Kevin’s review of Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights > Likes and Comments

Oh I am pleased to see you love this one and share my admiration for Salman Rushdie. I have this novel waiting at home and am even more eager to start now after your enthusiastic review, Kevin!

Lisa wrote: "Oh I am pleased to see you love this one and share my admiration for Salman Rushdie. I have this novel waiting at home and am even more eager to start now after your enthusiastic review, Kevin!"

Thank you!
I am a huge fan of Rushdie, and of magical realism in general (it's my thing). That said, I didn't enjoy this as much as Midnight's Children (one of my top five novels), or even Shalimar the Clown.
I'd love to see what you make of it, Lisa!

In two minds about this Kevin....loved your review though:)

Paromjit wrote: "In two minds about this Kevin....loved your review though:)"

Thanks, Paromjit. It's so good to have the time to read again!
I've got loads more lined up as I'm jetting off for a relaxing break.

Hehe
"The attention span of a goldfish", I like that sentence :)
Great review, Kevin. And quite funny, too :))

Excellent review, Ansbro!! (Did I compensate for that history lesson sting? :)

Maria wrote: "Hehe
"The attention span of a goldfish", I like that sentence :)
Great review, Kevin. And quite funny, too :))"

Thanks, Maria! Gosh, your English is so-o good!

Jaline wrote: "Excellent review, Ansbro!! (Did I compensate for that history lesson sting? :)"

So kind, Jaline!
That was just an everyday occurrence, I was always in trouble at school! My English teacher loved me though. : )

Kevin wrote: "So kind, Jaline!
That was just an everyday occurrence, I was always in trouble at school! My English teacher loved me though. : )

I can imagine that (s)he would! :) I was skipped a grade in school so I always felt compelled to "measure up". I was pretty good at after-school antics, though! :D

Fantastic review, Kevin. I have his newest and will be reading it soon.

Diane S ☔ wrote: "Fantastic review, Kevin. I have his newest and will be reading it soon."

Thanks, Diane, kind as ever!
Yes, I'm eagerly awaiting its release; it's not out here until mid-September.

Love your review Kevin.

Melanie wrote: "Love your review Kevin."

Thank you, Melanie!
More than kind.
; )

Great review Kevin! I'm fascinated by Rushdie, even went to see him speak. But intimidated to read him. Perhaps one day I'll pick up his work. But probably not this one. :-)

PorshaJo wrote: "Great review Kevin! I'm fascinated by Rushdie, even went to see him speak. But intimidated to read him. Perhaps one day I'll pick up his work. But probably not this one. :-)"

Thanks, Porshajo! Lovely to hear from you.
Please don't make this one your first shufti into Rushdie.
I would recommend Midnight's Children, though it requires all phones and devices to be turned off during its read, otherwise you'll find yourself having to reread whole chapters, trying to remember who all these people were and who did what to whom!
Shalimar the Clown might be a good introduction. East,West is a really easy read; a slim book of short stories.

Wonderful review, Kevin!
Hope you got that classmate back ;-)

Deanna wrote: "Wonderful review, Kevin!
Hope you got that classmate back ;-)"

Ha! Thank you, Deanna.
It served me right for being a daydreamer.
Anyway, they've done far worse. I was once dared to do a streak through the school (when streaking was the craze). So I ran stark naked past all the classrooms, but when I returned to the changing room, I discovered they'd hidden my school uniform!
Thank heavens it was an all-boys' school and that they didn't have camera phones back then! : )

Kevin wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Wonderful review, Kevin!
Hope you got that classmate back ;-)"

Ha! Thank you, Deanna.
It served me right for being a daydreamer.
Anyway, they've done far worse. I was once dared to..."

HA!! That's awesome! Very brave!
Oh dear...yes if there had been camera phones you'd have been forever on film :)

Thank you, Kevin! I quite enjoyed his one and only book I read, although it is nothing like anything else I've ever read... but with a topic so current, I wonder how many of his fans will appreciate it and how many will denounce it. He strikes me as a bit of a mad genius - and if I ever do read another of his, it will likely be Midnight's Children. Loved your review!

Cheri wrote: "Thank you, Kevin! I quite enjoyed his one and only book I read, although it is nothing like anything else I've ever read... but with a topic so current, I wonder how many of his fans will appreciat..."

Thank you, Cheri!
Yes, Midnight's Children is his crowning glory, but it requires of the reader an inhuman degree of concentration.
I loved it - it's in my top ten of novels read!

Oh, I love this little glimpse of Ansbro in history class. :-)

Laysee wrote: "Oh, I love this little glimpse of Ansbro in history class. :-)"

Thanks, Laysee, I was often caught daydreaming in class.
: )

I like to think my attention span is more like a salmon (of doubt?!) than a goldfish, so maybe I'll manage to swim all the way to the end of this in the near future...

Cecily wrote: "I like to think my attention span is more like a salmon (of doubt?!) than a goldfish, so maybe I'll manage to swim all the way to the end of this in the near future..."

I was often a kipper in class, Cecily, whereas you have a much greater sense of porpoise. Pleased to learn that you had a whale of a time in the U.S!

Rushdie has to return to form (Midnight's Children) at some point, but looks like it won't be with this book. In the meantime, might we see the "The Ansbro Diaries: The School Years"?

Tsung Wei wrote: "Rushdie has to return to form (Midnight's Children) at some point, but looks like it won't be with this book. In the meantime, might we see the "The Ansbro Diaries: The School Years"?"

Ha! That might not be as exciting as it sounds! I attended a rather strict all-boys' school! : )
For a long time now I have a 'recommended-by-tsung-wei' shelf in my TBR list: Memories of Melancholy Whores.
I deliberately avoided reading your review, and others, to avoid spoilers.
I will get to it sometime. I promise. I love Márquez!

Kevin wrote: "I was often a kipper in class, Cecily, whereas you have a much greater sense of porpoise. Pleased to learn that you had a whale of a time in the U.S!"

It was a good plaice - at least, where we went. But the exchange rate is dreadful, so we'll have to shrimp and save now we're home.

Cecily wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I was often a kipper in class, Cecily, whereas you have a much greater sense of porpoise. Pleased to learn that you had a whale of a time in the U.S!"

It was a good plaice - at least..."

Oh dear, I've halibut enough of this!
; )

Cecily wrote: ""

Ha! Love this, Cecily.!
: D

I have not read this one but Midnights children is really a contribution to literature... But as you say Kevin it requires all your concentration and I had to read it twice to comprehend... I am now scared to pick something by Rushdie as I get wandered easily while reading them... They appear too heavy and need all your senses to be focused... M

Shilpi Mittal wrote: "I have not read this one but Midnights children is really a contribution to literature... But as you say Kevin it requires all your concentration and I had to read it twice to comprehend... I am no..."

You are so right, Shilpi. Rushdie's books require a high level of concentration, which I don't often have either.
I find that I can read him best when I'm somewhere where there are no distractions.
Thanks for your comment!

Oh boy! I am still reading this book and hope to finish it soon. But it reassures me to see that I am not the only one intimidated by Salman Rushdie's books. I picked up Midnight's children from my school library as a kid and my confidence shook when I couldn't read more than 25 pages of the book. I guess I was too young and dumb then :p. But I'm delighted to have picked up this book because it takes me back to my childhood with my grandparents. I grew up listening to stories of jinn and jiniri, of peristan and flying carpets and how a clever man trapped a jinn in a bottle. A kids show called Alif Laila that we watched every Sunday night comes back to mind. I am thoroughly enjoying the book though I still have to,  at times,  go back and re-read. I am glad I gave Rushdie another chance :). Hoping to finish this one soon and may be give Midnight's children another shot too. 

I loved this Kevin but it is a departure from his others. I think his writing just makes me accept any outlandishness! I have to reread Midnights children which I read so long ago, just to 'compare and contrast'!

Jo wrote: "I loved this Kevin but it is a departure from his others. I think his writing just makes me accept any outlandishness! I have to reread Midnights children which I read so long ago, just to 'compare..."

Thanks, Jo! I loved your review of this book. It could be that I set my expectations too high where the great man's work is concerned.

Sonam wrote: "Oh boy! I am still reading this book and hope to finish it soon. But it reassures me to see that I am not the only one intimidated by Salman Rushdie's books. I picked up Midnight's children from my..."

I'm so pleased that you gave Rushdie another chance too, Sonam.
Loved hearing about the childhood tales told to you.
I'm going to have a look at your Rushdie books...

Kevin.....a great review. I have to wonder if you really have the attention span of a fish since "fishy writing" can induce day dreaming and a short attention span :D

Fran wrote: "Kevin.....a great review. I have to wonder if you really have the attention span of a fish since "fishy writing" can induce day dreaming and a short attention span :D"

Are you saying that my writing is fishy, Fran? LOL!!!
; )

Never, Kevin! You are most entertaining! :D

Fran wrote: "Never, Kevin! You are most entertaining! :D"

Yes, but my books are fishy!
: )

I tried it and couldn't get into it, will settle for just reading your terrific review.

Diane S ☔ wrote: "I tried it and couldn't get into it, will settle for just reading your terrific review."

Aww, too kind, Diane. I appreciate your kind words. : )

Excellent and enjoyable review Kevin. I did smile at your account of school day dreaming. Weren't we all guilty of this? Mathematics was my favourite time to day dream!

Leila wrote: "Excellent and enjoyable review Kevin. I did smile at your account of school day dreaming. Weren't we all guilty of this? Mathematics was my favourite time to day dream!"

Thank you so much, Leila.
Maths and History for me. My brain's more on the creative side!
Have a wonderful day! : )

Leila wrote: "Excellent and enjoyable review Kevin. I did smile at your account of school day dreaming. Weren't we all guilty of this? Mathematics was my favourite time to day dream!

Leila...I loved math...perhaps I should have spent more time dreaming...LOL

Fantastic review. Rushdie is one of those writers on my "I must read" list. I've got his latest, I don't know when I'll read it.

Bianca wrote: "Fantastic review. Rushdie is one of those writers on my "I must read" list. I've got his latest, I don't know when I'll read it."

Thanks, Bianca!
Midnight's Children is by far his best, but please do give him a chance. His novels are altogether kaleidoscopic, fantastical and mischievous!

What an entertaining review, Kevin! I'll keep this short in honor of the goldfish. ;-) You are a hoot, sir!

Kimber wrote: "What an entertaining review, Kevin! I'll keep this short in honor of the goldfish. ;-) You are a hoot, sir!"

Thanks, Kimber!
You have a far better memory than I, and will definitely be able to get to get to grips with Rushdie's amazing Midnight's Children. It requires of the reader powers of concentration that are fast going out of fashion! : )

Kevin wrote: "Kimber wrote: "What an entertaining review, Kevin! I'll keep this short in honor of the goldfish. ;-) You are a hoot, sir!"

Thanks, Kimber!
You have a far better memory than I, and will definitely..."

You're welcome, Kevin. Thanks to you, I have Midnight's Children on my list for this year, and I'm looking forward to it! :-)