A story about a life that starts auspiciously on the 15th of August, 1947, the day of Indian independence; Saleem’s life is wrapped up in his country’s history from day one.
What an experience reading this book was! I was reading this for a book club, and I’m glad I got the chance to read my first Rushdie this summer. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, and I liked the element of surprise and discovery that marked my reading experience. This novel tackles some really important issues that haven’t been adequately addressed in other ways, and it has made me go away and do more reading and research. I think it’s really important when novels do that, when they colour in our history.
The things I liked the most: the scene-setting, the mixing of the historical and cultural with the personal, and the magical realism. The narrator is a master of digression and abstraction. The meandering and dream-like quality of the book takes you on a journey that’s surprising, sometimes frustrating. You go backwards as well as forwards.
This is a book that touches on the wars in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, as well as the end of official British rule and partition. There’s violence and conflict here, but the novel is particularly compelling in how it mixes war with the personal. It documents people’s experiences and destinies that are coloured, interrupted, and marred by violence. At the same time, the book never wallows in violence or death, and many characters approach their fates with humour and love.
The characters are unique, conflicting, and full of life. It’s fascinating to see behind the veil of “officials” and politicians, as well as glimpse at some of the larger-than-life almost mythical figures Salem interacts with. Family legends & myths combine with national destiny as boundaries blur. There’s a density to this book: not an easy or quick read, this is one to savour.
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