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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
The universal truths that Rushdie is famous for were the redemptive moments that earned this book even three stars. The fantastical world was impossible to imagine and the characters so far distanced as to barely be seen, let alone felt. It was hard to get through.
A couple of weeks ago, a bookseller in vienna asked me if I have ever read any of Rushdie's books and when I said no he proceeded to give me a copy of Two years eight months and twenty eight nights.
When I started reading it i was blown because I finally found a book that portrayed what a work of fiction should be like.
Starting with the endless debate between the enduring significance of religion in society and the philosophical proper reasoning, and ending with a collision of mythology and reality in a two worlds war. This book is a stunning literary piece of art.
When I started reading it i was blown because I finally found a book that portrayed what a work of fiction should be like.
Starting with the endless debate between the enduring significance of religion in society and the philosophical proper reasoning, and ending with a collision of mythology and reality in a two worlds war. This book is a stunning literary piece of art.
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Beschreibung eines epischen Kampfes zwischen den dunklen Dschinns (stehen für den dunklen Teil der menschlichen Seele inklusive Gottesgläubigkeit) und der guten Dschinni Dunia (steht für die guten und vernünftigen menschlichen Eigenschaften) und ihrer teilmenschlichen Nachkommen. Erzählt aus der Perspektive unserer Nachfahren in 1000 Jahren, die in einer diversen, toleranten und glücklichen Zukunft leben - allerdings ihre Fähigkeit nachts zu träumen verloren haben und sich manchmal sogar nach einem Alptraum sehnen.
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Was this book good? Not really, no. Did I enjoy it? What the heck, yes.
This was my formal introduction to Salman Rushdie and his distinctive writing style. I found it both refreshing and aggravating. As a lover of generous space between periods, I appreciated how a single one of Rushdie's sentences could go on for paragraphs. This ambitious bending of rules was less endearing when it became rambling sheets of purple prose told from vacillating perspectives. These perspectives belonged to flat characters who made for decent but tooth-grittingly unlikeable plot devices. Impressively, the female characters took this a step further by serving as over-sexualized witnesses to the chaotic clash between the jinni and human worlds. Particularly the three female love interests, Dunia/the Lightning Princess/Aasmaan Peri/Skyfairy , Ella Manezes, and Alexandra Bliss Fariña/The Lady Philosopher (when a title unnecessarily includes the holder's gender, you can bet it was given by a man), were all significantly younger than their male lovers. And what's more, their author chose to highlight this. The male characters were flat, but the female characters were flatter... while still managing to have curves, of course.
Oh but characters and self-importance aside, Rushdie has a beautiful lilt to his prose and some of his philosophical musings landed with me (bits about time, about loving, about the nature of being human and of being, the like). I hope whoever finds this copy in a Little Free Library will both critique and enjoy their time in its pages.
This was my formal introduction to Salman Rushdie and his distinctive writing style. I found it both refreshing and aggravating. As a lover of generous space between periods, I appreciated how a single one of Rushdie's sentences could go on for paragraphs. This ambitious bending of rules was less endearing when it became rambling sheets of purple prose told from vacillating perspectives. These perspectives belonged to flat characters who made for decent but tooth-grittingly unlikeable plot devices. Impressively, the female characters took this a step further by serving as over-sexualized witnesses to the chaotic clash between the jinni and human worlds. Particularly the three female love interests, Dunia
Oh but characters and self-importance aside, Rushdie has a beautiful lilt to his prose and some of his philosophical musings landed with me (bits about time, about loving, about the nature of being human and of being, the like). I hope whoever finds this copy in a Little Free Library will both critique and enjoy their time in its pages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Grief
Minor: Incest, Sexual violence, Car accident, War
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love Rushdie and enjoyed it like I have everything I've read from him. BUT I did find this one a little hard to get into. I really liked it, but at the same time it didn't suck me in. Definitely gave me some Ursula K. Le Guin vibes. Reflects on spirituality, rationality, pessimism, optimism, and full of his usual whimsy and magical realism.
Rushdie made so many points about human nature in this fairy tale-some subtle, some obvious. Attributing events to magic or powers from another world just clarifies the silliness of ignoring our current world realities (or attributing them to a god)? I love this book:)
Imaginative, full of fantasy and allegories this might not be the best Rushdie's book but it's still a damn good one.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes