Take a photo of a barcode or cover
frasersimons 's review for:
The Satanic Verses
by Salman Rushdie
Another wild ride. Rushdie has an amazing command of prose, just as in Midnight’s Children. This is obviously far more theological and one of the best books I’ve seen using literalization to make the reader have to confront what it is they believe, in numerous respects. Who to believe with the recounting of numerous eyewitness accounts? What makes a person worth listening to? What happens when contradictory ideas are not allowed to coexist and be used to refine a persons’ belief system? Is it possible for a society with a hierarchy and power structure to even have unimpeachable beliefs?
There are many interesting questions explored through this seemingly very gonzo story about two men who fall to earth and transform in the doing. Ostensibly, each “ascending” to the angelic, the other to the demonic. And that’s just in the first few pages! The interrogation of each person, as they integrate into their old lives and are forced to change, one basically radicalized to revenge, with a parallel story about a prophet who may or may not be false, taking a town on an impossible pilgrimage to Mecca, she says, by parting the seas with their faith.
So much happens in this book it is difficult to talk about anything larger than the broad strokes. I can’t stress enough, though, how much can happen in just a few pages. The interactions between characters that may never be seen again reiterate themes and showcase an immense power of imagination. It takes a lot of focus and energy to keep up with the voice crafted here—but it’s completely worth it. And none of the ideas in here should be controversial. They are, like most good fiction, about the human experience, and therefor transcends a specific culture, applicable to anyone in any society, because these questions permeate human existence. They’ve never been more relevant and the themes communicated about those large subjects are, I think, handled exceedingly well (as mentioned previously but it must be said again!). It is truly a challenging book, but also very rewarding. More so than most.
There are many interesting questions explored through this seemingly very gonzo story about two men who fall to earth and transform in the doing. Ostensibly, each “ascending” to the angelic, the other to the demonic. And that’s just in the first few pages! The interrogation of each person, as they integrate into their old lives and are forced to change, one basically radicalized to revenge, with a parallel story about a prophet who may or may not be false, taking a town on an impossible pilgrimage to Mecca, she says, by parting the seas with their faith.
So much happens in this book it is difficult to talk about anything larger than the broad strokes. I can’t stress enough, though, how much can happen in just a few pages. The interactions between characters that may never be seen again reiterate themes and showcase an immense power of imagination. It takes a lot of focus and energy to keep up with the voice crafted here—but it’s completely worth it. And none of the ideas in here should be controversial. They are, like most good fiction, about the human experience, and therefor transcends a specific culture, applicable to anyone in any society, because these questions permeate human existence. They’ve never been more relevant and the themes communicated about those large subjects are, I think, handled exceedingly well (as mentioned previously but it must be said again!). It is truly a challenging book, but also very rewarding. More so than most.