61st book of 2024.

The short version: Midnight’s Children is way better. The long version:

I recently read Knife like many others and actually found it made me like Rushdie less. Don't get me wrong, I respect him and all he has endured. He is the embodiment of resilience and a defender of literature against ignorance. It's no wonder this book has a reputation. I've read several times over the years that it's a pity this one received so much press and attention because it's actually one of his weaker works. Of course, others claim it's a masterpiece.

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\\"To be born again,\\" sang Gibreel Farishta tumbling from the heavens, \\"first you have to die. Hoji! Hoji! To land upon the bosomy earth, first one needs to fly. Tat-taa! Taka-thun! How to ever smile again, if first you won't cry? How to win the darling's love, mister, without a sigh? Baba, if you want to get born again...\\" Just before dawn one winter's morning, New Year's Day or thereabouts, two real, full-grown, living men fell from a great height, twenty-nine thousand and two feet, towards the English Channel, without benefit of parachutes or wings, out of a clear sky. \\"I tell you, you must die, I tell you, I tell you,\\" and thusly and so beneath a moon of alabaster until a loud cry crossed the night, \\"To the devil with your tunes,\\" the words hanging crystalline in the iced white night, \\"in the movies you only mimed to playback singers, so spare me these infernal noises now.\\" Gibreel, the tuneless soloist, had been cavorting in moonlight as he sang his impromptu gazal, swimming in air, butterfly-stroke, breast-stroke, bunching himself into a ball, spreadeagling himself against the almost-infinity of the almost-dawn, adopting heraldic postures, rampant, couchant, pitting levity against gravity. Now he rolled happily towards the sardonic voice. \\"Ohé, Salad baba, it's you, too good. What-ho, old Chumch.\\" At which the other, a fastidious shadow falling headfirst in a grey suit with all the jacket buttons done up, arms by his sides, taking for granted the improbability of the bowler hat on his head, pulled a nickname-hater's face. \\"Hey, Spoono,\\" Gibreel yelled, eliciting a second inverted wince, \\"Proper London, bhai! Here we come! Those bastards down there won't know what hit them. Meteor or lightning or vengeance of God. Out of thin air, baby. _Dharrraaammm!_ Wham, na? What an entrance, yaar. I swear: splat.\\"

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It has all the elements of other postmodern works. I was actually surprised by how much it reminded me of Pynchon. Rushdie has had the honor of meeting Pynchon and didn't say much: “[I] found him very satisfyingly Pynchonesque”. Interestingly, Rushdie also said in an interview that the book that influenced him the most was Gravity’s Rainbow and he wrote an entire draft of a novel called The Antagonist which was so clearly a copy of TP that it wasn't publishable and now resides in the archives of Emory University in Atlanta. This doesn't mean Rushdie is a bad writer, but no sentences or passages blew me away like those you encounter in Pynchon out of nowhere, reminding you that, despite his frustrations, he is very good. Rushdie's prose is dense and sometimes humorous. I didn't care for the whole parallel vision plot, although I'm sure it's full of symbolism that went over my small head. The magical realism, compared to other writers, didn't have the depth or awe, although I did like certain ideas. I assume there was more symbolism hidden in all the inexplicable details. I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the novel and a good portion in the middle, but the parts around it and the ending were disappointing. At times it felt aimless, and Rushdie was excitedly leading me by the hand when I just wanted to slow down or even stop.

But I'm glad I read it after owning it for so many years. What motivated me to do so was something he said in Knife about his books being able to ‘look after themselves’. I like this idea and think it holds true. Some books can take care of themselves, and I guess I wouldn't be quick to say this one isn't capable of handling itself. It clearly is.

I really need to stop finishing books so late at night. By the time I'm done, I'm simply too exhausted to offer much in the way of a detailed comment.

I'm rather ashamed to admit that it took an attack on him for me to finally get around to reading this particular book. But that's just the way it is. I deliberately avoided delving too deeply into the history of the novel's controversy and the threats against his life. I wanted to approach this reading with as fresh and unbiased a perspective as possible. Now, however, I plan to do an in-depth exploration of all that context. Additionally, I aim to generally seek out any interesting scholarship I can find on the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm truly fascinated by its history and impact. I'm well aware that there must be so much more to it than what I was able to pick up on during my first reading.

This book is often quite hilarious. I wasn't initially aware of the extent to which it serves as an examination of the immigrant experience. (I know that's a rather laughably broad phrase.) It's truly incredible how the book seems to foretell its own controversy regarding artists inciting religious wrath with their work. I suppose, for obvious reasons, there could never be a movie adaptation of this book. That's a real shame because it evokes its imagery so vividly that it might as well be a storyboard. I'm certain that I will read this book again in the future.

I am truly glad that I finally got around to reading this book. Even now, I am still not entirely sure why it has been such a controversial one. It seems to me that it is simply a beautiful novel that is filled to the brim with imagination and truth.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader captivated from beginning to end. The author's vivid descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, making it easy to lose oneself in the pages.

Perhaps the controversy stems from the fact that the novel explores some deep and thought-provoking themes. It challenges the reader to question their own beliefs and values, and to look at the world from a different perspective.

Despite the controversy, I believe that this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story. It is a work of art that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

The Tangled history of the "Satanic Verses"

The "Satanic Verses" has a complex and controversial history. It has been the subject of much debate and discussion. The story contains various elements and themes that have captured the attention of many.

For example, the quotes within the text touch on different aspects such as learning lessons, the transformation of individuals, the nature of ideas, and the concept of good and evil. These quotes offer insights into the deeper meanings and messages within the story.

The story seems to explore the idea that ideas can have different natures. Some ideas are flexible and compromising, while others are unyielding and may even lead to destruction. It also questions how we can determine what is good or evil when a person is unsure of their own essence.

Overall, the "Satanic Verses" presents a thought-provoking and challenging narrative that continues to be relevant and引发争议 today. Its exploration of these complex themes makes it a work that demands careful consideration and analysis.

I have a deep affection for magical realism, and thus, there is an abundance to relish in this renowned novel.

The writing style is intricate and captivating, yet I lack the requisite background to assess or even fathom the blasphemous segments.

There are three stories - a principal one and a couple of perplexing dream tales that likely incensed Muslim religious leaders. The main storyline delves into life in Bombay and London, encompassing national identity, racism, mental illness, faith, family, love, and much more. It is replete with magic, reincarnation, and fascinating characters. I truly adored the devil and angel characters... for the most part, it was nearly impossible to discern who was good and who was evil. The dream sections are perhaps what elevates an entertaining book to the status of great literature... with numerous parallels and profound meanings that I was too indolent to unearth.

Favorite Quote: "The universe was a place of wonders, and only habituation, the anaesthesia of the everyday, dulled our sight."

This was read during Banned Book Week, which provides an opportunity to explore literature that has faced challenges and censorship.

“Soll er das Werkzeug des Zornes Gottes werden? Oder seiner Liebe? Ist er Rache oder Vergebung?

These are the questions that linger in the air, unanswered yet crucial.

He stands at a crossroads, his fate hanging in the balance.

Will he choose the path of vengeance, becoming a tool of God's wrath?

Or will he embrace the power of love and forgiveness?

I, too, watch with bated breath, for I have given him no instructions.

I am simply a spectator, eager to see how he will decide - the outcome of his inner struggle.

Character against pre-determination, it is a battle that will shape his destiny.

And as I wait, I wonder what the future holds for him.

Will he rise above the expectations and forge his own path?

Only time will tell.

I actually hid this book while I read it after the fatwa was proclaimed on Rushdie.

It was an incredibly mesmerizing experience. The words seemed to dance off the pages, drawing me into a world that was both captivating and disturbing.

The parts of the story still haunt me to this day. They linger in my mind, like shadows that refuse to be chased away.

It makes me wonder, do I have the courage to write what I truly feel? Or should I be afraid?

Afraid of the consequences that might come with expressing my thoughts and opinions.

But at the same time, I know that silencing myself would be a betrayal of my own voice and my own beliefs.

So, I find myself in a quandary, torn between the desire to speak out and the fear of what might happen if I do.

Only time will tell which path I will choose.

The Satanic Verses is an incredibly imaginative and creative work that holds great significance in the literary world. However, it is also an extremely challenging read. After delving into its 500+ pages, I find myself left with a profound sense of confusion. I'm not entirely sure what went wrong. Perhaps if I had a broader literary background, I might have been able to appreciate it more. But I firmly believe that no reader should attempt this book without a solid understanding of Islamic theology and the Quran. Otherwise, many of the allusions will be lost, as they were for me.

The lack of this knowledge base makes it incredibly difficult to follow. The novel draws on a vast wealth of myths, religions, and stories, which often leads to a convoluted narrative. Multiple names are used to refer to the same characters, and they frequently shift in and out of the story, making it hard to focus and discern the actual plot at any given moment. So much of the novel went over my head that by the halfway point, I had completely lost the thread and was simply reading a series of seemingly unconnected chapters.

Adding to my confusion is the fact that I'm also reading Joseph Anton, Rushdie's biography. The detailed account of his personal relationship with his father and the parallel emotions presented in different forms in The Satanic Verses further muddles the waters. I often found myself mixing up events from Rushdie's real life with those in the fictional account, making an already confusing novel even more so.

Interestingly, I find the history of the novel and the events that led Rushdie to go into hiding far more captivating than the work itself. Perhaps this is because I can understand the facts without the need to untangle a web of incomprehensible allegory. One day, I may return to this book, but not anytime soon. It will be a day when I am more familiar with the texts it discusses and engages with. Only then can I hope to read it and form a more solid opinion.

For now, I have reached a simple conclusion: this book really isn't for me, at least, not yet.

**"The Satanic Verses: A Complex and Controversial Novel"**

My recent encounter with Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses was during a book club session while I resided in Morocco. This setting made me acutely aware of the book's supposed affront to Islam and the subsequent uproar. Yet, as I delved into its pages, the novel seemed to be more about the immigrant experience and transformation than the infamous Satanic Verses passage. The language of the novel is truly remarkable. It is rich, vivid, and filled with humor that a hasty reading would overlook. However, this very aspect also slows down the reading process, a point of criticism among many in my book club. Another valid criticism, to which I am more sympathetic, is that reading The Satanic Verses can sometimes feel like a slog. Connecting some of the tangential stories to the two main protagonists can be a challenge. While I enjoyed some of the 'side stories,' the task of keeping track of all the characters and competing narratives did at times make the reading a laborious affair. Despite these drawbacks, I would still recommend the novel. I appreciate how, from the very beginning, it creates a sense that anything is possible, leaving the reader with a sense of anticipation and wonder.

"Language is courage: the ability to conceive a thought, to speak it, and by doing so to make it true."


"When you throw everything up in the air anything becomes possible."

I truly cannot fathom why the Queen of England would bestow the status of Knight of literature upon Salman Rushdie. It seems that anyone with a penchant for using vulgar language and provoking others can effortlessly produce such a book. Just as anyone with basic drawing skills can create a cartoon to mock someone's religion. I wonder why a powerful country like Britain still adheres to the outdated and ineffective monarch system and believes in that so-called "Dumb Queen" who supposedly enjoys reading this kind of book. This book is nothing but a series of provocations, filled with foul and unwise language. (The most likely scenario is that the Queen never even read it in the first place.) If Rushdie had even a fraction of the humor that the writers of South Park possess, his foul-mouthed writing might seem intelligent. However, in this book, it is just plain lame.

Unfortunately, the majority of people become acquainted with this book not through the book itself but rather due to the scandal and fatwa that surrounded its prolific and outspoken author, Salman Rushdie. What enraged some Muslims, and the Ayatollah of Iran most significantly, was Rushdie's hypothesis. He posited that Mohammed, being completely illiterate and having the Qu'ran narrated to him by Archangel Gabriel, might have dozed off at one point. During this time, Satan could have impersonated Gabriel without Mohammed noticing, resulting in some verses of the Holy Book being written by Satan. That's the essence of it. It's just a theory, no different from when Kazantzakis imagines Jesus fantasizing about accepting Mary Magdalene's sexual advances. In Rushdie's book, this is not even the main story. It is merely an internal narrative within the dream of a character who, of all things, falls out of an airplane. The book is highly imaginative. Although I preferred "Midnight's Children" and "The Moor's Last Sigh," it still remains one of his best works for me. So, read it if for no other reason than to oppose censorship and support artistic freedom and artistic license. Especially in these days of religious fanaticism, books like "The Satanic Verses" that challenge the status quo and compel us to re-evaluate our values and received ideas are incredibly important.

For analyzing and critiquing a work, it is possible to first examine it in terms of its content; that is, what words it wants to say and ultimately what message it conveys.

In the next stage, one can proceed to discuss the technical and formal aspects and examine the form of the work. The simplest definition that can be given of form is how the said work is going to present the subject matter under discussion to the audience.

In the book "The Satanic Verses", there is no content to present; in terms of literature, we are faced with a disaster, and ultimately, instead of the author introducing his own criticisms into religion in a fundamental way, he has resorted to slander and ridicule, and these are not sufficient for writing a good work.

Overall, I think that if all these pretexts were not created for this book, many of us would never even have heard its name; but unfortunately, our officials in all fields are completely focused on the branch rather than the root.