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deeb_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
3.5
A man who sets out to make himself up is taking on the Creator's role, according to one way of seeing things; he's unnatural, a blasphemer, an abomination of abominations. From another angle, you could see pathos in him, heroism in his struggle, in his willingness to risk: not all mutants survive. Or, consider him sociopolitically: most migrants learn, and can become disguises. (49)
The Satanic Verses is about a lot of things: migration, the social and psychological effects that come with it, love, politics, and religion. Rushdie is a lyrical and at times darkly humorous writer, and he tackles the complex themes of the book with cleverness and empathy. The book features an entire ensemble cast of complex characters whose lives and stories intersect in an increasingly tangled web. And that's not even to mention the dream sequences that weave in and out of the main storyline.
The main London storyline (of Saladin, Gibreel, and their associated friends and acquaintances) was the most interesting to me. While a nonlinear story structure can be confusing in other works, I found it to be well done and helpful in fleshing out the characters. I was less fond of the nonlinear storytelling when it came to the dream sequences, which sometimes seemed to pop up without super clear parallels or relevance to the main storyline. Even relatively minor characters feel fleshed out and even their most absurd decisions natural and in character. Also, the themes I personally found the most interesting (love, migration, assimilation, politics) featured the most prominently in this storyline.
I did not find the other storylines as interesting, perhaps because they were more religiously themed I am personally not well acquainted with Islamic history and religious beliefs. They were still well written, but I preferred the main storyline and found it a little easier to understand than the more fantastical elements of the other dream sequence stories.
I also really enjoyed the magical realist aspects of the novel. The fantasy elements don't take away from how grounded the story is and actually serve to emphasize the characters' struggles and conflicts. Additionally, the magical elements are not always clear allegories for things, making the story feel more complex and up to the reader's interpretation. And perhaps not all of the fantastical choices have to be symbolic-- sometimes they may just be whimsical or unsettling, and that's totally fine.
Despite the great literary quality of the book, I didn't rate it higher because I personally didn't find it as gripping or entertaining as other things I've read of similar thematic richness and writing quality. It felt a bit like a book I would enjoy reading for school and would make a strong source text for an essay, but pacing wise it seemed to drag and meander a bit. There would be times where sticking with the book felt a little like a chore because of its length and slower pacing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide
greenrequiem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content