The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
goldripred's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Surprisingly good as everything wraps up at the end. I find this a characteristic charm of Rushdie where you find yourself longing for the end where he ties up all the characters, all of the disparate ends of history into an arc you can trace. I really enjoyed parts of this novel and found it informative in understanding the history. It had significant gravitas towards some of the most heart-breaking segments such as the Bangladeshi genocide. I felt exhausted and appalled after reading that segment which was the purpose of narrating that storyline. It was a book that aimed to explain ALL of India’s history 30 years after independence even through the tracks of Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was hopeful towards the beginning and slowly lost its optimism until the reader feels the legacy of being an Indian as Rushdie describes it: constantly trampled under the weight of history. Overall, an enlightening experience. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, War, and Rape
cazastrophe's review against another edition
2.0
It felt like it went on forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Kidnapping, Violence, War, Racial slurs, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Police brutality
coinmanatee's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Somewhere in these 600+ pages is a good book. Unfortunately its covered in the rest of it.
Saleem is thoroughly unlikable as a narrator. Half the time I was disgusted with him, and the other half I was rolling my eyes at his sheer egotistical garbage.
The foreshadowing is overwrought and the book refuses to let you work things out for yourself. It must point things out and go "look!!!" "See!! I'm being clever!" Some of its unfortunately necessary because the book is just so terribly long but most of the time it's just annoying.
None of the women are allowed to not be either a sexual object and/or a mother.
Theres a preoccupation with genitalia that I really could have done without too.
When the prose is beautiful it's beautiful, but most of the time it just isnt worth it.
Saleem is thoroughly unlikable as a narrator. Half the time I was disgusted with him, and the other half I was rolling my eyes at his sheer egotistical garbage.
The foreshadowing is overwrought and the book refuses to let you work things out for yourself. It must point things out and go "look!!!" "See!! I'm being clever!" Some of its unfortunately necessary because the book is just so terribly long but most of the time it's just annoying.
None of the women are allowed to not be either a sexual object and/or a mother.
Theres a preoccupation with genitalia that I really could have done without too.
When the prose is beautiful it's beautiful, but most of the time it just isnt worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pedophilia
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