It's been a few days since I typed that review of 'The Satanic Verses'. The sheer depth of the book has taken some time to digest. Perhaps a few days should have been spent perusing the book after reading it once.
Firstly, I can't get the characters out of my head. Gibreel Farishta, Saladin Chamcha, The Cones (Otto, Elena, Allie & Alicja), Jumpy Joshi, Pamela Lovelace Chamcha, Mahound, Ayesha, Mirza Saeed, Osman and his bullock - this list is endless. Every character is so well described. Take the story of Ayesha's Haj where we knew virtually the entire village and the village neighbouring Ayesha's where she sells her dolls. Look at Gibreel love interest - Allie. We know everything about her and her family members. Were all these characters necessary? I will never know unless I take some courses in the understanding of fiction, but I can say that to me it made such enjoyable reading.
Secondly, I have to make a special mention of the number of issues tackled in this one book that is almost five hundred and fifty pages. Most authors struggle to get one idea through a book but here is Rushdie speaking of multiple issues in one book.
Further, the writing style is unlike any I have read before. The first time I read 'Shame' I was 'seriously' into it. When I finished the book and read up on Rushdie and his works I started to realize that I should have found many things funny. With 'The Satanic Verses' I was more prepared and enjoyed the worlds that Rushdie created.
Moreover, however cheap it was of the author to use this tactic I found it creative. Who else would have had the Prophet's adversary live the Prophet's life? Then use that same existence and all the secrets he was open to in form of imitation to write his poems. Very creative. Unfortunately, very cheap too.
The story of MIrza Saeed Akhtar and Ayesha that is my favourite. Many of us want to believe. I too want to, I almost do too. But then there are times when I find it hard to. Mirza with his Mercedes tries his best to get the pilgrims to see the path of reason and technology but fails. He sees the truth as it is. I feel sad. Sad there was no magic. But wait! There are so many other who witnessed the same act but with a major difference. The author is equivocal in the book if not in life. I am undecided too in matters of faith. Thus, the story appeals to me.
Why did I earlier say I didn't like the book as much as I liked 'Shame'? Perhaps I expected another fast moving tale not as heavy as this novel turned out to be. It is a much more profound and ambitious work. For that reverence is due. Maybe it slipped at first immdiately after turning the last page. I can't claim I understand all of now but I feel like I have got more out of the book in these last few days. Another reason could have been that I was disappointed with the end. It was too simple. But I now reason with myself that the entire work can't be judged on the the last few pages.
But the central problem with the novel still remains. Why denigrate Islam? The author may not believe but there are many who do not share his feelings.
Firstly, I can't get the characters out of my head. Gibreel Farishta, Saladin Chamcha, The Cones (Otto, Elena, Allie & Alicja), Jumpy Joshi, Pamela Lovelace Chamcha, Mahound, Ayesha, Mirza Saeed, Osman and his bullock - this list is endless. Every character is so well described. Take the story of Ayesha's Haj where we knew virtually the entire village and the village neighbouring Ayesha's where she sells her dolls. Look at Gibreel love interest - Allie. We know everything about her and her family members. Were all these characters necessary? I will never know unless I take some courses in the understanding of fiction, but I can say that to me it made such enjoyable reading.
Secondly, I have to make a special mention of the number of issues tackled in this one book that is almost five hundred and fifty pages. Most authors struggle to get one idea through a book but here is Rushdie speaking of multiple issues in one book.
Further, the writing style is unlike any I have read before. The first time I read 'Shame' I was 'seriously' into it. When I finished the book and read up on Rushdie and his works I started to realize that I should have found many things funny. With 'The Satanic Verses' I was more prepared and enjoyed the worlds that Rushdie created.
Moreover, however cheap it was of the author to use this tactic I found it creative. Who else would have had the Prophet's adversary live the Prophet's life? Then use that same existence and all the secrets he was open to in form of imitation to write his poems. Very creative. Unfortunately, very cheap too.
The story of MIrza Saeed Akhtar and Ayesha that is my favourite. Many of us want to believe. I too want to, I almost do too. But then there are times when I find it hard to. Mirza with his Mercedes tries his best to get the pilgrims to see the path of reason and technology but fails. He sees the truth as it is. I feel sad. Sad there was no magic. But wait! There are so many other who witnessed the same act but with a major difference. The author is equivocal in the book if not in life. I am undecided too in matters of faith. Thus, the story appeals to me.
Why did I earlier say I didn't like the book as much as I liked 'Shame'? Perhaps I expected another fast moving tale not as heavy as this novel turned out to be. It is a much more profound and ambitious work. For that reverence is due. Maybe it slipped at first immdiately after turning the last page. I can't claim I understand all of now but I feel like I have got more out of the book in these last few days. Another reason could have been that I was disappointed with the end. It was too simple. But I now reason with myself that the entire work can't be judged on the the last few pages.
But the central problem with the novel still remains. Why denigrate Islam? The author may not believe but there are many who do not share his feelings.
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