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jgray93's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
sarahlouisely's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
katiescho741's review against another edition
2.0
I think a lot of readers have the aim to finish Midnight's Children, but I failed!
I got about three quarters into it and it became a bit stupid (for lack of a better word!). I enjoyed the fantastic life story of Saleem and his telepathic connection to the fellow children of midnight. The idea that a moment in time holds supernatural significance isn't something I normally go for, but I found the setting of India to have enough magic and mysticism about it to maintain the thread. The history of India's independence isn't something I know much about and I loved learning the history by reading this book.
I enjoyed the fourth wall breaking parts where we're aware that we're reading a novel because Saleem himself talks about the process. I liked the ideas of cause and effect and how most events are linked, somehow, to everything else.
The part that stopped me was when Saleem becomes some sort of pious bloodhound with no memory. This completely jarred the story for me and I didn't want to read anymore. I guess there's only so much magic and mysticism I can handle!
I got about three quarters into it and it became a bit stupid (for lack of a better word!). I enjoyed the fantastic life story of Saleem and his telepathic connection to the fellow children of midnight. The idea that a moment in time holds supernatural significance isn't something I normally go for, but I found the setting of India to have enough magic and mysticism about it to maintain the thread. The history of India's independence isn't something I know much about and I loved learning the history by reading this book.
I enjoyed the fourth wall breaking parts where we're aware that we're reading a novel because Saleem himself talks about the process. I liked the ideas of cause and effect and how most events are linked, somehow, to everything else.
The part that stopped me was when Saleem becomes some sort of pious bloodhound with no memory. This completely jarred the story for me and I didn't want to read anymore. I guess there's only so much magic and mysticism I can handle!
tooth4che's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
xcain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
myeonghopabo's review against another edition
3.0
i'm honestly just glad i got through this book. i'm awfully proud of myself.
ideas: private and public, imagination in self-identity, ethical memory/forgetting
ideas: private and public, imagination in self-identity, ethical memory/forgetting
bethdevlin9's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
daphnesayshi's review against another edition
3.0
I'm generally fine with Rushdie as a writer, but for some reason I remember Midnight's children being really difficult to finish. I first picked it up as part of a module on colonial literature – needless to say, I never managed to quite finish the book then. picked it up again a couple of years later, started anew, and drifted off.. a couple cycles of this start and stop and I guess I finally finished it, but.. I don't think I am capable of commenting nor reviewing this book.
chiliramon's review against another edition
4.0
"To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world."
Pretty much feel like I bit off a big chunk of India and I'm still chewing. So many parts to digest, a lot has already gone over my head -- and that's ok. The whole story is so absurdly distinct and flavorful and chaotic that to just get a sense of it is satisfying enough. I don't need to understand or even believe every little thing. I willingly "swallow the world."
Pretty much feel like I bit off a big chunk of India and I'm still chewing. So many parts to digest, a lot has already gone over my head -- and that's ok. The whole story is so absurdly distinct and flavorful and chaotic that to just get a sense of it is satisfying enough. I don't need to understand or even believe every little thing. I willingly "swallow the world."