Reading 1001 discussion

Read 2010

Story of India from WWI to the 1978 told through the life of Saleem Sinai. I enjoyed reading this book though it was rather long. Thank goodness it wasn't 1001 pages as the author seemed to like that number a lot. There was humor throughout the story as well as tragedy.

Story of India from the end of WWI to the seventies told through the life of Saleem Sinai. I especially enjoyed reading about the events of 1971 the year I graduated and 1975, the date my son was born and January 18th 1977, the date my daughter was born. What a fun way to read about the history of a country.

Sweeping epic novel that tells the story of post-Partition India through the life of Saleem Sinai, born on the stroke of midnight on the same day as India is born. Rushdie mixes comedy and tragedy, the ebullience of a country’s youth and then the poignant regret and devastating anger at the misguided direction it follows through Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.

Rushdie is undoubtedly a gifted and intelligent writer and storyteller. The book sparkles with memorable characters and dramatic scenes, and juggles themes of memory and truth with a bewitching family saga. I really loved the way that the key points of modern Indian history were mirrored by the adventures of Saleem, a very effective way of making the satire engaging and accessible.

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel, it’s such an assured and accomplished piece of fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book (apart from the copious references to snot!) and I will definitely be reading more Rushdie.

finished May 2023

There is a lot packed into it’s (many!) pages, and as always with Rushdie it’s a joy to witness him carry all the threads throughout. I have to admit that my knowledge of partition of India was vague at best. Through the life story of Saleem, Rushdie presents an allegory of the time from partition until Indira Ghandi’s ‘Emergency’. I learned a lot along the way, since I was interested enough to look many things up as Saleem’s story unfolded. Of course, there is magic realism and a large cast of characters. The novel is important because it is post-colonial, post modern and was/is very influential. For me the important part is that it was a very enjoyable read! 4.5*

Pre-2016 review:

****

Saleem Sinai is born on the stroke of midnight the day India becomes an independent country; his life, triumphs and tragedies and India's modern history are intricately linked in this novel full of magical realism, laughter and tragedy. For me, magical realism works best when there is a picaresque flavour to it (think Garcia Marquez) and it is present to an extent in this novel. I liked Grimus, but I enjoyed Midnight's Children even more.