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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first foray into Rushdie who (whom?) I have for some reason feared would be "too daunting". It wasn't. And I was not disappointed.
I listened to the audiobook so, as is often the case, much of it rushed past me --the philosophical, mythological, and theological discussions between characters in places. I would benefit from reading a hard copy.
I'll let Rushdie's characters speak in this passage from the Epilogue:
"...[A] world ruled by reason, tolerance, magnanimity, knowledge, and restraint....is the world in which we now live.... Fear did not, finally, drive people into the arms of God.... Instead, fear was overcome.... For hundreds of years now, this has been our good fortune, to inhabit the possibility for which [they] yearned: a peaceful civilized world, of hard work and respect for the land. A gardener's world, in which we all must cultivate our garden, understanding that to do so is not a defeat, as it was for Voltaire's poor Candide, but the victory of our better natures over the darkness within."
I listened to the audiobook so, as is often the case, much of it rushed past me --the philosophical, mythological, and theological discussions between characters in places. I would benefit from reading a hard copy.
I'll let Rushdie's characters speak in this passage from the Epilogue:
"...[A] world ruled by reason, tolerance, magnanimity, knowledge, and restraint....is the world in which we now live.... Fear did not, finally, drive people into the arms of God.... Instead, fear was overcome.... For hundreds of years now, this has been our good fortune, to inhabit the possibility for which [they] yearned: a peaceful civilized world, of hard work and respect for the land. A gardener's world, in which we all must cultivate our garden, understanding that to do so is not a defeat, as it was for Voltaire's poor Candide, but the victory of our better natures over the darkness within."
Did not enjoy the first chapters. I think reading Neil Garmin's American Gods just before this one influenced my opinion
Awesome premise, but couldn't get with the writing style.
(should be 3.5 stars...but I'm feeling nice so I'm rounding up.) I almost didn't finish listening to this book....and then it got a lot better. In the beginning, I was annoyed by the choppy short story feel of it, and it didn't feel like it was going anywhere (I'm curious if I would have been as bothered by this if I was reading it rather than listening to the audio book). None of the characters appealed to me, and I really was annoyed that the one main character was called "Mr. Geronimo." I don't know why exactly, it just felt kind of forced and strange. I also disliked Dounia for letting her philosopher treat her so badly (not giving anything away, this is right in the beginning)!
The story picked up a lot during the second half, and by the end, I felt like the narrative was redeemed. And the end...Rushdie finally came through.
The story picked up a lot during the second half, and by the end, I felt like the narrative was redeemed. And the end...Rushdie finally came through.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first stumbled upon the news of Salman Rushdie publishing a new novel a couple of years ago, I was psyched. I've always loved Rushdie's magical realism and his unparalleled storytelling. But once I read it's a story about a dynasty of jinns roaming the earth, and of a war between the jinn and the human world, my excitement swiftly died. Up until a friend of mine picked it as a buddy-read book.
Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights is a multilayered read, not only because of the myriad of characters and the many segments of modern life which Rushdie delves into with this story, but also because of its rich cultural and historical bearings and messages regarding war, peace, and cultural diversity. If you've ever read Rushdie, you surely know that his books are never only about the story he's telling. They also contain an incredible amount of balanced and intelligent observations regarding the world, different cultures, and their historical development. In this magical tale of jinns and war of the worlds, for example, Rushdie introduces the destructive effects religion (any religion) can have on morals, humanity, and culture. It shows how a playful and mischievous group, not interested in politics and dominance in the least, can suddenly become blood-thirsty and destructive, while believing in being righteous and entitled.
A XII century philosopher's ashes wake to life and start speaking of God, religion, and the importance of fear. The Ifrits, jinns too busy with their games, eventful sex lives, and practical jokes stop to listen, and after misinterpreting the word of this philosopher from centuries ago, all hell breaks loose. The earth is threatened, there is destruction and misery everywhere, and the world is almost coming to an end. That is until Dunia, princess of the jinns, and her earthly children of different backgrounds, cultures, and religions, unite to put an end to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book. Salman Rushdie's humor and intelligence lights up every page in the first few chapters and brings joy with it's language, wittiness, and vivid imagination. I've always been fascinated by his ability to write of a topic such as jinns, fairies, and flying carpets in a modern setting, without making it sound like a complete disaster. My buddy-reading friend (MKS) and I bought agreed that in the hands of any other author, this book would have been a complete disaster. However, as I'm not a fan of fantasy, I did feel that once this story left our world and moved into the world of the fairies and jinns, it lost its strength and charm. I caught myself reading it out of respect for the first half of the book, and in order to see how it all ends. Its anti-war messages and the portrayal of book- and prophet-based religions from centuries ago were indeed very appropriate and important, and I couldn't have agreed with them more, but in all honesty, I believe they could have had a much greater impact had they been conveyed with a slightly different story. One situated a bit closer to the ground.
Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights is a multilayered read, not only because of the myriad of characters and the many segments of modern life which Rushdie delves into with this story, but also because of its rich cultural and historical bearings and messages regarding war, peace, and cultural diversity. If you've ever read Rushdie, you surely know that his books are never only about the story he's telling. They also contain an incredible amount of balanced and intelligent observations regarding the world, different cultures, and their historical development. In this magical tale of jinns and war of the worlds, for example, Rushdie introduces the destructive effects religion (any religion) can have on morals, humanity, and culture. It shows how a playful and mischievous group, not interested in politics and dominance in the least, can suddenly become blood-thirsty and destructive, while believing in being righteous and entitled.
A XII century philosopher's ashes wake to life and start speaking of God, religion, and the importance of fear. The Ifrits, jinns too busy with their games, eventful sex lives, and practical jokes stop to listen, and after misinterpreting the word of this philosopher from centuries ago, all hell breaks loose. The earth is threatened, there is destruction and misery everywhere, and the world is almost coming to an end. That is until Dunia, princess of the jinns, and her earthly children of different backgrounds, cultures, and religions, unite to put an end to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book. Salman Rushdie's humor and intelligence lights up every page in the first few chapters and brings joy with it's language, wittiness, and vivid imagination. I've always been fascinated by his ability to write of a topic such as jinns, fairies, and flying carpets in a modern setting, without making it sound like a complete disaster. My buddy-reading friend (MKS) and I bought agreed that in the hands of any other author, this book would have been a complete disaster. However, as I'm not a fan of fantasy, I did feel that once this story left our world and moved into the world of the fairies and jinns, it lost its strength and charm. I caught myself reading it out of respect for the first half of the book, and in order to see how it all ends. Its anti-war messages and the portrayal of book- and prophet-based religions from centuries ago were indeed very appropriate and important, and I couldn't have agreed with them more, but in all honesty, I believe they could have had a much greater impact had they been conveyed with a slightly different story. One situated a bit closer to the ground.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated