“The Satanic Verses” is not just any novel for me. It is my absolute favourite by one of my most beloved writers, and it would firmly secure a place in my Top 5, if not Top 10, at any given moment. As a lover of magic realism, with Salman Rushdie reigning supreme in this genre for me, I find myself completely inadequate when it comes to writing a proper review. However, I will attempt to sketch out some of the aspects that I adored the most about this remarkable work.

True to the author's signature style, this novel is a vivid and powerful masterpiece, exuding an opulence that is almost baroque. It is filled with countless layers and a plethora of characters (albeit not as many as in “Midnight’s Children”). There are dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of references and allusions, a rich tapestry of imagination, and an abundance of comical effects. This is not a story for the faint of heart or the intellectually lazy. Yet, Rushdie never overwhelms his readers with excessive intellectualism. Instead, he crafts an account that is both exalting and passionate, told on an epic scale.

Some of the recurring themes in the novel include heritage and migration, change and belief, and identity. The concept of identity here is particularly fascinating, as it delves deeper into moral and individual identity. The two protagonists, an actor and a voice actor, symbolize this exploration as they reinvent their birth names and grapple with their sense of self. This aspect of the novel truly resonated with me.

The structure of the novel is not straightforward, but rather consists of layers through which characters, motifs, and references intertwine. Throughout the story, there are stories within stories, various forms of re-enactment on different levels, and even stories within dreams within the story. This creates a sense of multiple distances from the present-day sphere and from reality. The main embedded narrative is transferred several times to different planes, resulting in twisted parallels and distorted mirror images of belief, unscrupulousness, vulnerability, and loneliness. The story of Mahound, with its rich tapestry of thoughts and emotions, is a prime example of this complexity, but I cannot comment on it further without spoiling the plot.

I was also captivated by the idea of being seduced and tempted by words, as well as the constant questioning of truth, reality, and revelation. The phrase “It was so, it was not so” reminded me strongly of “Moby Dick.” The two protagonists, despite being counterparts to each other and even to themselves, are delightful and paradoxical. They have different social backgrounds and functions in the story, with one being more spiritual and prone to miscomprehension, while the other is more grounded in society and often misunderstood. Interestingly, their stereotypical mythical features serve to highlight the many facets of the human soul.

If I had to sum up this novel in one word, I would choose “noble.” For all the human insecurities, faults, uncertainties, weaknesses, and the constant need to question the sacred and the profane, Rushdie treats them with sympathy, respect, and deep affection. I could easily read “The Satanic Verses” over and over again, never tiring of its rich substance or its profound insights into the human condition.

The Quintessence of the Struggle between the Human and Spiritual

SOY: 10+10+10=10

This novel has an immediate impact. It knocks you down and immerses you in its pages, not allowing you to tear yourself away until you turn the last page.

Approaching this work was undoubtedly scary. There was a fear that the text would be confusing and full of allusions that the modern Russian reader might not understand. Fortunately, the translator did an incredible job and provided a detailed commentary. It's important to note the poetic nature of Rushdie's language. It's not a dry text but a real epic tale where the human and the spiritual meet face to face.

The novel is an excellent example of magical realism. Reading it, one draws parallels with Milorad Pavic. The unchanging dreams of the main characters are an inheritance from Mikhail Bulgakov, which the author doesn't deny. The originality, subtle humour, and universal sadness of the novel are emphasized. Both familiar and new stories flourish here.

In the book, one may inevitably find something that offends religious sentiment. However, a number of facts are presented correctly, while others are fabrications. The translator even emphasizes Rushdie's deep spirituality.

In a land as ancient as England, there is no room for new stories. Saying the book is not easy to read is an understatement, but it's still interesting. "Satanic Verses" is not something to be skimmed through. It's more serious. Once, I read this book when it fell into my hands from my dad, who was perhaps tempted by the hype. Now, I want to renew my memory of the work that caused a fatwa.

The opposite of faith is not disbelief. It's too final and confident. Doubt is the opposite. After a terrorist attack, two Indian actors fall from a plane. Chamcha, who emigrated to Britain, is turned into a devil, while Farishta is the incarnation of the archangel Jibrail. The plot leads the author to the execution list. Rushdie seems to be a thrill-seeker, teasing the Islamic world through his writing.

If a person is not sure of his essence, how can he know if he is good or bad? The translation of the book is a song of its own, and one needs nerves of steel to wade through it.

‘The Satanic Verses’ by Salman Rushdie is a profound exploration of the complex interplay between self-identity and the influence of others.

It delves into how our perception of ourselves can be distorted by what those around us think. People's treatment of us is often based on their own ideas of who we are, rather than who we truly are.

Identity is presented as a demon within, one that is difficult to escape. The struggle with identity can lead to self-doubt and internal turmoil.

Culture also plays a significant role in shaping our thinking and identity. It is constantly evolving and mutating, and religion, as a part of culture, can have a profound impact on how we see ourselves.

The book is filled with magical realism and deep thoughts about immigration, our place in a culture, and the imagined self. It is a commentary on the invention of the self and how it is curated through culture and the eyes of others.

The plot follows the lives of two Indian expatriates in England, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha. Their experiences and transformations serve as a vehicle for exploring the themes of the book.

The Satanic Verses has been the subject of much controversy, with some seeing it as blasphemous and others as a powerful work of literature. Despite the attempts to silence it, the book continues to be read and discussed, a testament to its importance and relevance.

Rushdie's work challenges us to question our own beliefs and prejudices and to consider the role of culture and identity in our lives. It is a must-read for those interested in exploring the human condition and the power of literature.

Although it is fascinating to read Rushdie, I must admit that it is never easy to fully immerse oneself in his reality and his world, even if one is enriched every time.

The eternal struggle between Good and Evil reaches its best apex here, represented by the figures of Gibreel Farishta, a movie actor, and Saladin Chamcha, a man with a thousand voices of advertising spots, who perfectly embody this dichotomy.

A struggle and battle that involves everyone and whose outcome is not as obvious as it may seem. Between reality and fantasy, a whole series of characters revolve around them, such as Ayesha, Ailee, and many others that make the whole even more characteristic.

A difficult work stuffed with terms of Islamic culture that are not easy to understand, especially if one does not know that world.

One of the most discussed books ever that makes people indignant, reflect, but also feel bad. A novel that unleashes so many reactions and, precisely for this reason, turns out to be even more fascinating and superlative.

So this is it.

The book that brought Rushdie the fateful fatwa sentencing, a death sentence that forced him into hiding for years (a review of those years will come once I've read his biography that details exactly that period).

Even publishers and translators of this book from around the world were targeted and, in some cases, killed by religious fanatics.

Amazingly, the fatwa remains in effect, as seen in the latest attack on Rushdie that cost him an eye and caused further injuries.

You might be wondering WHY. Well, I read this book to find out.

The story is about two Indian men, both actors, both Muslims, and both expatriates living in England. They are on a plane hijacked by Sikh separatists. When the plane explodes, they are magically transformed - one into the archangel Gabriel and the other into the devil.

But the novel also delves into racist profiling, police brutality, mental health issues, the search for identity, and more. It reads more like a commentary on British colonialism and immigration than anything else.

As almost expected, there is no real major misstep here. Sure, there is that third and final dream sequence where a fanatic expatriate Imam is a satiric take on Khomeini, and we all know that religious fanatics don't handle satire well (just ask the people at Charlie Hebdo), but the reaction is definitely excessive.

I presume the second reason is that the title and an element of the story refer to the (now "erased") part of Mohammed's story where he accidentally believes something Satan tells him, thinking it was God's word. Meaning, the prophet isn't infallible, and religious people usually don't respond well to that either.

Now, as for the book itself, all I can say is that Rushdie has an amazing writing style. It's dense yet never boring, and it never feels like a chore to read but rather like a journey through a wonderful dreamland.

The description may not seem like something I'd overly enjoy, but the richness of the prose, the craftsmanship, the erudite mythological elements, all combine to form a wonderful tale.

As a final note, I'd like to draw attention to how pleased I am that this book exists in the first place. Given all that the fanatics did and how many people died in protests and attacks, I appreciate all the more those who dared to publish it regardless - it certainly wouldn't happen nowadays (I have no faith in the bravery of journalism or the publishing industry; they just don't have that kind of courage anymore).

I can't truly review Rushdie's work. There are aspects in what he writes that elude my understanding. However, I do have a profound love for him. This is because his language, his prose, and his stories possess an essence that is quintessentially Indian.

He writes in a lush and extravagant manner, with stories piling on top of stories and subplots entangling with sub-subplots. Characters march through the narrative without much concern for their predecessors. The colors he描绘 are as vivid as candy pink, the lucky red, and the Aegean blue, and everything seems to be crashing and tumbling into one another.

Moreover, his stories are not only amusing, mischievous, and clever but also full of naughtiness and blatant stupidity. If someone were to ride his ass backwards through parliament, no one would bat an eyelid. Bollywood becomes even more Bollywood-like, and saints ride rats in homespun attire. And then, all of a sudden, his stories turn so sharp, so intelligent, quick to cut, leaving you in a state of awe. Do I really need to say more?

Reading Rushdie can be taxing and requires time. "Verses" took me a whole month of continuous reading. But Rushdie is like a big, beautiful genie of a writer, and the reading experience is truly fantastic.

Here's the deal with this book. As soon as you hear what everyone is saying, you'll quickly understand: it's a behemoth. Now, I don't mean that in a negative way. What I mean is that it's truly overwhelming. It's long, with complex storylines that involve overlapping characters and some that don't overlap in time or space at all. It's dense and at times, a bit slow. It's definitely not for the reader with ADD. No matter how fast you think you can read, this book will make you slow down. And no matter how determined you are to catch every single detail and nuance of this book and its meaning, you simply won't be able to.

I can usually breeze through a book in a few days. But it took me an entire year to read this one, and it was almost certainly my longest read ever. I often had to go back and refer to other parts of the book to keep the names and events straight. But you know what? It was absolutely worth every single minute.

Rushdie is a masterful writer, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I gained from reading this book. I would have loved to take a class on it while reading so that I could have understood even more of it. But even without that, I relished every second of it. Reading it is a labor of love, but it's an incredibly rewarding one.

NOTE: I was literally in college when I read this book and wrote this review. I've been on this site for decades now, and you can see the date on a review when you read it, so maybe keep that in mind before leaving me a snarky comment. Eventually I will reread this and write a different (better) review, but until then...

My fellow book lovers, I have a confession to make.

I am utterly ashamed of myself for not having read any of Salman Rushdie’s work before this year. In my oversight, I was unknowingly depriving myself of so very much.

This is the second Rushdie book I have now read, the first being “The Enchantress of Florence,” which is also an astonishing, brilliant work.

The Satanic Verses: Most everyone has heard something about the controversy surrounding this infamous tome. Yes, it is a widely banned book. It inflamed the ire of Ayatollah Khomeni and many other Muslims. It caused Rushdie to go into hiding for a decade. And it ultimately inspired the assassination of the Japanese translator and attempts on the lives of other translators, and an assassination attempt on the author himself earlier this year.

But what of the book itself? It is dense. Sprawling. Resplendent with memorable characters. Full of fantastical dreamy magic. Funny at times. Chock full of forays and insights into a myriad of topics, including Indian culture, British culture, ancient Middle Eastern culture, modern celebrity culture, relationships, theology, psychology, philosophy, history, literary references, and more. Rushdie’s erudition is almost blinding. There’s just so much to chew on here—this is truly a feast for the senses and the intellect.

This is a Book with a capital B. It is a Book to be read and re-read, and to be marveled at. My advice is to read it sometime before you take the Great Dirt Nap. It is a work that will stay with you, challenge you, and make you think long after you’ve turned the final page. It is a literary masterpiece that demands to be experienced.

One of the worst books I've ever read in my life, so there's definitely no rating..!

Nevertheless, I tried to put my negative feelings aside and write a subject review as much as possible!

Salman Rushdie is a British writer of Indian origin with many works. He won the Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel "Midnight's Children".

"The Satanic Verses" is his fourth novel and is considered one of the most controversial books in the history of modern literature. It led to many demonstrations and protests from Muslims in several countries. Also, Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran issued a fatwa ordering his death after this novel!

The book, as a literary work, its true place is in the trash, but it sparked controversy because the author mentioned the story of the Satanic Verses, which is a weak story. There is no need to mention its details here, as there is also a direct and sudden insult to the wives of the Prophet in the book!

All the ideas in the book are superficial and meaningless. The author's style is unusually boring, and the dialogues are very long. You will feel many times that you don't understand what he wants to say, and I don't think the author himself understood..!

Throughout the time you are reading, you will find yourself saying only one word..

"What is this chaos"!!! Or in another way.. "What is this amount of nonsense!!"

I believe in the freedom of expression and writing in everything and anything, and I don't like the word "red lines", but freedom of expression must have an idea or a goal behind it, or at least be written in an enjoyable literary style..

But in this case and with this author, you will feel that he not only crossed the line in an unacceptable, repulsive, contemptible and abhorrent way, but you will also feel that there is nothing he really wants to say, and he is just trying to make a name or a reputation for himself, or based on the principle that "I protest, so I exist"..!

To be honest, the book does not deserve the paper it is written on, and in my opinion, Ayatollah Khomeini's issuing of a fatwa ordering the death of this man is evidence of his status, fame and value, and he simply does not deserve it!

A bad book.. in fact, the worst of all.. not recommended.

I liked it more than I initially expected. Rushdie's use of symbolism is, to be honest, a bit overly heavy-handed. For instance, the idea of an Indian expatriate who denies his Indian roots transforming into the incarnation of evil seems rather extreme. However, he compensates for this with his sharp and pungent prose.

Nevertheless, be cautious. If sentences such as "Exit Pimple, weeping, censored, a scrap on a cutting-room floor." or "Here he is neither Mahomet nor MoeHammered; has adopted, instead, the demon-tag the farangis hung around his neck." make you uncomfortable or cause you to cringe, then you might want to stay away from this work like the plague.

On the other hand, if you find this kind of writing refreshingly different and captivating, then by all means, dive right in. It offers an Indian magic realist perspective on important themes such as racism, identity, religion, and redemption.

Overall, it's a complex and thought-provoking piece that may not be for everyone but has the potential to deeply engage those who are open to its unique style and content.

When you've fallen from the sky, been abandoned by your friend, endured police brutality, metamorphosed into a goat, lost your job as well as your wife, discovered the power of hatred and regained the human shape, what else could there possibly be to do but demand your rights?

So this is just one of the numerous cadences present in Mr Rushdie's indictment of religion, movies, relationships, and the conflicts within the human condition. It is a work that is simultaneously uproariously funny, yet deeply tinged with pain and great sadness.

Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, the two actors and central characters who fall off a plane on a fateful day hijacked by terrorists and go on to intertwine their lives, is a frenetic novel filled with diverse voices, thought-provoking ideas, and the enchanting elements of magical realism. It takes the reader on a wild journey through a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred, and where the characters must grapple with the consequences of their actions and the forces that shape their destinies.

The text delves into various aspects related to Salman Rushdie's work, particularly "The Satanic Verses." It begins by highlighting the significance of Jumpy's poetry and the idea of a book being a result of a pact with the devil. The controversy surrounding "The Satanic Verses" is then detailed, with the fatwa issued by Imam Khomeyni and the subsequent attacks on those associated with the book. The author laments the fact that the book has been largely ignored due to its perceived "problematic" nature, while other works by controversial authors are still read and discussed.

In August 2022, Rushdie was stabbed by a fundamentalist Islamic attacker, and the author notes the lack of response from Italian writers. The text then goes on to defend "The Satanic Verses," arguing that it is a beautiful and complex work that uses religious and mythical elements to critique fundamentalism. The characters of Gibreel and Chamcha are described, and their transformation after surviving a plane crash is detailed. The author concludes by stating that "The Satanic Verses" is a masterpiece that deserves to be rediscovered, and hopes that it will be studied and appreciated in the future.

The final part of the text presents a story about a man and a woman who have a falling out over a broken vase. The man refuses to forgive the woman, even on her deathbed, and Pamela views him as mean and cruel. However, Chamcha sees the situation differently, understanding the mysterious and private nature of the man's pain.