Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children/ The Satanic Verses

by David Smale

Book by

Genres: Fiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2002

Reviews

[Fred Nikgohar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight's Children is a gift of a book (disclosure: I'm a big Rushdie fan) and probably one of the most important works of literature of recent times. It is a moderately difficult read and you must certainly have the historic background to be able to understand it properly. This is as much a history book as it is literature - and you will be served well to spend some time on wikipedia first to study up on histories of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

[Elena Sala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a reader's guide which focuses on Salman Rushdie's two most famous novels: Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses. It provides an introduction to Rushdie's writing through the body of criticism these works have generated.
First it explores the initial responses to both of these books, including the political nature of Rushdie's writing. Then the guide explores the attempts made to locate Rushdie's novels within literary and cultural traditions, exploring intertextual relations with texts such as Günther Grass's The Tin Drum, the Mahabharata and Ramayana among many others.
Another chapter examines Rushdie's engagement with history, historicism and nationhood. Theses issues are central to the postcolonial debate, therefore necessary when there is an examination of Rushdie's status as a postcolonial writer.
There is another chapter exploring the relationship between Rushdie's fiction and his treatment of migrancy and hybridity. There is also a section dedicated to Rushdie's depiction of women. And finally, the guide addresses the political and potentially offensive nature of Rushdie's writing, including the development of the so-called "Rushdie affair".
This guide will be mostly useful for scholars. Some chapters are too technical for a general reader, however, some of them are quite accessible and, I think, indispensable to western readers who lack knowledge of the history of India or Islam.

[Basil Saju · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first novel to introduce me to the world of magical realism . I wouldn't say I was fully satisfied with this book but it was definitely a good introduction for me to that genre and the political riots that happened in India prior to independence during the independence and it's aftermath

[Nidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Salman Rushdie's books. You do need a notepad to keep track of some of the characters but this book is excellent. I can see why it was banned in certain countries but I loved the intricacy of the characters.

[Vibha · Rating 4 out of 5]

You read few pages, you will know that this is going to be one hell of a good book and that is what it was. It is not particularly pacy but there were times when I wanted to know more an finish the chapter but sometimes I could just close the book to be read later.
Overall good read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is some crazy shit which is why I enjoyed reading it. A child's nightmare that blossoms into a sweet dream. Well... sort of. Remember... I'm crazy.

[Christine Cortes]

simply the best

[Gregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to read with a dictionary

[Digvijay Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

throughout the book you could associate yourself with the theme and the characters. Awesome art of writing.

[Visalakshmi Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystically historic. A great read.

[Neelima]

My favourite book!

[Steve Collinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this and felt thick at the end. Very symbolic metaphorical work. Wish i could understand it.