Reviews

Mitternachtskinder by Salman Rushdie

heidi_meredith's review against another edition

challenging dark funny medium-paced

5.0

I read this once before but the only thing I remembered wasn't in it this time. It must be me that's changed. I feel like I must not have understood it last time, although I kept it all these years because I remembered enjoying it. It's probably been 15-20 years.

My memory tricks are strangely apt, for a book which plays with the nature of memory. 

It's a fascinatingly rich tale, which I still can't fully understand. I enjoyed the comic relief of Padma. Hopefully I can read it in another 15-20 years and perhaps that extra maturity will allow me further insight. 

bigbeardedguy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

chandlabing1987's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny reflective slow-paced

5.0

bhargav09's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

samsundaram's review against another edition

5.0

This book was a DELIGHT. I simultaneously want to read this book all over again... and am not sure if I could ever re-read it because of how much I had to concentrate on every word.

The chaos and confusion of this book is its charm. I wish I'd known right from the beginning that if you don't understand, that's not only fine -- but that makes it even better.

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!

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