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greg_giannakis's review
5.0
"But I, too, have ropes around my neck, I have them to this day, pulling me this way and that, East and West, the nooses tightening, commanding, choose, choose.
I buck, I snort, I whinny, I read, I kick. Ropes, I do not choose between you. Lassoes, lariats, I choose neither of you, and both. Do you hear? I refuse to choose."
I buck, I snort, I whinny, I read, I kick. Ropes, I do not choose between you. Lassoes, lariats, I choose neither of you, and both. Do you hear? I refuse to choose."
signus's review against another edition
Best: At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers, The Harmony of the Spheres
Worst: Yorick, Chekov and Zulu
Worst: Yorick, Chekov and Zulu
sullivancon29's review against another edition
3.0
I only read one of the stories ("Good Advice is Rarer Than Rubies") in this collection, but I'm adding it to my 2020 reading challenge anyway because it's something I've read, LOL.
chocomuffinilla's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
paperknotbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
yosep's review against another edition
3.0
"East, West" is a collection of short stories by the world acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie.
Although I didn't enjoy all of the short stories - I even skipped one of them (Yorick) - the ones I did like, I liked very much.
I liked all three stories under the 'East' section, I didn't like a single story from 'West' - there were just too many allusions to other literary and pop cultures e.g. Shakespeare's Ophelia and Hamlet, Christopher Columbus, I just couldn't understand the story fully, neither did I put in any effort to do so.
From 'East, West', I really enjoyed 'The Harmony of the Spheres' and 'The Courter'. I feel that both of the stories require a thorough reading for one to fully appreciate the story and I intend to read through the two stories another time.
Although I didn't enjoy all of the short stories - I even skipped one of them (Yorick) - the ones I did like, I liked very much.
I liked all three stories under the 'East' section, I didn't like a single story from 'West' - there were just too many allusions to other literary and pop cultures e.g. Shakespeare's Ophelia and Hamlet, Christopher Columbus, I just couldn't understand the story fully, neither did I put in any effort to do so.
From 'East, West', I really enjoyed 'The Harmony of the Spheres' and 'The Courter'. I feel that both of the stories require a thorough reading for one to fully appreciate the story and I intend to read through the two stories another time.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
4.0
These novels are very varied. There are some very short and relatively long; in some. Of course, we find the usual writing of Salman Rushdie and the pleasure of reading it, as in others, we are dealing with a kind of oriental tale, as is the case with "The hair of the prophet".
nikikalyvides's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nobodyatall's review against another edition
3.0
I found the first section, East, to be really engaging and fascinating to read. Original and lyrical storytelling and great imagination.
I couldn't really get into any of the other stories/sections. Just seemed odd and didn't click with me at all. with the exception of Ruby Red Shoes which was both baffling and beautiful.
So about middling, 4-5* stories and 5 others which could be ignored.
I couldn't really get into any of the other stories/sections. Just seemed odd and didn't click with me at all. with the exception of Ruby Red Shoes which was both baffling and beautiful.
So about middling, 4-5* stories and 5 others which could be ignored.