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nannahnannah's review against another edition
2.0
Whew, I love Salman Rushdie's other works, but this one just didn't work for me. Maybe it went over my head, maybe I'm just not it's target audience, or maybe it's just not for me, but in any case I found myself counting down the pages for it to end.
And yeah, the content warnings hit nearly everything that makes me extremely uncomfortable, and if not for the fact I had already read over half the book already (and the fact that this book is HUGE) I would have given up on it.
Midnight's Children is a huge novel about the births of Saleem Sinai (the protagonist and narrator) and also India herself at midnight, August 15, 1947. In the style of an autobiography, Saleem covers the life of his father and his father's father before he comes to his own life and India's independence, talking about what makes you you and how your shape your life (and what it means for his country as well).
It's not done there, though, because as a side-effect of being born on midnight of India's birth, Saleem has become a "Child of Midnight", something that's granted him supernatural powers, and also granted 1001 other children born within the hour similar powers. For Saleem, it's the ability to read other people's minds.
All this in one book. Albeit one massive book, but one book nonetheless.
The beginning half was interesting, and I loved an inside look into what India was like, but once the narrative turned to the protagonist himself, Saleem Sinai, I lost interest. He has to be the most conceited, vain, and just annoying protagonist I've ever read, even absolutely convinced the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 solely happened to purify him of sin. That things happened in the world just because and for him. I couldn't wait for the book to be over just to be rid of him and his story!
I think part of a book's appeal is the main character, and that's why the latter half (which is huge) just left me wanting this to be over. I just couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I'm so sorry, because I do love this author and I know how much this is a "classic masterpiece". :S But it just wasn't for me.
And yeah, the content warnings hit nearly everything that makes me extremely uncomfortable, and if not for the fact I had already read over half the book already (and the fact that this book is HUGE) I would have given up on it.
Midnight's Children is a huge novel about the births of Saleem Sinai (the protagonist and narrator) and also India herself at midnight, August 15, 1947. In the style of an autobiography, Saleem covers the life of his father and his father's father before he comes to his own life and India's independence, talking about what makes you you and how your shape your life (and what it means for his country as well).
It's not done there, though, because as a side-effect of being born on midnight of India's birth, Saleem has become a "Child of Midnight", something that's granted him supernatural powers, and also granted 1001 other children born within the hour similar powers. For Saleem, it's the ability to read other people's minds.
All this in one book. Albeit one massive book, but one book nonetheless.
The beginning half was interesting, and I loved an inside look into what India was like, but once the narrative turned to the protagonist himself, Saleem Sinai, I lost interest. He has to be the most conceited, vain, and just annoying protagonist I've ever read, even absolutely convinced the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 solely happened to purify him of sin. That things happened in the world just because and for him. I couldn't wait for the book to be over just to be rid of him and his story!
I think part of a book's appeal is the main character, and that's why the latter half (which is huge) just left me wanting this to be over. I just couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I'm so sorry, because I do love this author and I know how much this is a "classic masterpiece". :S But it just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, and Pedophilia
re: incest: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