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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
I’ve always been fascinated by Salman Rushdie, particularly because of the fatwa issued against him, though I had never read his work before. After his attack in 2022, I was curious about his well-being, so when I learned about Knife, I knew I had to read it. I borrowed the audiobook from the library since Rushdie narrates it himself, and hearing him tell the story of the attack and his recovery made the experience even more powerful.
The book is deeply personal, offering an unflinching account of that day and its aftermath while also providing glimpses into his life beyond the headlines. His recovery was not easy to read about, but the details are not gratuitous. More than just a recounting of violence, Knife is a reflection on resilience, love, and the importance of community. Rushdie’s reflections on the support of his loved ones are especially moving, serving as a reminder of how vital it is to build connections and find strength in others during difficult times.
Whether or not you’ve read Rushdie before, if you’re curious about his attack and its impact, this book is worth picking up. He speaks candidly about both the visible and invisible wounds he carries and about a healing process that remains ongoing.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Can I say this book was a delight? No, I can’t because that would be callous and just plain offensive. But as gruesome as the topic of this book is, it was so very, very good. I thoroughly enjoyed Rushdie’s voice–both the words and literally his voice as he reads this himself–as he goes through his terrible ordeal. He talks plainly but with tremendous emotion behind the words, he uses pop-culture references and classical poetry quotes with equal ease, and his wry humor shines through it all. He talks about family, freedom, love, happiness, and the state of the world.
I went and checked the one-star reviews again because I was curious about what they’d say. Arrogant, a rough draft diary entry. Like. Um. This is a man who has lived under a fatwa for longer than you have been alive, and now he underwent an attack on his life? I think that allows him to navel-gaze a bit. That said, the narrative does unravel a bit on the second half of the book but I guess including an imaginary conversation with his assailant was important to Mr. Rushdie.
In the end, this is an introspective journey with a hopeful ending. The long letter regarding gods and religions in the end of the book was one of the best essays on the topic I’ve read in a long, long while.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced