In this brilliantly focused and haunting portrait of the people, the politics, the land, and the poetry of Nicaragua, Salman Rushdie brings to the...
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Jan 17, 2012
Petra X
rated it: 
I loved the breadth and brilliance of Rushdie's Midnight's Children, admired his clever, biting and sly portrait of Benazir Bhutto (the 'Virgin Ironpants') in Shame, was confused with the immature ramblings of Grimus, bored with the Satanic Verses, but to some extent sympathised with the author's viewpoint in The Jaguar Smile.
One of many anti-American, or at least pro-socialist, books that seeks to cast doubt on US involvement on foreign soil in the name of political freedom and th More...
One of many anti-American, or at least pro-socialist, books that seeks to cast doubt on US involvement on foreign soil in the name of political freedom and th More...
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Jan 08, 2011
Rachel
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"To visit Nicaragua was to be shown that the world was not television, or history, or fiction. The world was real, and this was its actual, unmediated reality."
This book meant a lot to me because of the time I spent in Nicaragua. For someone less affected by the country, it might not be as good. Still, I thought it was generally well-written and presented a little-heard but much-needed perspective on the Sandinista government in the 1980s. In light of subsequent develop More...
This book meant a lot to me because of the time I spent in Nicaragua. For someone less affected by the country, it might not be as good. Still, I thought it was generally well-written and presented a little-heard but much-needed perspective on the Sandinista government in the 1980s. In light of subsequent develop More...
Dec 19, 2009
Amber
rated it: 
Este fue el primer libro de Salman Rushdie que habia leido. Me llamó la atención porque habia visitado Nicaragua un par de meses antes de que lo econtrara en una librería en San Salvador. Entonces, no lo leí por el autor sino el tema.
Este libro consiste de sus entrevistas y observaciones del gobierno Nicaraguense en la época de la guerra civil. Sin embargo, si piensas que el Sr. Rushdie es periodista, este libro te va a decepcionar porque a veces parece que el autor tiene predisposición ha More...
Este libro consiste de sus entrevistas y observaciones del gobierno Nicaraguense en la época de la guerra civil. Sin embargo, si piensas que el Sr. Rushdie es periodista, este libro te va a decepcionar porque a veces parece que el autor tiene predisposición ha More...
Dec 31, 2008
Chad
rated it:
I didn't know much about Nicaragua or the Contra War of the 80s, as I was only in gradeschool at the time. I didn't pick this book up because I wanted to find out more about the topic either. I picked it up, because I thought it would a short novel I could finish off before the new year. I was the definition of a blank slate. Imagine my surprise when I realized that this was actually a work of non-fiction.
As a blank slate, I can't really rate this book based on how accurate Rushd More...
As a blank slate, I can't really rate this book based on how accurate Rushd More...
Sep 24, 2011
Patrick
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The Jaguar's Smile (1987) is Salman Rushdie’s first nonfiction book about his visit to Nicaragua in the heat of the battle communist Sandinistas versus the US government backed Contras. It is a curious book since it reads like a personal essay that exposes Rushdie’s political leanings, literary tastes and discoveries made in Nicaragua, as well as part travelogue. Rushdie is sympathetic to the cause, but also cautious and skeptical and he doesn’t swallow everything that is told or shown to him. B
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Jul 26, 2009
Brian
rated it:
Mike's review on 06/18 is right on the mark. Rushdie, obviously has written this book after having very little exposure to the Sandinista government of the 1980's. Taking into consideration the red carpet treatment he got for the 3 weeks he was in Nicaragua, it's understandable why he may have come to the ill-informed illusions regarding the Sandinista that he puts forth in this novel.
Disregarding Rushdie's bias, this book is a well written behind the scenes look at the country of Ni More...
Disregarding Rushdie's bias, this book is a well written behind the scenes look at the country of Ni More...
Nov 14, 2010
Raúl
rated it:
En el Rushdie rush, este libro lo devoré, practicamente. Una visita a Nicaragüa, Daniel Ortega, la Contra, etc. Vemos al Rushdie más ingenuo politicamente hablando, no por lo que demostraria la historia respecto a Ortega, sino porque realmente sus observaciones son ingenuas. Sin embargo, comparto mucha de su ingenuidad. Creo en que un pueblo tiene derecho a autogobernarse, creo que Vargas Llosa apoya gobiernos de derecha en nombre de la democracia, pero no de izquierda (aunque intente hacernos c
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Feb 25, 2010
Andrew
rated it:
Never read any Rushdie, and I don't think this book (nonfiction) gave me a good sense of what his fiction is probably like. This is a short book about SR travelling to Nicaragua in 1986 during the Sandanista revolution. There are some pretty good portraits of key figures (like Ortega) and also a good sense of the history leading up to the revolution, as well discussions of Liberation Theology and the role of censorship during war, but the writing is often underwhelming and ah-shucks-y at times.
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Feb 17, 2010
Ross
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I read this book in preparation for our trip to Nicaragua. Written during the 80s, Rushdie was obviously sympathetic to the Sandinistas at the time. My edition had an updated forward where Rushdie looks back at his commentary after the Sandinistas were out of power (and before they came back). It is more of a history lesson than a travel biography, but it still provides an excellent glimpse into the lives of the people and their country. That being said, I can't really recommend it unless you
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Oct 22, 2011
Emily
rated it:
On 27 June 1986, in The Republic of Nicaragua v. The United States of America, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the United State’s aid to the Contras, the counter-revolutionary army assembled and armed by the CIA to fight the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, was in violation of the international law of war. As legal protégées we studied this case thoroughly in law school, as it was a landmark case that went some way in clarifying what constituted the “lawful” use of force and the “ri
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May 21, 2011
Thomas
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Rushdie's literary journalism is an outstanding introduction to Nicaraguan culture. Written during the height of the Contra War, he is largely sympathetic to the Sandinista cause, but it is not without critique. Revolutions are not panaceas for societal or governmental disfunction. Too often they turn into what they overthrew. Still, Rushdie expressed optimism for the country that rid itself of an oppressive dictator, and regardless of the course of history, the Nicaraguan people continue to be
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Jun 30, 2010
Ryan
rated it:
I bought The Jaguar Smile a few years ago after having spent a bit more than a week in Nicaragua visiting a friend. I was a little surprised to see Salman Rushdie writing about Central America, and I think at first I thought it was a collection of fiction stories. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually a nonfiction look at his stay in Nicaragua during the time the Sandinistas were in power in the late 80s. Apparently the book got a lot of flak for being too kind to Ortega and th
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Jun 18, 2008
Mike
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This isn't a badly written book by any means. Rushdie is, of course, a great writer, and when he's describing the nonpolitical people and places he visited in Nicaragua it's an interesting book. But what he had to say in this book overall really bugged me. I read it along with Kinzer's book about Nicaragua, "Blood of Brothers", and Kinzer has profoundly different things to say about the Sandinistas than does Rushdie. At one point, he actually mocks and criticizes an unfavorable stor
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Nov 08, 2007
Becca
rated it:
I went to Nicaragua in August and was very struck by the timbre of the place. Literally every kind of political, social and natural disaster that could occur, has occurred in Nicaragua, and yet, the citizens seem to wake up every morning with a great pride in their past and hope for their future. One of the most inspiring places I've ever been. I went with only a basic knowledge of Nicaragua's political history, so I've been reading up since then. I chose this book because I needed a break from
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Apr 21, 2007
علی
rated it:
From Midnight Children on, seems that Roshdie’s preference moves tward the language rather than the narration itself. Comparing ”The ground beneath of her feet” and ”Midnight children” one comes to a more beautiful language but less interesting events.
در اثار رشدی زبان از زیبایی خارق العاده ای برخوردار است. واژه هایی که رشدی در زبان انگلیسی ابداع می کند و عمدتن مخلوطی از انگلیسی هندی – بریتانیایی ست، گاه به توجیه صحنه، عمل یا شخصیت در روایت کمک شایانی می کند. بسیاری از واژه های ابداع More...
در اثار رشدی زبان از زیبایی خارق العاده ای برخوردار است. واژه هایی که رشدی در زبان انگلیسی ابداع می کند و عمدتن مخلوطی از انگلیسی هندی – بریتانیایی ست، گاه به توجیه صحنه، عمل یا شخصیت در روایت کمک شایانی می کند. بسیاری از واژه های ابداع More...
Jun 22, 2009
Shannon
rated it:
it's partisan, sure. but that's not the problem: it's too light! i'll also grant that the book documents a two week stay by a non-specialist. that's not the problem either.
the problem: where's the background? rushdie is a expert in one thing; he's a great writer of fiction. and he should know that for three-dimensional characters, even in a travel book, the reader needs a clue on whose claims are suspect, who's not telling the whole truth (and which part are they omitting)? the goo More...
the problem: where's the background? rushdie is a expert in one thing; he's a great writer of fiction. and he should know that for three-dimensional characters, even in a travel book, the reader needs a clue on whose claims are suspect, who's not telling the whole truth (and which part are they omitting)? the goo More...
Jun 11, 2008
Miranda
rated it: 
Sterling journalism mixed with poetic ruminations on the political climate of Nicaragua in 1986. Rushdie can take just about anything and turn it into a metaphor that gives his reader a sudden, profound insight into whatever it is he's expounding upon (also a highly apropos technique for a writer writing about Nicaragua, a country of poets). My favorite passage, however, is when he doesn't poeticize experience but rather recogizes the extreme "realness" of existence in the face of making history
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Jul 13, 2009
Frank
rated it:
I read this book while teaching English to residents on the island of Mancarron, Solentiname Islands, Nicaragua. In it, Rushdie recounts his three weeks in the country in 1988, the end of the contra war. The writing is good, but was somewhat biased towards the Sandinistas. I think that Kinzer's book, Blood of Brothers presents a more balanced picture of the politics and issues at the time.
Aug 29, 2010
Al
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More direct prose than his novels, but the subject matter was unexpected. Focused more on artists amidst a revolution- sort of a 1920s Paris if the government was in turmoil. I was expecting more of a travel memoir. However, Rushdie strove to give a balanced account of his experiences and made no attempt to give an overarching or historical account, which gave his narrative credence and honesty.
Mar 17, 2011
David
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I am a travel writer buff and I love the language skills of Rushdie and having known very little about Nicaragua, this book was a treat to read. An almost odd place to read about from Rushdie, he still gives you enough politico to feel you are caught up with the changes to a tough country.
Dec 02, 2009
Kiesha
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This one was passed around the Peace Corps library as part of the country history "required" reading, along with Blood of Brothers. It was worth the read. It wasn't one-hundred percent rah-rah Sandinista; it was also critical of the oppressive force of the United States.
Jul 31, 2009
So far it is definitely piquing my interest in the history and politics of Nicaragua, but I was really looking for a quick novel - not realizing, like so many, that this was a work of non fiction. And as a memoir, I can't tell if this is a good example of Rushdie's writing.
Oct 15, 2009
Jill
rated it:
It's hard to imagine Rushdie younger than Rick, but he was 39 when he wrote this book. Rushdie writes about Nicaragua in the 80s. The datedness of this book makes it a little hard to process the events, but it's a trip from 'el escritor Hindu'.
Sep 05, 2008
Gunnar
rated it:
Rushdie always struck me as a blowhard. That was before reading him. Now, he seems smart and in touch.
Good writer, too. Making me want to check out some of his more well known stuff.
As for the content of the book, the basic premise is a three-week trip to Nicaragua in the mid-1980s, during US-backed Contra war.
Rushdie is sympathetic to the Sandistas and deservedly critical of the United Statees.
For anyone desiring to know more about one example of America's abysmal Centr More...
Good writer, too. Making me want to check out some of his more well known stuff.
As for the content of the book, the basic premise is a three-week trip to Nicaragua in the mid-1980s, during US-backed Contra war.
Rushdie is sympathetic to the Sandistas and deservedly critical of the United Statees.
For anyone desiring to know more about one example of America's abysmal Centr More...
Aug 11, 2011
Jelle
rated it:
bizar verhaal, gast die denkt dat hij de engel gabriel is, een ander verandert in een duivel, kwaad en goed lopen wat vervelend door elkaar, net als wonderen en perfect scientific explanations
Sep 21, 2009
Brittany
rated it:
Fantastic book. Read it while I was in Nicaragua. A great introduction to Nicaraguan life-- the politics, the poetry, the culture, the revolution.
May 27, 2008
Christine
rated it:
Thoughtful, evocative snapshot of Nicaragua's tumultuous revolutionary transition in the 1980s. Rushdie creates an easy-to-read narrative portrait of many of the main figures of this period, as well as a glimpse into the effects of the transition on national identity and daily life. I wish he had spent more time in Nicaragua to allow for a broader and deeper perspective; part of me wonders why he was motivated to write the book in the first place. I also would have gained more if the whole bo
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Mar 26, 2011
Marie
rated it:
Especially meaningful for me because I was in Nicaragua the same year as Salman Rushdie, so he reminds me of much and brings back memories.
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Sep 21, 2011
Daniel
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A reminder of the Sandinistas' efforts on the international cultural front.
