Reviews

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie

claudia_is_reading's review against another edition

4.25

Imaginative, full of fantasy and allegories this might not be the best Rushdie's book but it's still a damn good one.

drgnhrt968's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

thestoryowl's review

4.0

A grand, epic fairy tale of Jinnia and Ifrit. A sweeping story through centuries filled with love, philosophy, and power.

wrxtacy's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

CAWPILE score: 4.86 (34/70, Good)
FRTC

harureads's review

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

bestknownfor's review

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

kclair9's review against another edition

Could not get into the writing style and loose plot. 

allisonout's review

4.0

A powerful princess of the Jinn (or genie) world falls in love with a human philosopher and spawns a race of humans that will play a key role in an impending war between the human world and the Fairy world. In the 21st century, a revolution erupts against the Jinn who escape their realm in order to conquer and terrorize humanity. Told from our ancestors point of view 1001 years in the future and inspired by Islamic mythology and theology, this is a layered and complex story with a wide range of characters. It is a whimsical tale full or popular culture references and humor but mixed with dazzling moments of philosophical insight. However, I will say this isn't a book for readers looking for a straightforward and linear plot. Prepare yourself for stories within stories and digressions within digressions.

tophatfever's review

3.0

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The stories were intertwining and the characters were interesting but I was not invested in any one particular character. The story itself just dragged on with no real conflict to entice me. I must say it was beautifully written though.

boggremlin's review

4.0

Salman Rushdie's "Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights" is a gloriously funny and enthralling re-imagining of Scheherazade's 1001 Nights. Narrated by descendants from 1000 years in the future, the novel encompasses "the strangenesses" that occur during a time of unreason. As with most omniscient narrators, the text drops hints and get sidetracked, but it's hugely enjoyable and impeccably clever while it's at it.

The strangenesses are the result of dalliances with and descendants of djinn (fantastic and capricious beings made of smoke and fire) clashing with the human world, and the novel's fairy tale elements underscore the mundane agonies and delights of humanity. The result is a layered and affectionate war for the world. It's excellent for readers who like stories (even if they don't think they like fairy tales).

Netgalley Review.