Robin's Reviews > Midnight’s Children
Midnight’s Children
by
by
Robin's review
bookshelves: 1001-before-you-die, booker-prize-winner, 2019, india, literary-fiction, dnf
Dec 24, 2019
bookshelves: 1001-before-you-die, booker-prize-winner, 2019, india, literary-fiction, dnf
Life is simply too short (and this book, far too long).
So, Merry Christmas to myself! Robin, you don't have to finish reading this endless, labyrinthinemess tangle. Putting the book down does not mean it "beat" you. It doesn't say anything definitively bad about you, as a reader. It just means that there is limited time on this earth and other great books are calling your name. Books that don't make your eyes cross and furrow your brow in exasperation and frustration.
Mr. Rushdie, it's not me, it's you.
So, Merry Christmas to myself! Robin, you don't have to finish reading this endless, labyrinthine
Mr. Rushdie, it's not me, it's you.
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Reading Progress
September 8, 2019
– Shelved
September 23, 2019
–
Started Reading
October 6, 2019
–
10.0%
October 11, 2019
–
10.0%
"THIS. IS. VERY. DIFFICULT. I still cannot tell what this is all about.
Changing point of view/storyline with dizzying frequency, Rushdie is forcing me to figure out what is going on every few paragraphs! I'm exhausted and only 10% in.
However, I'll keep going because many many friends have awarded it 5 stars and maybe I just need to trust the words will bring me to complete understanding, eventually . . ."
Changing point of view/storyline with dizzying frequency, Rushdie is forcing me to figure out what is going on every few paragraphs! I'm exhausted and only 10% in.
However, I'll keep going because many many friends have awarded it 5 stars and maybe I just need to trust the words will bring me to complete understanding, eventually . . ."
December 24, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 107 (107 new)
I'll be honest, it's slow going, Rosa. Each time I return to the book, I have to re-read several pages to get myself re-acquainted. It loves to jump around. Linear is NOT how I'd describe this narrative. I will persevere, though!!
This book requires doors to be locked, phones switched off, friends to be ignored and partners muzzled.
I totally empathise: I've read it twice and each time had to keep thumbing back to keep up with Rushdie's burgeoning population of characters.
I wish you the best of luck!
Thank you, dear Pedro!! Your support in my abandoning of this book means the world. (You know it wasn't easy for me...)
Yes, the same as A Little Life, but the tragedy is that I read A Little Life, cover to cover. :D
Seriously, Merry Christmas Robin, I hope you have a great one!
Glad I could give you a chuckle, Blair. I have to say, it's quite exhilarating, tossing a book of this magnitude aside! (Merry Christmas, btw... my kids are still sleeping which is why I get to be on GR now....)
Seriously, Merry Christmas Robin, I hope you have a great one!"
Merry Christmas to you too, my dear Ann!
Beth, thank you for your thrice written support. :D Merry Christmas to you also.
I've only read his recent The Golden House, which was a trial to read (but somehow, more readable than Midnight's Children). I think it's safe to say he's not for me, and that's okay.
Mugdha, don't let me dissuade you from trying. I look at my friends list and many of them give it high marks! I look longingly at their 4 and 5 star reviews. sigh. Don't know how they did it...
hahahah
I adore you! Yes, fuck him!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Fede. xo
I second that, Joe.
And it also shows that one's views are neither right nor wrong.
I adored this picturesque novel and consider it a literary masterpiece; Robin found it exasperating.
Vive la différence! Goodreads would be a boring as a toenail-growing contest if we all agreed about everything! : )
Popping over to check out Joe's review...
Kevin, you gave me an idea! Thanks! The other day I made up a story for the kids I sit for, on the spot. It was about a family who removed their toenails every night. Toenails were stolen and hidden with families out of state. Children without their toenails were forlorn. I’ll have to add a toenail-growing contest!
Toenails, or not toenails? That is the question, Debbie...
: )
Thanks for the support, Barbara :)
And for yours, Melanie!
Well, I've sorta wanted to give Rushdie another chance after I read (and strongly disliked) his more recent book, The Golden House. I picked this one because it's supposed to be his best. I think it's safe to say we are not meant to be....
Thank you, dear Dolors. I look at my long list of beautiful Goodreads friends, and many of them (including you) adored or at least appreciated this book, and I feel disappointed I couldn't join you, but I tried for a few months to get into this, and it's SO rare that I don't finish a book, even if I didn't really like it... finally I just gave myself permission to bless and release. Or, throw it against the wall. Either or. :D
Oh, and I hope you had a Merry Christmas too! xo
I'm delighted and nervous, Robin. Hope you like it...
*crosses fingers*