Scan barcode
jascolib's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/4. Well written , interesting story. Would make a great movie
smbcpa1's review against another edition
4.0
Takes a while to get nto
My first Rushdie read, so I do not know how it compares to his other novels. There are a lot of words! I looked up a number of them. A first the story seemed disjointed. The ancient times, fast forward to apparently the early 21sf century. But then it all came together! I'm sure I missed a lot, but for the first time I actually highlighted some passages. .
My first Rushdie read, so I do not know how it compares to his other novels. There are a lot of words! I looked up a number of them. A first the story seemed disjointed. The ancient times, fast forward to apparently the early 21sf century. But then it all came together! I'm sure I missed a lot, but for the first time I actually highlighted some passages. .
eludemann's review
3.0
I think I liked the idea of this book more than the experience of actually reading it. It's creative, original, clever, and satisfying on many levels. It just didn't really have any emotional pull for me, though. Plus, I do love a good jinn book!
floydlove's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
zlizzyv's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
christynhoover's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was my first foray into Rushdie who (whom?) I have for some reason feared would be "too daunting". It wasn't. And I was not disappointed.
I listened to the audiobook so, as is often the case, much of it rushed past me --the philosophical, mythological, and theological discussions between characters in places. I would benefit from reading a hard copy.
I'll let Rushdie's characters speak in this passage from the Epilogue:
"...[A] world ruled by reason, tolerance, magnanimity, knowledge, and restraint....is the world in which we now live.... Fear did not, finally, drive people into the arms of God.... Instead, fear was overcome.... For hundreds of years now, this has been our good fortune, to inhabit the possibility for which [they] yearned: a peaceful civilized world, of hard work and respect for the land. A gardener's world, in which we all must cultivate our garden, understanding that to do so is not a defeat, as it was for Voltaire's poor Candide, but the victory of our better natures over the darkness within."
I listened to the audiobook so, as is often the case, much of it rushed past me --the philosophical, mythological, and theological discussions between characters in places. I would benefit from reading a hard copy.
I'll let Rushdie's characters speak in this passage from the Epilogue:
"...[A] world ruled by reason, tolerance, magnanimity, knowledge, and restraint....is the world in which we now live.... Fear did not, finally, drive people into the arms of God.... Instead, fear was overcome.... For hundreds of years now, this has been our good fortune, to inhabit the possibility for which [they] yearned: a peaceful civilized world, of hard work and respect for the land. A gardener's world, in which we all must cultivate our garden, understanding that to do so is not a defeat, as it was for Voltaire's poor Candide, but the victory of our better natures over the darkness within."
stacydodds's review
Did not enjoy the first chapters. I think reading Neil Garmin's American Gods just before this one influenced my opinion
mdodds11's review against another edition
2.0
Awesome premise, but couldn't get with the writing style.
christar_123's review
4.0
(should be 3.5 stars...but I'm feeling nice so I'm rounding up.) I almost didn't finish listening to this book....and then it got a lot better. In the beginning, I was annoyed by the choppy short story feel of it, and it didn't feel like it was going anywhere (I'm curious if I would have been as bothered by this if I was reading it rather than listening to the audio book). None of the characters appealed to me, and I really was annoyed that the one main character was called "Mr. Geronimo." I don't know why exactly, it just felt kind of forced and strange. I also disliked Dounia for letting her philosopher treat her so badly (not giving anything away, this is right in the beginning)!
The story picked up a lot during the second half, and by the end, I felt like the narrative was redeemed. And the end...Rushdie finally came through.
The story picked up a lot during the second half, and by the end, I felt like the narrative was redeemed. And the end...Rushdie finally came through.