Set in the backdrop of the India during the partition, this book is no page turner. The story moves at an eerily slow pace but curiously enough also manages to grip you. Born at precisely the stroke of midnight, Saleem’s fate is inadvertently connected to the fate of the country. Saleem’s childhood has been exaggerated to the extent that a connection was established between anything significant happening with India post-independence in 1947. The author has used magical realism throughout the story and generously so. But, this is important to establish a connection between the twins, the protagonist Saleem and his twin sister India. Salman paints a meticulously realistic picture of the imaginary world he has created. While the connection with the fate of the country is one part of the story, his ability to connect telepathically with all the other children who were born in the country on the day India became free on August 15th, 1947 is the other parallel counterpart. That is not all, a terrible mix-up at birth ensures that Shiva, Saleem’s alter ego, was also born at precisely the stroke of midnight to have very different a perspective on just about anything from Saleem The citations, duplexity and the figurations used throughout the novel have been nothing short of mesmerizing. It all begins 30 years before Saleem was born and goes on for about 30 years after he was born and Salman has beautifully shown India in all its true glory before she was freed from the clutches of the Britishers and after she became free, independent at the stroke of midnight in 1947. The novel is written from the point of view of Saleem who from the beginning bleats about not having enough time to tell his story. While the rough narrative structure illustrates this, Saleem is a man who does not come to the point. He loves beating around the bush and had it not been for this horrible habit, the story would have lost its element of surprise. The novel has been structured to ensure that the events that are described in the book happen at the right time and never otherwise. While Saleem, in his anxiety to get his story across, in the short time he has, haphazardly narrates his story, the upside is you don’t entirely lose out on the plot. To put this in Saleem’s words, “This is the not what I had planned; but perhaps the story you finish is never the one you begin.” I’ll admit that the slow pace was a total demotivation to finish the book, but I’m glad I stuck on. While the prose is prevaricating and unnecessary, this is forgivable given the stunning plot, and maybe the purpose was to let the reader get accustomed to the unrushed pace of the novel. This was an attempt by Salman to put his childhood and his tryst with the India with no other purpose but to provide his perspective regarding the history of the nation and to intensify the fact that while the story might not grip everybody, it was written with a lot of thought and love. To put it simply and taking this quote from the book, “One day, perhaps, the world may taste the pickles of history. They may be too strong for some palates, their smell may be overpowering, tears may rise to eyes; I hope nevertheless that it will be possible to say of them that they possess the authentic taste of truth… that they are, despite everything, acts of love” “There are as many versions of India as the Indians.” While, the intense characters with their atypical perspectives testify that, “Unity does survive in diversity.” You cannot but pause and appreciate the beauty with which Salman manages to take the readers to various places across the Indian sub-continent. He is a true magician waving his wand, which defies time and place to enchants its readers into a new imaginary world. Overall, to conclude, while the snail-pace prose requires time and attention, the fruit borne in the form of the gripping story is very, very sweet. Final Verdict: Take your time and read this book. If not for the intense plot and the deep characters, Read this to watch Salman play beautifully with words and create magic. Read more

Throughout Rushdie's novel the plot is complex and the character's conflicts rapidly producing. Rushdie displays an amazing talent for writing in this way. The numerous subplots told by Saleem Sinai, the narrator, form an overall character that is relatable with the reader. At times it even seems as if the narrator is speaking directly to the reader by describing his own life and mistakes as simply as if in a one on one conversation. It takes a true master to write this way without producing the impression that the narrator is pointing a finger in the readers face, accusingly or all-knowingly. Rushdie's style of writing is what, personally, kept me reading. Although the beginning of the book more of resembles a family tree and history book, the information is needed in the long run. After reading through "Book One" of Rushdie's novel, the book became immensely more interesting. The plot thickened. Tragedy started to befall the world once filled with magical realism. The wonderful Midnight Child blessing of powers is shown in a new light. The reader in "Book Two" and "Book Three" starts to feel the pressure that Saleem feels, as well as even some of the pain. (If the reader decides to commit to the book completely.) All in all, I loved the book. The writing style was fantastic, the characters were relatable, and the plot was complex enough to challenge my own skills. Yes, the book is difficult, but the effort put into reading it is worth every page. However, for any future readers I have some advice: 1) Keep a family tree of the character's relations to each other during "Book One". The tree would help when Saleem makes allusions to his past to explain a certain point or his own personal reaction to an event. 2) Brush up on the Indian Independence and the British-Colonial Rule. Islam and Hinduism knowledge would aid the reader too, but isn't as in demand as the ruling classes and how they stand in the terms of control over their freedom and way of life. Finally--3) Read the book while sitting in a favorite spot. The book's plot is too complex for reading on the bus or a few pages every few days. The reader needs to be totally invested in the book and be willing to put in the time. For all of Rushdie's future readers, enjoy the novel! Read more

Not finished yet but I find much of this book humorous but at times very hard to read being in such a different world ( and character names ) than I was brought up in. Read more

Midnight’s Children could be called a not so distant cousin of A Thousand Years of Solitude. It stands on its own, of course, but what I mean is that there is a world, an epic, a history all inscribed within the pages of both novels. Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County would be an American equivalent. Midnight’s Children is regarded as so essential to Indian literature that South Asian critics regularly describe eras as pre and post Rushdie. If you haven’t read it, it tells the story of India, from just before Independence into the Indira Gandhi era, through the allegorical fictional events that occur to its protagonist. As a conceit, it’s brilliant —both in terms of originality and execution. Those who remember or know about this era in Indian history will not be surprised by its cynical tone. Everything from Indian religions to politics to the economy is subject to subtle, and not so subtle, ridicule. Perhaps if Rushdie were to write about India in the twenty first century this would have been a completely different work. But as Rushdie says, the temptation to write history as we wish and not how it was is simply that—a temptation. The difficult beginnings of the modern Indian state cannot be swept under the proverbial rug. However, it’s a book worth reading beyond those interested in South Asian studies. The play between the disasters of the hero and the disasters of India actually reach beyond the subcontinent to achieve universal resonance. I personally didn’t like the digs at religion and the dark humor employed in describing mass suffering, but these are matters on which mature readers will differ. Paradoxically, I believe, that as India becomes a richer and more powerful nation, this work describing the trauma of its youth will become only more and more important. It doesn’t need any props from me, but still highly recommended. Read more

Having red the "Satanic Verses" a few years ago I definitely waited too long to pick up "The Midnigt's Children". For anybody who can appreciate the literature and prefers a gourmet meal to chicken fried steak- stop reading reviews and start this book right now- it is a masterpiece. BTW - to those who give it three stars or fewer- I can only hope that they write something better and show us what a good novel should be- forgive my sarcasm. Initially the book may not be the easiest too read, as although the story is told mostly in chronological manner, it is interwoven with obscure at the time glimpses of the future. In Rushdie's world everything is connected, no thing is too small or inconsequential. Ideas, objects and small events initially loosely connected shape Saleem's life. As the story develops everything starts coming together, making sense, no longer obscure. Therefore the book becomes easier and easier to read and even more engaging the further you get into it. The reality and fantasy are tied together in this novel- typically for this author, fantasy serves to highlight and magnify the reality. The life of the protagonist, Saleem Sinai is magically tied to the life of the nation as he is born in the exact moment when India is born as a nation independent from the British rule. In the same hour 1000 of other children possessing supernatural abilities are born in India. Some say that the idea of magical children is not fully utilized by the author or perhaps even unnecessary, as the reality of the times is captivating enough. This is debatable, but in any case don't expect the magical children fighting villains, this is not Avengers or Fantastic 4. The extraordinary abilities of the children are more a curse and a source of misfortunes than they are a blessing as the world is not ready for them. Superstition, backwardness of the adults, causes them to pass the suffering on the children. The adults "make children the vessels into which they pour their poisons" of unhappiness, prejudice and intolerance. As the protagonist grows up, the insults from surrounding him adults and his own peers are replaced by much worse mayhem unleashed on him and the whole nation by the politicians and tyrants. As such the broken life and body of the midnight's child becomes a mirror of what happens to the fractured nation, divided by languages, religions and political ambitions. In this aspect the novel is a powerful accusation and the author takes no prisoners, historical figures even the reverend ones come under the fire of his literary weapons. Even though the optimism of the people is shown as a disease and completely unjustified the author leaves room for a sliver of hope- symbolized by the little Aadam. The use of visions, prophecies, colors, objects loaded with meanings, historical events and psychological insights along with rich and almost poetic prose create a book that is full of impact and should not be passed. Read more

Excelente Read more

Aunque es uno de sus libros más famosos, considero que el autor tiene mejores. La edición es buena, aunque el papel podría ser de mejor calidad. Read more