Rushdie’s life while hiding from would-be assassins, after the issuance of a fatwah by the ayatollah of Iran.
I’m a big fan of Rushdie as a writer, especially of his books The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. I also read The Satanic Verses, but did not enjoy it as much. Though I found it to be a bit chaotic in narrative structure, I do not object to the content in the way extreme followers of the ayatollah do. Even if it does contain content offensive to religion, though I would debate that, censorship of literature is oppressive and unacceptable.
This book serves as an enlightening memoir of one of my favorite authors, and an important case for free speech and against censorship.
I’m a big fan of Rushdie as a writer, especially of his books The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. I also read The Satanic Verses, but did not enjoy it as much. Though I found it to be a bit chaotic in narrative structure, I do not object to the content in the way extreme followers of the ayatollah do. Even if it does contain content offensive to religion, though I would debate that, censorship of literature is oppressive and unacceptable.
This book serves as an enlightening memoir of one of my favorite authors, and an important case for free speech and against censorship.
gingerliss's review against another edition
5.0
I was pondering the reviews of this book on Goodreads the other day, as I was almost finished and just wondering what other people think. A lot of people seem to find Rushdie coming across as arrogant or pompous. This is something I totally disagree with and in fact I think one of the issues he actually covers in this book. As the media saw and treated him as arrogant for quite a long time. To me he honestly doesn't come across as arrogant.
Something else people were critical about is the way the book is written in third person. I thought this strange at the beginning. But looking back, after finishing the book, I think it might have helped him through writing the memoir. It gives him the opportunity to take a step back from his life and look at it from a bird eye view. So for me it actually felt like quite an interesting way to write your auto-biography.
I actually started reading the book to help me with an essay on Midnight's Children. I didn't finish before I finished the essay, but I just got so pulled into Rushdie's story that I couldn't put it own after finishing the essay. Also I find it very difficult to leave a book unfinished. After Midnight's Children this was obviously very different, but there are definitely similarities in writing style. I found the whole book very compelling and it reads very smoothly. When reading Rushdie I just want to write down quotes all the time. He comes up with some of the most beautiful sentences/paragraphs. Sometimes I just have to read one sentence over and over again because it's so beautiful.
I have to say I think I've become a fan. I don't think many of my study buddies will agree with me, but I like Mr. Rushdie, I really do!
Something else people were critical about is the way the book is written in third person. I thought this strange at the beginning. But looking back, after finishing the book, I think it might have helped him through writing the memoir. It gives him the opportunity to take a step back from his life and look at it from a bird eye view. So for me it actually felt like quite an interesting way to write your auto-biography.
I actually started reading the book to help me with an essay on Midnight's Children. I didn't finish before I finished the essay, but I just got so pulled into Rushdie's story that I couldn't put it own after finishing the essay. Also I find it very difficult to leave a book unfinished. After Midnight's Children this was obviously very different, but there are definitely similarities in writing style. I found the whole book very compelling and it reads very smoothly. When reading Rushdie I just want to write down quotes all the time. He comes up with some of the most beautiful sentences/paragraphs. Sometimes I just have to read one sentence over and over again because it's so beautiful.
I have to say I think I've become a fan. I don't think many of my study buddies will agree with me, but I like Mr. Rushdie, I really do!
readwritelib's review
3.0
Fascinating read that covers the height of the fatwa after Rushdie published The Satanic Verses, 12 years. He takes on a new identity (Joseph Anton) and remains in hiding under police protection for that time. Not only does he write about that experience in detail, he also discusses his marriages and friendships. While it was well written and I learned a lot about him and the craziness that he went though, I prefer his fiction much more. Read my full post at: http://wp.me/p29W1z-bF
alisonjfields's review
4.0
So, this is early in the publication life of this book. Over the coming days/weeks, you will hear that this memoir is thrilling, moving, self-important, petty, egotistical, remarkable, beautiful and tedious. All of those things will be true. It will dazzle you even as it drives you crazy.
ekb523's review
4.0
Such an interesting story! I'm glad Salmon Rushdie finally got a chance to tell this from his perspective. I had of course heard about the fatwa issued, but I never knew all of these details and was especially surprised by the terrible public opinion battles he dealt with. This is a great book to read for Banned Books Week (end of September/beginning of Oct)!
stevenyenzer's review
2.0
Oh lord. I should start by saying that I've never read anything by Salman Rushdie before this, and had heard only the outlines of the story of the threats against him. Although I'm still interested in reading some of his fiction, I can safely say from reading Joseph Anton that I don't think I'd like to spend time with Rushdie himself.
The book is written in the third person, and I have to assume that it's primarily because the pompous, self-aggrandizing tone would have been a little too much in first-person. Joseph Anton is such a naked attempt at score-settling that I found myself laughing aloud throughout at Rushdie's audacity.
Rushdie seems obsessed with exhaustively exploring every occasion in which he was disrespected, vindicated, or simply proven right. For example, he mentions that he wrote letters to the family of the Japanese translator who was killed for translating his book as well as the Italian translator who was attacked for doing the same. "He never received a reply," Rushdie says of both, as if the reader should feel wounded on his behalf. He mentions Princess Diana's death briefly and seemingly only because he wants to point out that he correctly guessed she had died overnight. It's bizarre.
Every good idea was his first. Every mistake he makes (and there are many) was made with the best of intentions. Every time he seems to lose his temper and shout at someone, he explains that it's really part of an act to get what he wants. He cheats on two wives and yet somehow he sees himself as the victim, criticizing them for being cold, fickle, and other petty complaints. The pot shots are endless. The name-dropping becomes tedious. It's clear that Rushdie wanted to do more than recount the story of his time under threat — he wanted to air a lifetime of grievances, and this book's 600+ pages are dedicated largely to self-vindication.
Rushdie's skill as a writer keeps Joseph Anton interesting for awhile, but for me the irritation at this petty, childish "hero" was just too much to handle.
The book is written in the third person, and I have to assume that it's primarily because the pompous, self-aggrandizing tone would have been a little too much in first-person. Joseph Anton is such a naked attempt at score-settling that I found myself laughing aloud throughout at Rushdie's audacity.
Rushdie seems obsessed with exhaustively exploring every occasion in which he was disrespected, vindicated, or simply proven right. For example, he mentions that he wrote letters to the family of the Japanese translator who was killed for translating his book as well as the Italian translator who was attacked for doing the same. "He never received a reply," Rushdie says of both, as if the reader should feel wounded on his behalf. He mentions Princess Diana's death briefly and seemingly only because he wants to point out that he correctly guessed she had died overnight. It's bizarre.
Every good idea was his first. Every mistake he makes (and there are many) was made with the best of intentions. Every time he seems to lose his temper and shout at someone, he explains that it's really part of an act to get what he wants. He cheats on two wives and yet somehow he sees himself as the victim, criticizing them for being cold, fickle, and other petty complaints. The pot shots are endless. The name-dropping becomes tedious. It's clear that Rushdie wanted to do more than recount the story of his time under threat — he wanted to air a lifetime of grievances, and this book's 600+ pages are dedicated largely to self-vindication.
Rushdie's skill as a writer keeps Joseph Anton interesting for awhile, but for me the irritation at this petty, childish "hero" was just too much to handle.