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Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children
Salman Rushdies Midnights Children, ever since its publication in 1980, has been considered an ingenious piece of literary art and a trendsetter in the field of Indian fiction in English. The stupendous success of this novel broke all previous records and Rushdie was hailed as one who engendered a whole new generation of fiction writers that embraced magical realism as a mode for the depiction of history. The variant mode of the portrayal of historical reality that Rushdie adopts in Midnights Children is characteristically his own and his fantasizing of facts in this novel inspired a host of other writers to offer, in their respective works, their own blends of fact and fiction. Midnights Children is a multi-faceted novel which lends itself to analysis from various angles and perspectives. Be it from the point of view of structure or content, the work yields a richness that has been variously explored by the scholars who have contributed to this anthology of essays on it.
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
34 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 19, 2012
This was a difficult read, but I am so glad I got through it. This is a really well written book, the story is intricate, complex and compelling. The characters are uncanny and unforgettable. Loved it!
June 30, 2012
This is definitely in my top ten all time books. A beautiful great read, Salman Rushdie is a wonderful writer, every line is beautifully composed. Really made me want to visit India (this and A Suitable Boy, and Shantaram). A must read (not an easy read though, but worth it!)
May 11, 2012
Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie. I read this book a while ago, but remember finding it an absolutely amazing read with some of the richest metaphors and imagery. I need to read it again in order to do this review justice.
April 24, 2012
Top ten books I've ever read. Struggle through the first few chapters and you will be rewarded!
March 16, 2020
I enjoyed every word of this art piece. I enjoyed the way he projects the unfortunate story of Saleem with that of India, which he thinks has no future any more. in fact, this book is a loom. He is knitting the story by throwing the worsted to the future and coming back to design the whole piece.
Human, thoughtful, conmited to the better part of humans? and societies, Rushdie is our companion in this voyage from the river in Kashemir to the slums in Bengal. To Pakistan, Bengal and back to beautiful and fascinating Bombay.
Read it! No spoilers here.
Human, thoughtful, conmited to the better part of humans? and societies, Rushdie is our companion in this voyage from the river in Kashemir to the slums in Bengal. To Pakistan, Bengal and back to beautiful and fascinating Bombay.
Read it! No spoilers here.
May 19, 2020
This is an amazing book, which will have more meaning to those who know and appreciate Indian history more than me.
However, the main reason to read it is to encounter a master writer crafting absolutely every sentence—indeed every clause—with incredible care.
However, the main reason to read it is to encounter a master writer crafting absolutely every sentence—indeed every clause—with incredible care.
August 17, 2020
Wonderful, thought-provoking and magical.
December 31, 2022
I was never really sure of the point of this weird, disjointed story.
November 14, 2023
A flowing, lyrical tale infused with history.
August 30, 2012
a beautiful book on so many levels. It recounts the creation of Pakistan, while linking it's birth to that of the so-called Midnight's Children, each born with a mystical ability.
Though it has fantasy elements, it transcends a conventional genre label. It is historic, romantic, dramatic, fantastic.... Rushdie's undeniable sense humour is embedded in the narrative as well as the premise of the book, and for that reason alone it is worth reading.
Though Rushdie's Satanic Verses is his best known work (due to it's scandalous reception), this book is, to me, by far the superior of the two.
"Who am I? My answer: I am everyone everything whose being-in-the-world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I've gone which would not have happened if I had not come. Nor am I particularly exceptional in this matter; each 'I', every one of the now-six-hundred-million-plus-us, contains a similar multitude. I repeat for the last time: to understand me, you'll have to swallow the world"
Though it has fantasy elements, it transcends a conventional genre label. It is historic, romantic, dramatic, fantastic.... Rushdie's undeniable sense humour is embedded in the narrative as well as the premise of the book, and for that reason alone it is worth reading.
Though Rushdie's Satanic Verses is his best known work (due to it's scandalous reception), this book is, to me, by far the superior of the two.
"Who am I? My answer: I am everyone everything whose being-in-the-world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I've gone which would not have happened if I had not come. Nor am I particularly exceptional in this matter; each 'I', every one of the now-six-hundred-million-plus-us, contains a similar multitude. I repeat for the last time: to understand me, you'll have to swallow the world"
January 12, 2024
The book operates on different levels of reality: political, personal, fantastical and factual. It also covers the themes of migration, revolution and identity.
To put it shortly, I simply didn't enjoy the style of writing, very chaotic and to many characters and her jumps between times that make it more complicated to follow.
I understand the bigger picture the author tried to convey, but it simply super complex and very very difficult to read or to understand the analogies. At least for me it was.
It's not an easy read, so I would only recommend to read if your have lots of patience for this one.
To put it shortly, I simply didn't enjoy the style of writing, very chaotic and to many characters and her jumps between times that make it more complicated to follow.
I understand the bigger picture the author tried to convey, but it simply super complex and very very difficult to read or to understand the analogies. At least for me it was.
It's not an easy read, so I would only recommend to read if your have lots of patience for this one.
September 17, 2016
A great book that weaves the history of modern-day India into the surreal life events of the main character Saleem. The beginning and end of the book drag, but the heart of the story, between Saleem's founding of the Midnight's Children Conference to his playing the part of the Buddha-at-war is enthralling. In addition, the book is able to incorporate the historical events into the story in a natural and seamless way, rather than forcing them into the plot in a Forrest Gump manner.
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July 8, 2015I tried. I REALLY, REALLY tried. Tried for hours and hours and hours to "get" this book. But holy hell, this is the most pretentious thing I've ever read. I might have been able to soldier through if the narrator weren't such a mansplaining douche. But he was JUST. SO. PRETENTIOUS.
This is what I get for trying to read lit fic. Back to the genre fluff I go...
This is what I get for trying to read lit fic. Back to the genre fluff I go...
April 8, 2015
5 stars for a lot if it, 1 star for even more of it, a final 3 because it's an important book....I skimmed the second half and like it more on reflection. Fascinating history, vile chracters, irritating manipulation by the author; it's not an easy read but worth reading at least half of it.
Currently reading
July 14, 2009I have learned a lot about India, the history since 1947, and the richness of Indian English.
September 21, 2012
Couldn't finish it! It bored me to tears!
May 18, 2012
It takes really quite an effort to get through the first time, and once you are through the first 100 pages you can't put it down!!
June 25, 2012
One of my favorites.
July 7, 2012
Very hard read in the beginning, but worth the effort. Too heavy for a book club...it's not for everyone.
September 1, 2012
a good read, one of my favourites
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 17, 2013Still a masterpiece after 3 decades. This is Rushdie's greatest work
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March 14, 2015story of the history of India & Pakistan with magical realism
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May 12, 2015It was great. I never wanted it to end!
August 18, 2015
This was a strange and beautiful read... A bit cumbersome... But definitely worth the time...
October 21, 2012
egads, confusing, hope he gets help
May 10, 2015
Highly overrated!!! left it in the middle!!!
June 13, 2015
Very difficult to read. I am not into fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews