If beating around the bush was a crime; then, Salman Rushdie would be charged with aggravated assault and attempt to murder of that bush.

If there was of contest of master of digressions; he would emerge as the undisputed winner.

And, if any novel could even come close to portraying India’s vast cultural identity;that novel would be Midnight’s Children .


Salman Rushdie is a wicked, WICKED author. In this booker of booker’s novel, he has given us one of the most unreliable, irritating, annoying, clumsy, distracted narrator ever!; Saleem Sinhai .

Saleem addresses the readers directly and informally. He writes in a prose style which is spontaneous and improvised, because, of course, he is afraid that he doesn’t have much time left, and has no time to revise or edit. Saleem rambles and veers off, follows as many tangents possible, rephrases and reworks and OH, he is also constantly interrupted by Padma, the mud princess (unlike him, I don’t mean that kindly )

Formal conventions of narrative, (apparently) can’t sufficiently convey his story. So, Saleem breaks all those conventions and playfully violates the rules of time, space, and language. Have no doubt; Saleem is the kind of narrator which makes you go:


Like I said, Salman Rushdie is a wicked author. With his narrator’s crazy antics, it’s as if he is tempting the reader to quit. He also robs the readers of any romantic notions one may have about reality and life in general. Sometimes beautiful, but mostly, the grotesque facets of a person’s, a society’s, a nation’s nature is highlighted. Throughout the novel, he remains intent on dismantling the false veneer of faith, exposing and exploring the essential human frailties and complexities that lie beneath. He redefines the term harsh reality .

Through symbols, and allusions, this novel also has a scathing portrayal of life and politics. There are mothers committing adultery, there is incest and betrayals, there is failure, and then there are the atrocities of war. Rushdie is also quite vocal about his opinions about the Gandhi family. His views had me flinching, laughing out loud, and had my eyes popping out. Controversial doesn’t even begin to describe him! It’s a wonder he is still alive.

This is the 4th time I am coming across a novel which has so thoroughly frustrated and enchanted me. During book 1, I was mad at Rushdie for using such an eccentric narrative style. By the end of book 2, I was desperately wishing to return to the less-convoluted narrative of book 1 and by book 3, I was at the edge of my seat, reading like a maniac.

Was sticking with this book, and tolerating Saleem worth it?

Yes,I think it was! . If, not for the story and the characters, then, for the symbolism of the snakes and ladders, the perforated sheets and the silver spittoon. Salman Rushdie can definitely conjure magic with his words.