Bob Marshall answers “when a novel is controversial enough to...”

اية محمود Aya Mahmoud asked this question about The Satanic Verses:

when a novel is controversial enough to cause deaths and death threats I start doubting the author's talent, so could someone answer me honestly and impartially, is this controversial novel actually a good piece of fiction or is it just going to anger me as a Muslim is I tried to read it and add nothing good?

Bob Marshall No it is not a good piece of fiction, but it includes a few good pieces of writing. Taken as a whole it is not blasphemous. The discussion of the trut…moreNo it is not a good piece of fiction, but it includes a few good pieces of writing. Taken as a whole it is not blasphemous. The discussion of the truth of the Quran occurs in chapter II and chapter VI but they are written in the context of a dream and Salman (the scribe of the Quran who becomes an apostate) eventually returns to accept the truth.
Chapters II and VI are well written. Most of the rest of the book makes little sense but I did like chapter IX where Saladin is reconciled with his father.(less)

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The Satanic Verses

by Salman Rushdie

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