Before Salman Rushdie had that problem with a certain religious-political figure with a serious need to chill out, he'd already shown he was an important literary force. Quite simply, Midnight's Children is amazing--fun, beautiful, erudite, both fairy tale and political narrative told through a supernatural narrator who is caught between different worlds. Though it's a big book, with big themes of India's nationhood and of ethnic and personal identity, it's far from a dry history lesson. Rushdie tells the story in his own brand of magical realism, with a prose of lyrical, transcendent goofiness.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Elaborate, intricate, all consuming - take the plunge., 19 Nov 2008
Be ready to plunge into a world where time, space, and reason, although present, take leaps and turns that make the reader question the story, the characters, and even the author. This is, however, what makes "The Enchantress of Florence" exquisite. "The Enchantress of Florence" is an elaborate embroidery in the making, the intricate image of which is not visible until the final stitch is sown.

In short, "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of the Mogor Dell'Amore and his story told to the Mughul Akbar. The story fans out encompassing Akbar's rule and house, the story of Mogor Dell'Amore's father in Florence, enchantresses in both the East and the West, and all things inbetween. This is a novel, where it is difficult to draw a line between facts and details grounded in history and those grounded in the corners of Salman Rushdie's mind.

I found the names of the characters a little difficult to memorize at times and had to flip back through the novel. There are many wonderful and thought provoking details in "The Enchantress of Florence" and these I find to be the jewels of the novel. "The Enchantress of Florence" is not an easy novel to read, it requires the plunge, but oh what a plunge.

Louise

Poignant and beautiful, 18 Nov 2008
This was my first Rushdie book, and I admit I was expecting some literary look-at-me gymnastics, using fifteen words when three would do. I was delighted that instead I was blown away by Rushdie's elegant and thoughtful construction. I have read many books that with hindsight seemed to want to be 'the new Rushdie', but the man himself is orders of magnitude better than any writer I've read in months. A beautifully woven tale about an all-powerful yet constantly thoughtful king, intrigued by the stories of a colourful foreigner.

Powerful women are seemingly a recurring theme in Rushdie novels, but I didn't really get a feel for that in this book; I doubt the Enchantress of the title would have found her way so easily had she not been a princess from a powerful family who also happened to be the most beautiful woman on earth. To be fair, the women and the men in the story were all fairly unrealistic, but all colourfully drawn and never less than intriguing.

This is a beguiling tale and anyone who likes language will be delighted with it. I will look for other Rushdie books after enjoying this one.

A flawed genius, 12 Oct 2008
Rushdie is a genius. His sentence structure is ornate. His knowledge of Eastern culture is deep in the extreme. The mental gymnastics required to weave complex story lines through and over each other is breathtaking. But is it a good read? Hardly. Having acquired the knowledge, no doubt through extensive research, he is like a schoolboy showing off a new conker. Each character has not one name but quite unnecessarily, three or four which he reels off casually with the obsession of an inveterate name dropper. It's like listening to a musician who has achieved the very pinnacle of ability in playing scales. It just isn't much fun to listen to and you wish they would play a melody instead. Despite a beautiful cover and an intriguing title, do yourself a favour, leave this book on the shelf and go and do something more interesting instead.

enchanting, 15 Sep 2008
It is a story in the confines of a fairytale and a language so poetic, that makes a wonderful book. I found Rushdie's style once again unmistakably elegant and unique, making him one of the best english writers of today.

Looking at some of the reviews, maybe this is not exactly the book for the common reader or the kind of book you want to read on your holidays. But I strongly recommend to anyone who really appreciates the art of writing, to give this one a try.

Totally Indulgent/unnecessary prose, 09 Sep 2008
This is the 3rd Salman Rushdie book I have read (Fury&Midnights Children) although I failed to finish it as I also failed with Midnights.
The reason is that he has this overly indulgent/elaborate use of phrases and prose as if to show off his command of the English Language and complexity of sentence construction.
While undoubtedely skilful in his use of flowery words it is often unenecesssary and actually becomes very tedious in the extreme suggesting some deep chip on his shoulder / insecurity. A real shame because a more secure Salman should be a genuine talent.

No book in modern times has matched the uproar sparked by Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, which earned its author a fatwa from Iran's Ayatollahs decreeing his death. Furore aside, it is a marvellously erudite study of good and evil, a feast of language served up by a writer at the height of his powers and a rollicking comic fable. The book begins with two Indians, Gibreel Farishta ("for fifteen years the biggest star in the history of the Indian movies") and Saladin Chamcha, a Bombay expatriate returning from his first visit to his homeland in 15 years, plummeting from the sky after the explosion of their jetliner, and proceeds through a series of metamorphoses, dreams and revelations. Rushdie's astonishing powers of invention are at their best in this Whitbread Prize winner.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Elaborate, intricate, all consuming - take the plunge., 19 Nov 2008
Be ready to plunge into a world where time, space, and reason, although present, take leaps and turns that make the reader question the story, the characters, and even the author. This is, however, what makes "The Enchantress of Florence" exquisite. "The Enchantress of Florence" is an elaborate embroidery in the making, the intricate image of which is not visible until the final stitch is sown.

In short, "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of the Mogor Dell'Amore and his story told to the Mughul Akbar. The story fans out encompassing Akbar's rule and house, the story of Mogor Dell'Amore's father in Florence, enchantresses in both the East and the West, and all things inbetween. This is a novel, where it is difficult to draw a line between facts and details grounded in history and those grounded in the corners of Salman Rushdie's mind.

I found the names of the characters a little difficult to memorize at times and had to flip back through the novel. There are many wonderful and thought provoking details in "The Enchantress of Florence" and these I find to be the jewels of the novel. "The Enchantress of Florence" is not an easy novel to read, it requires the plunge, but oh what a plunge.

Louise

Poignant and beautiful, 18 Nov 2008
This was my first Rushdie book, and I admit I was expecting some literary look-at-me gymnastics, using fifteen words when three would do. I was delighted that instead I was blown away by Rushdie's elegant and thoughtful construction. I have read many books that with hindsight seemed to want to be 'the new Rushdie', but the man himself is orders of magnitude better than any writer I've read in months. A beautifully woven tale about an all-powerful yet constantly thoughtful king, intrigued by the stories of a colourful foreigner.

Powerful women are seemingly a recurring theme in Rushdie novels, but I didn't really get a feel for that in this book; I doubt the Enchantress of the title would have found her way so easily had she not been a princess from a powerful family who also happened to be the most beautiful woman on earth. To be fair, the women and the men in the story were all fairly unrealistic, but all colourfully drawn and never less than intriguing.

This is a beguiling tale and anyone who likes language will be delighted with it. I will look for other Rushdie books after enjoying this one.

A flawed genius, 12 Oct 2008
Rushdie is a genius. His sentence structure is ornate. His knowledge of Eastern culture is deep in the extreme. The mental gymnastics required to weave complex story lines through and over each other is breathtaking. But is it a good read? Hardly. Having acquired the knowledge, no doubt through extensive research, he is like a schoolboy showing off a new conker. Each character has not one name but quite unnecessarily, three or four which he reels off casually with the obsession of an inveterate name dropper. It's like listening to a musician who has achieved the very pinnacle of ability in playing scales. It just isn't much fun to listen to and you wish they would play a melody instead. Despite a beautiful cover and an intriguing title, do yourself a favour, leave this book on the shelf and go and do something more interesting instead.

enchanting, 15 Sep 2008
It is a story in the confines of a fairytale and a language so poetic, that makes a wonderful book. I found Rushdie's style once again unmistakably elegant and unique, making him one of the best english writers of today.

Looking at some of the reviews, maybe this is not exactly the book for the common reader or the kind of book you want to read on your holidays. But I strongly recommend to anyone who really appreciates the art of writing, to give this one a try.

Totally Indulgent/unnecessary prose, 09 Sep 2008
This is the 3rd Salman Rushdie book I have read (Fury&Midnights Children) although I failed to finish it as I also failed with Midnights.
The reason is that he has this overly indulgent/elaborate use of phrases and prose as if to show off his command of the English Language and complexity of sentence construction.
While undoubtedely skilful in his use of flowery words it is often unenecesssary and actually becomes very tedious in the extreme suggesting some deep chip on his shoulder / insecurity. A real shame because a more secure Salman should be a genuine talent.

Satanic Verses, 13 Sep 2008
Without wishing to become embroiled in the controversy surrounding this book, there is no doubting the quality of the writing. This book has a strong fantasy element (not goblins and dragons, but rather events that wouldn't normally occur in the 'real' world) and I have to admit I found the first 150 pages or so slightly confusing, but once I got used to Rushdies style, and the storyline, I found the rest of the book to be completely engaging. Rushdie uses very descriptive language and there are some beautiful phrases littered throughout this book which really highlight particular passages and make you stop to read them again. The story is original and quirky and I enjoyed reading a book i've heard so much about but have never read up until now. Although it is confusing at times, I'd say the beautiful and elegant prose more than compensates for this and perseverance is recommended. A good book that is worth a read at some point in your life.

Wonderfully written and a joy to read, 24 Jul 2008
Over the English Channel, a hi-jacked airliner explodes leaving two survivors clinging to each other as they fall. One gains a halo while the other grows horns and goat legs, acting out the ancient battle between good and evil again; but which is which?

This is a very complex book, with many interwoven themes: love, belonging and betrayal being the central ones. Different people will get many different things out of it, but what struck a chord with me was the issues of belonging, and the difficulties of standing between cultures, since this is something I feel on a day-to-day basis.

I also loved the language of the book. Rushdie has a wonderful gift for words and it was a pleasure to let the words drift over you. It also captured, for me, the voice of Indian literature. It does sound like an authentic mix of cosmopolitan English and Hindi; while Rushdie wasn't the first Indian writer to write in English and add a twist of Indian colloquialism, he has certainly mastered the art. Like its predecessor, Midnight's Children, I can't recommend this book enough.

Disappointed... :(, 14 Jun 2008
I bought The Satanic Verses for many different reasons.... the main one being to see why there was so much contorversy surrounding the book....

Even though the book in my opinion was very cleverly written with highly intriguing characters, I don't know, I just didn't enjoy the book. Whilst reading the book I was disappointed as I thought it would offer me more than what it did, which was hardly anything. As a Muslim, I wasn't as offended as others because I thought the book was a higly imaginative work of fiction. I found the characters in the book very intriguing and completely fell in love with the characters of the young teenage girls as I thought they were hilarious and correctly portrayed young teenagers. I liked the cross of cultures and the surreality of certain aspects of the text. I thought the idea of good and bad, and what is really good and bad very intelligent and also thought provoking. But even then, I just didn't enjoy the book. Maybe it was because the text was so small... maybe because there was too much imagery, maybe because it just didn't have that little something in it for me.

I see a lot of mixed reaction to this book, which is good as not everyones opinion is the same, but for me: the book was very intelligent but I just didn't enjoy it.

I do recommend it however, to most people. As its one of those books that everyone should read and draw their own opinions of. I need to read his other books to compare them against this one.

Not very helpful as a review I know. Sorry. I'm just torn bewteen my opinions of this book.

ENTERTAINING, MEMORABLE AND WELL WORTH THE EFFORT, 28 Apr 2008
Definitely hard-going - after reading `The Angel Gibreel', I returned straight to the beginning and re-read so as to truly feel I was in the story - but, ultimately, worth the effort. This is a book that requires active engagement with its material and, that being the case, will leave images and thoughts in your mind long after the final page is read.

The dream sequences, while entertaining as (almost) stand-alone pieces, are woven into a similarly entertaining and dream-like narrative. Each section entertains and provokes, and each section has its own story to tell. Piece those elements together and you have very good, almost great, novel.

`Almost' due to the pace and/or length of `Ellowen Deeowen'. However, that leaves another eight sections that more than make up for that draggy third section so, if you're thinking of reading it - which is probably why you're reading these reviews - then all I can say is `highly recommended'.

NB: Don't read it if you're looking for an overt diss on Islam or religion in general though. It's a meditative piece that highlights a number of issues relating to conflict between the secular and the religious. It's about identity and not about insult.


The biggest load of crap I have ever read!, 20 Mar 2008
Satanic Verses is quite frankly the biggest load of crap I have ever had the misfortune to read. Salman Rushdie is both a terrible and untalented writer (maybe the worst I have ever read), who has serious emotional problems. If it wasn't for his attack and attempted satire of Islam, making for a controversial topic, he would never have been recognised as a writer, let alone receive a knighthood for his literary services! With strange twisted plots, far too many characters and the akward writing style, I struggled to find the motivation to continue on to the end of this novel. Should you own a copy - rip it into thousands of pieces, burn it, use it for wiping your bottom next time you run out of toilet paper (you choose) - but whatever you do, don't waste your precious time reading this trash! If you are looking for a great read, by a brilliant writer though, do read 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' or 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini.

Before Salman Rushdie had that problem with a certain religious-political figure with a serious need to chill out, he'd already shown he was an important literary force. Quite simply, Midnight's Children is amazing--fun, beautiful, erudite, both fairy tale and political narrative told through a supernatural narrator who is caught between different worlds. Though it's a big book, with big themes of India's nationhood and of ethnic and personal identity, it's far from a dry history lesson. Rushdie tells the story in his own brand of magical realism, with a prose of lyrical, transcendent goofiness.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Elaborate, intricate, all consuming - take the plunge., 19 Nov 2008
Be ready to plunge into a world where time, space, and reason, although present, take leaps and turns that make the reader question the story, the characters, and even the author. This is, however, what makes "The Enchantress of Florence" exquisite. "The Enchantress of Florence" is an elaborate embroidery in the making, the intricate image of which is not visible until the final stitch is sown.

In short, "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of the Mogor Dell'Amore and his story told to the Mughul Akbar. The story fans out encompassing Akbar's rule and house, the story of Mogor Dell'Amore's father in Florence, enchantresses in both the East and the West, and all things inbetween. This is a novel, where it is difficult to draw a line between facts and details grounded in history and those grounded in the corners of Salman Rushdie's mind.

I found the names of the characters a little difficult to memorize at times and had to flip back through the novel. There are many wonderful and thought provoking details in "The Enchantress of Florence" and these I find to be the jewels of the novel. "The Enchantress of Florence" is not an easy novel to read, it requires the plunge, but oh what a plunge.

Louise

Poignant and beautiful, 18 Nov 2008
This was my first Rushdie book, and I admit I was expecting some literary look-at-me gymnastics, using fifteen words when three would do. I was delighted that instead I was blown away by Rushdie's elegant and thoughtful construction. I have read many books that with hindsight seemed to want to be 'the new Rushdie', but the man himself is orders of magnitude better than any writer I've read in months. A beautifully woven tale about an all-powerful yet constantly thoughtful king, intrigued by the stories of a colourful foreigner.

Powerful women are seemingly a recurring theme in Rushdie novels, but I didn't really get a feel for that in this book; I doubt the Enchantress of the title would have found her way so easily had she not been a princess from a powerful family who also happened to be the most beautiful woman on earth. To be fair, the women and the men in the story were all fairly unrealistic, but all colourfully drawn and never less than intriguing.

This is a beguiling tale and anyone who likes language will be delighted with it. I will look for other Rushdie books after enjoying this one.

A flawed genius, 12 Oct 2008
Rushdie is a genius. His sentence structure is ornate. His knowledge of Eastern culture is deep in the extreme. The mental gymnastics required to weave complex story lines through and over each other is breathtaking. But is it a good read? Hardly. Having acquired the knowledge, no doubt through extensive research, he is like a schoolboy showing off a new conker. Each character has not one name but quite unnecessarily, three or four which he reels off casually with the obsession of an inveterate name dropper. It's like listening to a musician who has achieved the very pinnacle of ability in playing scales. It just isn't much fun to listen to and you wish they would play a melody instead. Despite a beautiful cover and an intriguing title, do yourself a favour, leave this book on the shelf and go and do something more interesting instead.

enchanting, 15 Sep 2008
It is a story in the confines of a fairytale and a language so poetic, that makes a wonderful book. I found Rushdie's style once again unmistakably elegant and unique, making him one of the best english writers of today.

Looking at some of the reviews, maybe this is not exactly the book for the common reader or the kind of book you want to read on your holidays. But I strongly recommend to anyone who really appreciates the art of writing, to give this one a try.

Totally Indulgent/unnecessary prose, 09 Sep 2008
This is the 3rd Salman Rushdie book I have read (Fury&Midnights Children) although I failed to finish it as I also failed with Midnights.
The reason is that he has this overly indulgent/elaborate use of phrases and prose as if to show off his command of the English Language and complexity of sentence construction.
While undoubtedely skilful in his use of flowery words it is often unenecesssary and actually becomes very tedious in the extreme suggesting some deep chip on his shoulder / insecurity. A real shame because a more secure Salman should be a genuine talent.

Satanic Verses, 13 Sep 2008
Without wishing to become embroiled in the controversy surrounding this book, there is no doubting the quality of the writing. This book has a strong fantasy element (not goblins and dragons, but rather events that wouldn't normally occur in the 'real' world) and I have to admit I found the first 150 pages or so slightly confusing, but once I got used to Rushdies style, and the storyline, I found the rest of the book to be completely engaging. Rushdie uses very descriptive language and there are some beautiful phrases littered throughout this book which really highlight particular passages and make you stop to read them again. The story is original and quirky and I enjoyed reading a book i've heard so much about but have never read up until now. Although it is confusing at times, I'd say the beautiful and elegant prose more than compensates for this and perseverance is recommended. A good book that is worth a read at some point in your life.

Wonderfully written and a joy to read, 24 Jul 2008
Over the English Channel, a hi-jacked airliner explodes leaving two survivors clinging to each other as they fall. One gains a halo while the other grows horns and goat legs, acting out the ancient battle between good and evil again; but which is which?

This is a very complex book, with many interwoven themes: love, belonging and betrayal being the central ones. Different people will get many different things out of it, but what struck a chord with me was the issues of belonging, and the difficulties of standing between cultures, since this is something I feel on a day-to-day basis.

I also loved the language of the book. Rushdie has a wonderful gift for words and it was a pleasure to let the words drift over you. It also captured, for me, the voice of Indian literature. It does sound like an authentic mix of cosmopolitan English and Hindi; while Rushdie wasn't the first Indian writer to write in English and add a twist of Indian colloquialism, he has certainly mastered the art. Like its predecessor, Midnight's Children, I can't recommend this book enough.

Disappointed... :(, 14 Jun 2008
I bought The Satanic Verses for many different reasons.... the main one being to see why there was so much contorversy surrounding the book....

Even though the book in my opinion was very cleverly written with highly intriguing characters, I don't know, I just didn't enjoy the book. Whilst reading the book I was disappointed as I thought it would offer me more than what it did, which was hardly anything. As a Muslim, I wasn't as offended as others because I thought the book was a higly imaginative work of fiction. I found the characters in the book very intriguing and completely fell in love with the characters of the young teenage girls as I thought they were hilarious and correctly portrayed young teenagers. I liked the cross of cultures and the surreality of certain aspects of the text. I thought the idea of good and bad, and what is really good and bad very intelligent and also thought provoking. But even then, I just didn't enjoy the book. Maybe it was because the text was so small... maybe because there was too much imagery, maybe because it just didn't have that little something in it for me.

I see a lot of mixed reaction to this book, which is good as not everyones opinion is the same, but for me: the book was very intelligent but I just didn't enjoy it.

I do recommend it however, to most people. As its one of those books that everyone should read and draw their own opinions of. I need to read his other books to compare them against this one.

Not very helpful as a review I know. Sorry. I'm just torn bewteen my opinions of this book.

ENTERTAINING, MEMORABLE AND WELL WORTH THE EFFORT, 28 Apr 2008
Definitely hard-going - after reading `The Angel Gibreel', I returned straight to the beginning and re-read so as to truly feel I was in the story - but, ultimately, worth the effort. This is a book that requires active engagement with its material and, that being the case, will leave images and thoughts in your mind long after the final page is read.

The dream sequences, while entertaining as (almost) stand-alone pieces, are woven into a similarly entertaining and dream-like narrative. Each section entertains and provokes, and each section has its own story to tell. Piece those elements together and you have very good, almost great, novel.

`Almost' due to the pace and/or length of `Ellowen Deeowen'. However, that leaves another eight sections that more than make up for that draggy third section so, if you're thinking of reading it - which is probably why you're reading these reviews - then all I can say is `highly recommended'.

NB: Don't read it if you're looking for an overt diss on Islam or religion in general though. It's a meditative piece that highlights a number of issues relating to conflict between the secular and the religious. It's about identity and not about insult.


The biggest load of crap I have ever read!, 20 Mar 2008
Satanic Verses is quite frankly the biggest load of crap I have ever had the misfortune to read. Salman Rushdie is both a terrible and untalented writer (maybe the worst I have ever read), who has serious emotional problems. If it wasn't for his attack and attempted satire of Islam, making for a controversial topic, he would never have been recognised as a writer, let alone receive a knighthood for his literary services! With strange twisted plots, far too many characters and the akward writing style, I struggled to find the motivation to continue on to the end of this novel. Should you own a copy - rip it into thousands of pieces, burn it, use it for wiping your bottom next time you run out of toilet paper (you choose) - but whatever you do, don't waste your precious time reading this trash! If you are looking for a great read, by a brilliant writer though, do read 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' or 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Salman Rushdie is one of the best contemporary writers of fables and parables, from any culture. Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a delightful tale about a storyteller who loses his skill and a struggle against mysterious forces attempting to block the seas of inspiration from which all stories are derived.

Here's a representative passage about the sources and power of inspiration.

So If the water genie told Haroun about the Ocean of the Stream of Stories, and even though he was full of a sense of hopelessness and failure the magic of the Ocean began to have an effect on Haroun. He looked into the water and saw that it was made up of a thousand thousand thousand and one different currents, each one a different colour, weaving in and out of one another like a liquid tapestry of breathtaking complexity; and Iff explained that these were the Streams of Story, that each coloured strand represented and contained a single tale. Different parts of the Ocean contained different sorts of stories, and as all the stories that had ever been told and many that were still in the process of being invented could be found here, the Ocean of the Streams of Story was in fact the biggest library in the universe. And because the stories were held here in fluid form, they retained the ability to change, to become new versions of themselves, to join up with other stories and so become yet other stories; so that unlike a library of books, the Ocean of the Streams of Story was much more than a storeroom of yarns. It was not dead, but alive. "And if you are very, very careful, or very, very highly skilled, you can dip a cup into the Ocean," Iff told Haroun, "like so," and here he produced a little golden cup from another of his waistcoat pockets, "and you can fill it with water from a single, pure Stream of Story, like so," as he did precisely that...

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Elaborate, intricate, all consuming - take the plunge., 19 Nov 2008
Be ready to plunge into a world where time, space, and reason, although present, take leaps and turns that make the reader question the story, the characters, and even the author. This is, however, what makes "The Enchantress of Florence" exquisite. "The Enchantress of Florence" is an elaborate embroidery in the making, the intricate image of which is not visible until the final stitch is sown.

In short, "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of the Mogor Dell'Amore and his story told to the Mughul Akbar. The story fans out encompassing Akbar's rule and house, the story of Mogor Dell'Amore's father in Florence, enchantresses in both the East and the West, and all things inbetween. This is a novel, where it is difficult to draw a line between facts and details grounded in history and those grounded in the corners of Salman Rushdie's mind.

I found the names of the characters a little difficult to memorize at times and had to flip back through the novel. There are many wonderful and thought provoking details in "The Enchantress of Florence" and these I find to be the jewels of the novel. "The Enchantress of Florence" is not an easy novel to read, it requires the plunge, but oh what a plunge.

Louise

Poignant and beautiful, 18 Nov 2008
This was my first Rushdie book, and I admit I was expecting some literary look-at-me gymnastics, using fifteen words when three would do. I was delighted that instead I was blown away by Rushdie's elegant and thoughtful construction. I have read many books that with hindsight seemed to want to be 'the new Rushdie', but the man himself is orders of magnitude better than any writer I've read in months. A beautifully woven tale about an all-powerful yet constantly thoughtful king, intrigued by the stories of a colourful foreigner.

Powerful women are seemingly a recurring theme in Rushdie novels, but I didn't really get a feel for that in this book; I doubt the Enchantress of the title would have found her way so easily had she not been a princess from a powerful family who also happened to be the most beautiful woman on earth. To be fair, the women and the men in the story were all fairly unrealistic, but all colourfully drawn and never less than intriguing.

This is a beguiling tale and anyone who likes language will be delighted with it. I will look for other Rushdie books after enjoying this one.

A flawed genius, 12 Oct 2008
Rushdie is a genius. His sentence structure is ornate. His knowledge of Eastern culture is deep in the extreme. The mental gymnastics required to weave complex story lines through and over each other is breathtaking. But is it a good read? Hardly. Having acquired the knowledge, no doubt through extensive research, he is like a schoolboy showing off a new conker. Each character has not one name but quite unnecessarily, three or four which he reels off casually with the obsession of an inveterate name dropper. It's like listening to a musician who has achieved the very pinnacle of ability in playing scales. It just isn't much fun to listen to and you wish they would play a melody instead. Despite a beautiful cover and an intriguing title, do yourself a favour, leave this book on the shelf and go and do something more interesting instead.

enchanting, 15 Sep 2008
It is a story in the confines of a fairytale and a language so poetic, that makes a wonderful book. I found Rushdie's style once again unmistakably elegant and unique, making him one of the best english writers of today.

Looking at some of the reviews, maybe this is not exactly the book for the common reader or the kind of book you want to read on your holidays. But I strongly recommend to anyone who really appreciates the art of writing, to give this one a try.

Totally Indulgent/unnecessary prose, 09 Sep 2008
This is the 3rd Salman Rushdie book I have read (Fury&Midnights Children) although I failed to finish it as I also failed with Midnights.
The reason is that he has this overly indulgent/elaborate use of phrases and prose as if to show off his command of the English Language and complexity of sentence construction.
While undoubtedely skilful in his use of flowery words it is often unenecesssary and actually becomes very tedious in the extreme suggesting some deep chip on his shoulder / insecurity. A real shame because a more secure Salman should be a genuine talent.

Satanic Verses, 13 Sep 2008
Without wishing to become embroiled in the controversy surrounding this book, there is no doubting the quality of the writing. This book has a strong fantasy element (not goblins and dragons, but rather events that wouldn't normally occur in the 'real' world) and I have to admit I found the first 150 pages or so slightly confusing, but once I got used to Rushdies style, and the storyline, I found the rest of the book to be completely engaging. Rushdie uses very descriptive language and there are some beautiful phrases littered throughout this book which really highlight particular passages and make you stop to read them again. The story is original and quirky and I enjoyed reading a book i've heard so much about but have never read up until now. Although it is confusing at times, I'd say the beautiful and elegant prose more than compensates for this and perseverance is recommended. A good book that is worth a read at some point in your life.

Wonderfully written and a joy to read, 24 Jul 2008
Over the English Channel, a hi-jacked airliner explodes leaving two survivors clinging to each other as they fall. One gains a halo while the other grows horns and goat legs, acting out the ancient battle between good and evil again; but which is which?

This is a very complex book, with many interwoven themes: love, belonging and betrayal being the central ones. Different people will get many different things out of it, but what struck a chord with me was the issues of belonging, and the difficulties of standing between cultures, since this is something I feel on a day-to-day basis.

I also loved the language of the book. Rushdie has a wonderful gift for words and it was a pleasure to let the words drift over you. It also captured, for me, the voice of Indian literature. It does sound like an authentic mix of cosmopolitan English and Hindi; while Rushdie wasn't the first Indian writer to write in English and add a twist of Indian colloquialism, he has certainly mastered the art. Like its predecessor, Midnight's Children, I can't recommend this book enough.

Disappointed... :(, 14 Jun 2008
I bought The Satanic Verses for many different reasons.... the main one being to see why there was so much contorversy surrounding the book....

Even though the book in my opinion was very cleverly written with highly intriguing characters, I don't know, I just didn't enjoy the book. Whilst reading the book I was disappointed as I thought it would offer me more than what it did, which was hardly anything. As a Muslim, I wasn't as offended as others because I thought the book was a higly imaginative work of fiction. I found the characters in the book very intriguing and completely fell in love with the characters of the young teenage girls as I thought they were hilarious and correctly portrayed young teenagers. I liked the cross of cultures and the surreality of certain aspects of the text. I thought the idea of good and bad, and what is really good and bad very intelligent and also thought provoking. But even then, I just didn't enjoy the book. Maybe it was because the text was so small... maybe because there was too much imagery, maybe because it just didn't have that little something in it for me.

I see a lot of mixed reaction to this book, which is good as not everyones opinion is the same, but for me: the book was very intelligent but I just didn't enjoy it.

I do recommend it however, to most people. As its one of those books that everyone should read and draw their own opinions of. I need to read his other books to compare them against this one.

Not very helpful as a review I know. Sorry. I'm just torn bewteen my opinions of this book.

ENTERTAINING, MEMORABLE AND WELL WORTH THE EFFORT, 28 Apr 2008
Definitely hard-going - after reading `The Angel Gibreel', I returned straight to the beginning and re-read so as to truly feel I was in the story - but, ultimately, worth the effort. This is a book that requires active engagement with its material and, that being the case, will leave images and thoughts in your mind long after the final page is read.

The dream sequences, while entertaining as (almost) stand-alone pieces, are woven into a similarly entertaining and dream-like narrative. Each section entertains and provokes, and each section has its own story to tell. Piece those elements together and you have very good, almost great, novel.

`Almost' due to the pace and/or length of `Ellowen Deeowen'. However, that leaves another eight sections that more than make up for that draggy third section so, if you're thinking of reading it - which is probably why you're reading these reviews - then all I can say is `highly recommended'.

NB: Don't read it if you're looking for an overt diss on Islam or religion in general though. It's a meditative piece that highlights a number of issues relating to conflict between the secular and the religious. It's about identity and not about insult.


The biggest load of crap I have ever read!, 20 Mar 2008
Satanic Verses is quite frankly the biggest load of crap I have ever had the misfortune to read. Salman Rushdie is both a terrible and untalented writer (maybe the worst I have ever read), who has serious emotional problems. If it wasn't for his attack and attempted satire of Islam, making for a controversial topic, he would never have been recognised as a writer, let alone receive a knighthood for his literary services! With strange twisted plots, far too many characters and the akward writing style, I struggled to find the motivation to continue on to the end of this novel. Should you own a copy - rip it into thousands of pieces, burn it, use it for wiping your bottom next time you run out of toilet paper (you choose) - but whatever you do, don't waste your precious time reading this trash! If you are looking for a great read, by a brilliant writer though, do read 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' or 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Delightful, 18 Nov 2007
I have just read this book as part of my degree and all I can say is I wish i read it sooner. It was brilliant. If I am ever asked where stories come from this book will be my answer. An absolute must for both adults and children!

What is the use of stories that aren't even true?, 12 Oct 2007
Have you read "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" by Salmon Rushdie? Better you have! Or else, I should cut off your eyes, have them sauteed in a little butter and garlic, and served to the hounds. Is it not the best beginning for a review of the wonderful book? Don't be afraid, it was just the words of the book's antihero. Still you'd better read the story. You are guaranteed to be glued to the book as the author has readers right in the palm of his hand. "Haroun" is an absolute gem, a wonder of wonders, a miracle of miracles! It's the most beautiful ode to "the Power of speech, the greatest Power of all". And more than that, it will keep setting you off laughing till the last page.
First of all, a few words about the plot. It centers around Haroun, son of the storyteller, who lives in so sad a city that it has forgotten its name. One day he sets off to Kahani, the undiscovered Earth's moon, to return his father's imagination and gift of the gab. An interesting place this Kahani is. It's divided into two parts. The first is the Land of Gup, where the sun never goes down. Its people are in charge of the Ocean of Stories. The second is the Land of Chup, where it is perpetual night. Its leader, the Cultmaster Khattam-Shud, is the Arch-enemy of all Stories and even the language itself. He plans to poison the Ocean of Stories, take over power and put the whole Land of Kahani into silence. Haroun is destined to ruin this plan and to save the people of Gup from Khattam-Shud. So great matters are afoot.
At first glance you might think that it's an ordinary fairy tale at the end of which good defeats evil and light wins a victory over darkness. But on second thought you'll discover that it is not as simple as that. Good is not always good and darkness has its fascinations, mystery and romance. If you are a philosopher by nature, you'll enjoy the novel as it is rolling in allegories and philosophical questions. The author gives many interesting answers to the key question of the book "What is the use of stories that aren't even true?" But it's up to you to decide which answer is right and whether this particular story is untrue.
Even if you are not a philosopher, the novel is worth reading. Whoever you are, you are guaranteed to find some ideas appealing to you. If you are a pacifist, you'll enjoy the beautiful trick by which the author makes war look very foolish. You wonder what it is. I'll tell you the secret. He makes his characters wear nosewarmers to prevent them from growing icicles on their faces in the cold Land of Chup. And hey presto! It turns out to be a war between buffoons, senseless and comic at the same time.
You consider yourself to be a democrat, don't you? Then you'll be fascinated by the state structure of the Land of Gup with its freedom of speech as the main value. Even the army of Gup is not an exception. Every order of commanders is thoroughly discussed and heatedly debated by ordinary solders.
If you are an antiroyalist, you'll laugh till your sides ache, reading descriptions of the members of the royal family of Gup. Prince Bolo is utterly useless as a state figure. His subjects don't take him seriously. He is not trusted to decide anything as far as state affairs are concerned for he behaves like a complete idiot. Furthermore, he is not able to head the war to save his princess as he is scared out of his pants at the first moment of danger. The Princess Batcheat, who is captured by the Khattam-Shud, appears to be a character completely unfitting to be saved. More than that, it seems that her capturers would be glad to return her as her caterwauling mouth and singing split the eardrums of everyone who happens to be nearby. In addition, the princess is no oil painting so that even horses whinny with horror at her name. But of course, it's not her fault, so we don't need to go on.
Are you not a feminist by any chance? If so, you'll definitely find the antidiscrimination tirades of the female page Blabbermouth appealing to you. She has to conceal her gender to be a royal page. But she is the bravest of the bravest and in the end she proves her right to be treated equally with men.
If you can't join the abovementioned groups, then just enjoy the happy ending. Love is supposed to conquer all, although it can also be a very foolish thing.




Wonderful but a word of caution!, 10 May 2007
I encountered this book during my degree and at first I was dismissive because it was a children's book and because of the political trouble that still surrounds Rushdie. However, I quickly changed my mind. I found it to be very refreshing and truly stands out, not only for children's literature but also adult literature. This does not mean, however, that his poltical viewpoints are not there, they are obscured by the context of the story. The volcabulary I found to be wonderful - I learnt a few new words myself! but not so difficult as to get in the way of plot. Above all it is about the wonder of the imagination and the power of language to change the world in which we live, power of father and son, and domestic redemption. If you give this story a chance you will be rewarded. However, a word of caution to parents: if you are separated from your partner/divorced this may give you children hope that you will get back together and if you are not ready to deal with questions from your children I advise you do not purchase this book.

Lots of fun, 12 Sep 2006
Plenty of fun to be had in this tale of a storyteller and his son. Rushdie imagines a world of light and dark, noise and silence, with some memorable characters and places. It's all done with great imagination and no small wit - reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Really, it's a children's storybook, but with plenty to keep the adults entertained as well.

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!, 04 Oct 2005
With Haroun Rusdie is amazing. A book of literature of words meant to excite, entertain, endear and enthuse the reader. A book written for children on the surface, a story which children should be thoroughly entertained by, but also a story that has the capacity to grasp the heart, soul - every fibre of the being of any person of any age and provide a fantastically vibrant read. Definitely read this book, along side the story being amazing it is highly literate, clever and insightful, amusing, plus a whole list of words and descriptions that could go on for a very long time, enough words possibly to fill the ocean....

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Elaborate, intricate, all consuming - take the plunge., 19 Nov 2008
Be ready to plunge into a world where time, space, and reason, although present, take leaps and turns that make the reader question the story, the characters, and even the author. This is, however, what makes "The Enchantress of Florence" exquisite. "The Enchantress of Florence" is an elaborate embroidery in the making, the intricate image of which is not visible until the final stitch is sown.

In short, "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of the Mogor Dell'Amore and his story told to the Mughul Akbar. The story fans out encompassing Akbar's rule and house, the story of Mogor Dell'Amore's father in Florence, enchantresses in both the East and the West, and all things inbetween. This is a novel, where it is difficult to draw a line between facts and details grounded in history and those grounded in the corners of Salman Rushdie's mind.

I found the names of the characters a little difficult to memorize at times and had to flip back through the novel. There are many wonderful and thought provoking details in "The Enchantress of Florence" and these I find to be the jewels of the novel. "The Enchantress of Florence" is not an easy novel to read, it requires the plunge, but oh what a plunge.

Louise

Poignant and beautiful, 18 Nov 2008
This was my first Rushdie book, and I admit I was expecting some literary look-at-me gymnastics, using fifteen words when three would do. I was delighted that instead I was blown away by Rushdie's elegant and thoughtful construction. I have read many books that with hindsight seemed to want to be 'the new Rushdie', but the man himself is orders of magnitude better than any writer I've read in months. A beautifully woven tale about an all-powerful yet constantly thoughtful king, intrigued by the stories of a colourful foreigner.

Powerful women are seemingly a recurring theme in Rushdie novels, but I didn't really get a feel for that in this book; I doubt the Enchantress of the title would have found her way so easily had she not been a princess from a powerful family who also happened to be the most beautiful woman on earth. To be fair, the women and the men in the story were all fairly unrealistic, but all colourfully drawn and never less than intriguing.

This is a beguiling tale and anyone who likes language will be delighted with it. I will look for other Rushdie books after enjoying this one.

A flawed genius, 12 Oct 2008
Rushdie is a genius. His sentence structure is ornate. His knowledge of Eastern culture is deep in the extreme. The mental gymnastics required to weave complex story lines through and over each other is breathtaking. But is it a good read? Hardly. Having acquired the knowledge, no doubt through extensive research, he is like a schoolboy showing off a new conker. Each character has not one name but quite unnecessarily, three or four which he reels off casually with the obsession of an inveterate name dropper. It's like listening to a musician who has achieved the very pinnacle of ability in playing scales. It just isn't much fun to listen to and you wish they would play a melody instead. Despite a beautiful cover and an intriguing title, do yourself a favour, leave this book on the shelf and go and do something more interesting instead.

enchanting, 15 Sep 2008
It is a story in the confines of a fairytale and a language so poetic, that makes a wonderful book. I found Rushdie's style once again unmistakably elegant and unique, making him one of the best english writers of today.

Looking at some of the reviews, maybe this is not exactly the book for the common reader or the kind of book you want to read on your holidays. But I strongly recommend to anyone who really appreciates the art of writing, to give this one a try.

Totally Indulgent/unnecessary prose, 09 Sep 2008
This is the 3rd Salman Rushdie book I have read (Fury&Midnights Children) although I failed to finish it as I also failed with Midnights.
The reason is that he has this overly indulgent/elaborate use of phrases and prose as if to show off his command of the English Language and complexity of sentence construction.
While undoubtedely skilful in his use of flowery words it is often unenecesssary and actually becomes very tedious in the extreme suggesting some deep chip on his shoulder / insecurity. A real shame because a more secure Salman should be a genuine talent.

Satanic Verses, 13 Sep 2008
Without wishing to become embroiled in the controversy surrounding this book, there is no doubting the quality of the writing. This book has a strong fantasy element (not goblins and dragons, but rather events that wouldn't normally occur in the 'real' world) and I have to admit I found the first 150 pages or so slightly confusing, but once I got used to Rushdies style, and the storyline, I found the rest of the book to be completely engaging. Rushdie uses very descriptive language and there are some beautiful phrases littered throughout this book which really highlight particular passages and make you stop to read them again. The story is original and quirky and I enjoyed reading a book i've heard so much about but have never read up until now. Although it is confusing at times, I'd say the beautiful and elegant prose more than compensates for this and perseverance is recommended. A good book that is worth a read at some point in your life.

Wonderfully written and a joy to read, 24 Jul 2008
Over the English Channel, a hi-jacked airliner explodes leaving two survivors clinging to each other as they fall. One gains a halo while the other grows horns and goat legs, acting out the ancient battle between good and evil again; but which is which?

This is a very complex book, with many interwoven themes: love, belonging and betrayal being the central ones. Different people will get many different things out of it, but what struck a chord with me was the issues of belonging, and the difficulties of standing between cultures, since this is something I feel on a day-to-day basis.

I also loved the language of the book. Rushdie has a wonderful gift for words and it was a pleasure to let the words drift over you. It also captured, for me, the voice of Indian literature. It does sound like an authentic mix of cosmopolitan English and Hindi; while Rushdie wasn't the first Indian writer to write in English and add a twist of Indian colloquialism, he has certainly mastered the art. Like its predecessor, Midnight's Children, I can't recommend this book enough.

Disappointed... :(, 14 Jun 2008
I bought The Satanic Verses for many different reasons.... the main one being to see why there was so much contorversy surrounding the book....

Even though the book in my opinion was very cleverly written with highly intriguing characters, I don't know, I just didn't enjoy the book. Whilst reading the book I was disappointed as I thought it would offer me more than what it did, which was hardly anything. As a Muslim, I wasn't as offended as others because I thought the book was a higly imaginative work of fiction. I found the characters in the book very intriguing and completely fell in love with the characters of the young teenage girls as I thought they were hilarious and correctly portrayed young teenagers. I liked the cross of cultures and the surreality of certain aspects of the text. I thought the idea of good and bad, and what is really good and bad very intelligent and also thought provoking. But even then, I just didn't enjoy the book. Maybe it was because the text was so small... maybe because there was too much imagery, maybe because it just didn't have that little something in it for me.

I see a lot of mixed reaction to this book, which is good as not everyones opinion is the same, but for me: the book was very intelligent but I just didn't enjoy it.

I do recommend it however, to most people. As its one of those books that everyone should read and draw their own opinions of. I need to read his other books to compare them against this one.

Not very helpful as a review I know. Sorry. I'm just torn bewteen my opinions of this book.

ENTERTAINING, MEMORABLE AND WELL WORTH THE EFFORT, 28 Apr 2008
Definitely hard-going - after reading `The Angel Gibreel', I returned straight to the beginning and re-read so as to truly feel I was in the story - but, ultimately, worth the effort. This is a book that requires active engagement with its material and, that being the case, will leave images and thoughts in your mind long after the final page is read.

The dream sequences, while entertaining as (almost) stand-alone pieces, are woven into a similarly entertaining and dream-like narrative. Each section entertains and provokes, and each section has its own story to tell. Piece those elements together and you have very good, almost great, novel.

`Almost' due to the pace and/or length of `Ellowen Deeowen'. However, that leaves another eight sections that more than make up for that draggy third section so, if you're thinking of reading it - which is probably why you're reading these reviews - then all I can say is `highly recommended'.

NB: Don't read it if you're looking for an overt diss on Islam or religion in general though. It's a meditative piece that highlights a number of issues relating to conflict between the secular and the religious. It's about identity and not about insult.


The biggest load of crap I have ever read!, 20 Mar 2008
Satanic Verses is quite frankly the biggest load of crap I have ever had the misfortune to read. Salman Rushdie is both a terrible and untalented writer (maybe the worst I have ever read), who has serious emotional problems. If it wasn't for his attack and attempted satire of Islam, making for a controversial topic, he would never have been recognised as a writer, let alone receive a knighthood for his literary services! With strange twisted plots, far too many characters and the akward writing style, I struggled to find the motivation to continue on to the end of this novel. Should you own a copy - rip it into thousands of pieces, burn it, use it for wiping your bottom next time you run out of toilet paper (you choose) - but whatever you do, don't waste your precious time reading this trash! If you are looking for a great read, by a brilliant writer though, do read 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' or 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini.

Disappointing and dull, 18 Sep 2008
It's hard to live up to the "Booker of Bookers" tag but this comes nowhere near. Rushdie can write: bursts of compelling narrative display that. Unfortunately the whole story is trussed up in that clever "flash-back", "flash-forward" conceit which eventually bored me. No, I didn't finish it. I got a little further than I did with Ulysses, but eventually hurled this into the same Pseud Bin.
I've read somewhere that the author intends the time switching to be like the digressions of an oral storyteller but I think that's like trying to capture ballet in a poem or the moon in a bucket. The device is overused and tiresome. Want a Third World Magic Realism Family Saga? try "House of the Spirits".

An important, and dare I say enjoyable read, 20 Aug 2008
Whatever controversies arise from Rushdie one cannot but marvel at the depths of his imagination. Midnight's Children whilst containing some of the most beautiful language and imagery is no easy read. As with most Rushdie novels we venture into the world of magic realism and we witness the life of a child born on the stroke of midnight hour when Nehru announces the "tryst with dynasty". Born with special powers Saleem is witness through the whirlwind of events that make up India's first thirty years and we see his attempted interfering. Again with Rushdie's novels we're unable to sympathise with any of the characters but nevertheless the strength of the writing keeps us plodding through.

The emporer's new clothes...., 18 Aug 2008
Having read and enjoyed many of the finest authors of the 19th & 20th century (including many Indian authors) I felt I had to explore Rushdie. What a mistake - pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap.

Comment on previous review, 12 Aug 2008
I would not usually indulge in a review. It is only reading the previous review that has prompted, less than a reply, than a reaction.
Midnight's Children is a good book. Does this make me a fraud? No, it just happened that I enjoyed it, savoured it's scope, it's humour, it's allegory - all of this is not difficult to grasp, only if some people did not try so hard. When a person put the word intellectual in brackets it is fairly obvious that they see a distinct 'us and you'mentality in the literary world. And as much as there are the literary squabblers and vacous acedemic blabbers, these do not rule the litrary roost.
Midnight's children is a book to be read without too much initial analysis. Lap up the world inside the book, not the underlying allegory of Indian independance. Laugh and Saleem's akwardness, do not over-exert yourself by picking apart each sentence. Ride along with this book and you will enjoy it.
I think a large part of the problem is the current image of Rusdhie. He is a celebrity, but for all the wrong reasons. Ignore Rushdie and listen to Saleem himself, it is the work and not the author your reading here.
I find it hard to believe that the previous reveiwer actually finished the book. And these literary deathmatches (Nabakov is better than Rusdhie) are pointless defences for a floundering argument.
I suggest that you ignore the last review and make your own mind up.

How to spot a fraud...., 31 Jul 2008
Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who tells you that this is a good book is a pretentious fraud. Rushdie doubtless has an excellent command of language but is unable to stop himself overindulging, as a result the book is wordy, disjointed and goes nowhere. Midnight's Children is a classic fraudster's book, praised only by those who want the reflected glory of association with a book supposedly only capable of being understood and appreciated by "intellectuals." It's a shame really as Rushdie clearly has talent, however his writing is simply abysmal and because he is the darling of the literary establishment people pretend that they like and appreciate his work - don't waste your money, if you want to have a good read try Lolita by Nabakov, a true wordsmith from whom Rushdie could learn alot.

Delightful, 18 Nov 2007
I have just read this book as part of my degree and all I can say is I wish i read it sooner. It was brilliant. If I am ever asked where stories come from this book will be my answer. An absolute must for both adults and children!

What is the use of stories that aren't even true?, 12 Oct 2007
Have you read "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" by Salmon Rushdie? Better you have! Or else, I should cut off your eyes, have them sauteed in a little butter and garlic, and served to the hounds. Is it not the best beginning for a review of the wonderful book? Don't be afraid, it was just the words of the book's antihero. Still you'd better read the story. You are guaranteed to be glued to the book as the author has readers right in the palm of his hand. "Haroun" is an absolute gem, a wonder of wonders, a miracle of miracles! It's the most beautiful ode to "the Power of speech, the greatest Power of all". And more than that, it will keep setting you off laughing till the last page.
First of all, a few words about the plot. It centers around Haroun, son of the storyteller, who lives in so sad a city that it has forgotten its name. One day he sets off to Kahani, the undiscovered Earth's moon, to return his father's imagination and gift of the gab. An interesting place this Kahani is. It's divided into two parts. The first is the Land of Gup, where the sun never goes down. Its people are in charge of the Ocean of Stories. The second is the Land of Chup, where it is perpetual night. Its leader, the Cultmaster Khattam-Shud, is the Arch-enemy of all Stories and even the language itself. He plans to poison the Ocean of Stories, take over power and put the whole Land of Kahani into silence. Haroun is destined to ruin this plan and to save the people of Gup from Khattam-Shud. So great matters are afoot.
At first glance you might think that it's an ordinary fairy tale at the end of which good defeats evil and light wins a victory over darkness. But on second thought you'll discover that it is not as simple as that. Good is not always good and darkness has its fascinations, mystery and romance. If you are a philosopher by nature, you'll enjoy the novel as it is rolling in allegories and philosophical questions. The author gives many interesting answers to the key question of the book "What is the use of stories that aren't even true?" But it's up to you to decide which answer is right and whether this particular story is untrue.
Even if you are not a philosopher, the novel is worth reading. Whoever you are, you are guaranteed to find some ideas appealing to you. If you are a pacifist, you'll enjoy the beautiful trick by which the author makes war look very foolish. You wonder what it is. I'll tell you the secret. He makes his characters wear nosewarmers to prevent them from growing icicles on their faces in the cold Land of Chup. And hey presto! It turns out to be a war between buffoons, senseless and comic at the same time.
You consider yourself to be a democrat, don't you? Then you'll be fascinated by the state structure of the Land of Gup with its freedom of speech as the main value. Even the army of Gup is not an exception. Every order of commanders is thoroughly discussed and heatedly debated by ordinary solders.
If you are an antiroyalist, you'll laugh till your sides ache, reading descriptions of the members of the royal family of Gup. Prince Bolo is utterly useless as a state figure. His subjects don't take him seriously. He is not trusted to decide anything as far as state affairs are concerned for he behaves like a complete idiot. Furthermore, he is not able to head the war to save his princess as he is scared out of his pants at the first moment of danger. The Princess Batcheat, who is captured by the Khattam-Shud, appears to be a character completely unfitting to be saved. More than that, it seems that her capturers would be glad to return her as her caterwauling mouth and singing split the eardrums of everyone who happens to be nearby. In addition, the princess is no oil painting so that even horses whinny with horror at her name. But of course, it's not her fault, so we don't need to go on.
Are you not a feminist by any chance? If so, you'll definitely find the antidiscrimination tirades of the female page Blabbermouth appealing to you. She has to conceal her gender to be a royal page. But she is the bravest of the bravest and in the end she proves her right to be treated equally with