The name is enough: Salman Rushdie. I picked this one up just because of this, and also because I had not read any of his books earlier. Not even Midnight's Children, which apparently was adjudged the 'Best of Booker'.
And certainly not that one, which we all think of when we hear his name.
This is a scathing, no-holds-barred, literary criticism of some of the best works by some of the best known authors world-wide. Rushdie finds, in between praise for worthy contenders, errors in form, content and characterisation in just about every work that he peruses - and he does read a lot, it seems.
His ability to read between the lines and get behind the story to determine what the author was trying to say, has said, or did not say, is extraordinary. His language, of course, is first-rate and exemplary, as you would imagine.
His ability to read between the lines and get behind the story to determine what the author was trying to say, has said, or did not say, is extraordinary. His language, of course, is first-rate and exemplary, as you would imagine.
He considers a long series of literary works - mostly fiction, and mostly from his contemporaries during the period of a decade - 1981 to 1991. If you are not into South American or mainland European authors - like I am not - you can safely bypass a large segment of the book, and concentrate instead on the bits that matter - at least to me, which occur in the beginning and the end of the book.
These are to do with his take on religion, literature, English language, politics, and films. There is a delightful essay about Indian words appropriated into English during the Raj, and later published as Hobson Jobson, which, believe it or not, is said to be a corruption of the 'Ya Hussain, Ali Hussain' cries heard during Moharram!
These are to do with his take on religion, literature, English language, politics, and films. There is a delightful essay about Indian words appropriated into English during the Raj, and later published as Hobson Jobson, which, believe it or not, is said to be a corruption of the 'Ya Hussain, Ali Hussain' cries heard during Moharram!
He saves the best for the last. The last major chapter of the book is about the controversy surrounding his banned book, The Satanic Verses. I always wondered if he was affected by this controversy. Hell, yes, it seems he was! And you get to know just how much in this last segment of the book. I was struck by the strangeness of the whole situation: he was a born Muslim, but he openly declared, at the age of 15 that he was not a Muslim; on the other hand he decided he was an atheist. He demonstrated this by consuming a pork sandwich, after which, he discovered to his joy and relief, that he was not struck down by thunder or lightning.
However he had a soft corner for this born-into religion, especially towards that aspect of his faith which allowed for a liberated world-view and free speech, which he sadly realised later was never going to be a part of Already Existing Islam, as he puts it. Finally, he was hounded by the followers of that very faith, and imprisoned in a cocoon of non-existence for several years.
However he had a soft corner for this born-into religion, especially towards that aspect of his faith which allowed for a liberated world-view and free speech, which he sadly realised later was never going to be a part of Already Existing Islam, as he puts it. Finally, he was hounded by the followers of that very faith, and imprisoned in a cocoon of non-existence for several years.
There is a touching description of how he went through hell during the mass demonstrations and fatwas that called for his killing the world over, especially in the UK, where he lived in his 'bubble', as he puts it. Here he puts forth his view, his justification for the contents of the book, and the fact that a metaphorical and fictional re-interpretation of Islam was vilified by those who never understood it, or even so much as read the book.
There is a terrific piece about how 'literalism' in interpreting the religious books is contributing to fundamentalist thought and action, and about the tussle between the mundane and the magnificent, the good and the bad, and religion and literature.
He also describes certain passages from the book, which were considered to be blasphemous at the time - this is the closest that we could get to actually reading the book as it is still banned in India.
There is a terrific piece about how 'literalism' in interpreting the religious books is contributing to fundamentalist thought and action, and about the tussle between the mundane and the magnificent, the good and the bad, and religion and literature.
He also describes certain passages from the book, which were considered to be blasphemous at the time - this is the closest that we could get to actually reading the book as it is still banned in India.
Go for it for the language, critical views, and opinions of a master thinker and writer.
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Image source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61kMA2RbYNL.jpg
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