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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.
nathaliaborghi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
deea_bks's review against another edition
3.0
This is an average book: some of the stories are boring, but to the subject, others are written in an interesting way, but they lack something...I couldn't put my finger on this "something" and identify it. I expected this volume to be something else, but it wasn't. In fact, I think that the intention of the author was to create 3 kinds of stories: the ones specific to the East, the ones specific to the West and the ones specific to the Indians that are living abroad, but miss their customs and country. He managed to write some boring stories about the East, some far-fetched ones about the West...and only the ones from the third cathegory are a bit better.
I liked "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers" and "The Harmony of the Spheres", but I found the others to lack the literary genius that Rushdie has proved to have in his books I have read before.
I liked "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers" and "The Harmony of the Spheres", but I found the others to lack the literary genius that Rushdie has proved to have in his books I have read before.