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kinchdedalus's review against another edition
4.0
Favorite stories in no particular order: Good Advice is Rarer Than Rubies, Free Radio, Yorick, and The Harmony of the Spheres
czimanske's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
pearlkhurana's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
cintiandrade's review against another edition
4.0
overall wonderful, but the "east" stories are much better than the others.
frankkasell's review against another edition
4.0
I don't often read short stories, but Rushdie has never once ceased to impress me (and, more often than not, totally bowl me over), so I figured it was worth a shot.
As expected, it was mostly magnificent. His style varies widely from story to story, demonstrating his erudition and imaginative capabilities as he jumps deftly from poignant snapshots in time to experimental postmodern monologues. As always, he writes with exuberance, precision, delicacy, joy, and occasional venom.
As other reviewers have written, some stories struck me more than others (though it's interesting to note how the stories some people highlight as dreck are the same ones that the next person will describe as their favorites). Though I enjoyed them all, I was particularly impressed with "Yorick," "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," "Chekov and Zulu," and "The Courter" (yes, I realize that my list there covers nearly half of the book).
Contentwise, the stories cover a lot of the same topics of Rushdie's novels: the concept of "home," the often corruptive powers of religion and money, the often redemptive nature of love, and (obviously) the interactions, collisions, and engagements between East and West. The reader occasionally becomes aware that this was written during his decade of hiding after the Ayatollah's fatwa, particularly during "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers." In that story, the reader finds the narrator longing for the abstract "home," and criticizing the extreme type of tolerance that opens the doors of dialogue to intolerant people (read: people who would order a death sentence for an author because of what he wrote) because to not invite them to the table would be intolerant.
Stylistically, as others have remarked, it is curious the way that the triad of "East" stories, all of which take place in India, are written in a relatively straightforward, realistic style. Though he is not employing his magical realism or postmodern linguistic pyrotechnics here, Rushdie is as sharp as ever. In contrast, all three of the "West" stories are written in experimental postmodern styles. To my mind, this implies that the West has lost its grounding to some extent. With all of the varieties of people and thoughts inhabiting the Western world, we don't have a stable foundation of thought and philosophy. We are ummoored from reality in a way, without a clear concept of "home." The style of the three "West" stories reflects this state.
Overall, I gave this a four-star rating because short stories still aren't quite my bag. I respect what he has done here and deeply enjoyed the book, but I found myself wanting more. In a full length novel, Rushdie has the space to expand his thoughts and really grapple with huge issues. In short stories, he is limited to snapshots of those big issues, so he has a much smaller canvas on which to dazzle the reader. Nonetheless, it's still Rushdie, and it's still marvelous.
As expected, it was mostly magnificent. His style varies widely from story to story, demonstrating his erudition and imaginative capabilities as he jumps deftly from poignant snapshots in time to experimental postmodern monologues. As always, he writes with exuberance, precision, delicacy, joy, and occasional venom.
As other reviewers have written, some stories struck me more than others (though it's interesting to note how the stories some people highlight as dreck are the same ones that the next person will describe as their favorites). Though I enjoyed them all, I was particularly impressed with "Yorick," "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," "Chekov and Zulu," and "The Courter" (yes, I realize that my list there covers nearly half of the book).
Contentwise, the stories cover a lot of the same topics of Rushdie's novels: the concept of "home," the often corruptive powers of religion and money, the often redemptive nature of love, and (obviously) the interactions, collisions, and engagements between East and West. The reader occasionally becomes aware that this was written during his decade of hiding after the Ayatollah's fatwa, particularly during "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers." In that story, the reader finds the narrator longing for the abstract "home," and criticizing the extreme type of tolerance that opens the doors of dialogue to intolerant people (read: people who would order a death sentence for an author because of what he wrote) because to not invite them to the table would be intolerant.
Stylistically, as others have remarked, it is curious the way that the triad of "East" stories, all of which take place in India, are written in a relatively straightforward, realistic style. Though he is not employing his magical realism or postmodern linguistic pyrotechnics here, Rushdie is as sharp as ever. In contrast, all three of the "West" stories are written in experimental postmodern styles. To my mind, this implies that the West has lost its grounding to some extent. With all of the varieties of people and thoughts inhabiting the Western world, we don't have a stable foundation of thought and philosophy. We are ummoored from reality in a way, without a clear concept of "home." The style of the three "West" stories reflects this state.
Overall, I gave this a four-star rating because short stories still aren't quite my bag. I respect what he has done here and deeply enjoyed the book, but I found myself wanting more. In a full length novel, Rushdie has the space to expand his thoughts and really grapple with huge issues. In short stories, he is limited to snapshots of those big issues, so he has a much smaller canvas on which to dazzle the reader. Nonetheless, it's still Rushdie, and it's still marvelous.
mehlsbell's review against another edition
4.0
Juxtaposition of two not-so-different things, for the win.
nadinekc's review against another edition
5.0
Rushdie is one of my favorite authors, but I've never read any of his short stories. Happy to say he's at the top of his game here. He's my Wizard of Words - five words into anything he writes and I'm ensorcelled. The stories in the first two sections (East and West) were previously published elsewhere, but the three stories in the third section, 'East,West' are original and two of them were my favorites - Chekov and Zulu, which improbably and brilliantly weaves together Star Trek and the assassination of Indira Ghandi, and The Courter, which is funny/tender - a combo that can so easily turn into treacle, but doesn't.
santreads's review against another edition
4.0
I kind of breezed through this one.
East, West is a compilation of short stories written by renowned author - Salman Rushdie. This is my first book by him. I know - it's a travesty, blah blah blah. But I got my chance this time and I went with it.
Honestly I was a little nervous about how I would take to Salman Rushdie's writing style. I had heard much about it and didn't want him to disappoint me.
I wasn't.
The book divided into three parts - East, West and East, West were absolutely delightful. I loved the East, West stories and the East stories more than the West. I loved that there was thing interesting Indian slang and syntax in the writing. There were these subtle plot changes that made you think, 'Oh my!'.
Definitely a great read for me.
(Too sleepy to write an actual review. My bad)
East, West is a compilation of short stories written by renowned author - Salman Rushdie. This is my first book by him. I know - it's a travesty, blah blah blah. But I got my chance this time and I went with it.
Honestly I was a little nervous about how I would take to Salman Rushdie's writing style. I had heard much about it and didn't want him to disappoint me.
I wasn't.
The book divided into three parts - East, West and East, West were absolutely delightful. I loved the East, West stories and the East stories more than the West. I loved that there was thing interesting Indian slang and syntax in the writing. There were these subtle plot changes that made you think, 'Oh my!'.
Definitely a great read for me.
(Too sleepy to write an actual review. My bad)
elle_reads's review
5.0
(Instagram @elle_reads)
BOOK REVIEW
[East, West: Stories] A global work highlighting its own hybrid nature.
//
WHAT I LIKED
East, West is divided into three sections: East’ West; and East, West. I loved the intense parallels Rushdie analyzes through a mix of reality and fantasy. MAGICAL REALISM! RUSHDIE? Of course.
BOOK REVIEW
[East, West: Stories] A global work highlighting its own hybrid nature.
//
WHAT I LIKED
East, West is divided into three sections: East’ West; and East, West. I loved the intense parallels Rushdie analyzes through a mix of reality and fantasy. MAGICAL REALISM! RUSHDIE? Of course.
sarahpisa's review against another edition
2.0
Let's start by saying that short stories are not my cup of tea. It took me more than a year to finish this book. I can still remember the first three stories vividly and joyfully, but all the others... even the one I just finished 5 minutes ago, were utterly insipid. I couldn't even tell you what they were about... people?