A review by lizardkidd
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

4.0

This is the story of two men struggling with their faith, families, and the lines between good and evil. The book takes you on a journey through both mens lives, Saladin Chamcha, “the man of a thousand voices” and Gibreel Farishta, the legendary Indian movie star. Their journey ventures from Bombay to London, through Love and loss, and what’s right and wrong.

At the beginning I found it hard to concentrate and lock in, as the book leaps between both men’s stories, including their visions and dreams, making it confusing, as time frames change with each vision/dream.
After this momentary hurdle, I found myself connecting to both characters, and their stories, and I would plead with anyone who starts the book, (if they too, find it a difficult book to get into) to persist. You will be rewarded.

A lot has to be said for Rushdie’s writing. His descriptions and abundant detailing of scenes, puts the reader inside many amazing landscapes. His short but precise detailing of characters was just enough to outline and bring out particular features which stuck with me, and created a memorable picture.

Finally, would I recommend? Absolutely. Most people would have heard of this book before reading, and regardless of the backlash and critics - it’s a piece of classic storytelling, which would be a shame to miss out on.