Shalimar The Clown
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Review
"A sprawling tale of love and politics. . . . A daring aesthetic and political balancing act that traffics in many of the major concerns of post-colonial literature, but always within an evolving and bravely empathetic story. . . . One of Rushdie's best, and an important and rewarding must-read."
--"National Post"
"Read Shalimar the Clown for the effervescent fun factor that is always present in Rushdie's work. . . and for its devastating portrait of the destruction of Kashmir."
--"The Globe and Mail"
"[Shalimar the Clown] is that rare highwire act, a literary thriller. It seems a vigorous rebutal to the recent dismissal of fiction by V. S. Naipaul, to the effect that 'if you write a novel... it's of no account.'"
--"Financial Times" (UK)
"A masterly deployment of interconnected narratives spanning six decades. . . . Dazzling. . . . A magical-realist masterpiece that equals, and arguably surpasses, the achievements of Midnight's Children, Shame and The Moor's Last Sigh," "The Swedes won't dare to offend Islam by giving Rushdie the Nobel Prize he deserves more than any other living writer. Injustice rules."
--"Kirkus Reviews
""The. . .transformation of Shalimar into a terrorist is easily the most impressive achievement of the book, and here one must congratulate Rushdie for having made artistic capital out of his own suffering, for the years spent under police protection, hunted by zealots, have been poured into the novel in ways which ring hideously true. . . . Shalimar the Clown is a powerful parable about the willing and unwilling subversion of multiculturalism."
--"Publishers Weekly"
Praise for Salman Rushdie:
"Our most exhilaratinglyinventive prose stylist, a writer of breathtaking originality. . . . He has become, as much for his convictions as for his creativity, the finest English writer of India."
--"Financial Times "(UK)
"With Rushdie one is always in the presence of a true original. . . . More than any other contemporary English writer, Rushdie makes the page sing with his prose."
--"The Washington Post Book World"
"A master storyteller.
--"The Standard" (UK)
"A great novelist, a master of perpetual storytelling."
--V. S. Pritchett
Praise for "Fury":
"An exhilarating read. . . . One page of Fury is worth a thousand pages of the grey, risk-averse prose that passes so often for contemporary literary fiction."
--"The Globe and Mail"
"A beautifully written and carefully constructed novel. . . . [Fury] ricochets back and forth between well mannered realism and [Rushdie's] own brand of what might almost be called surrealism -- manic, absurdist, biting, over-the-top and very funny."
--"The Vancouver Sun"
--"National Post"
"Read Shalimar the Clown for the effervescent fun factor that is always present in Rushdie's work. . . and for its devastating portrait of the destruction of Kashmir."
--"The Globe and Mail"
"[Shalimar the Clown] is that rare highwire act, a literary thriller. It seems a vigorous rebutal to the recent dismissal of fiction by V. S. Naipaul, to the effect that 'if you write a novel... it's of no account.'"
--"Financial Times" (UK)
"A masterly deployment of interconnected narratives spanning six decades. . . . Dazzling. . . . A magical-realist masterpiece that equals, and arguably surpasses, the achievements of Midnight's Children, Shame and The Moor's Last Sigh," "The Swedes won't dare to offend Islam by giving Rushdie the Nobel Prize he deserves more than any other living writer. Injustice rules."
--"Kirkus Reviews
""The. . .transformation of Shalimar into a terrorist is easily the most impressive achievement of the book, and here one must congratulate Rushdie for having made artistic capital out of his own suffering, for the years spent under police protection, hunted by zealots, have been poured into the novel in ways which ring hideously true. . . . Shalimar the Clown is a powerful parable about the willing and unwilling subversion of multiculturalism."
--"Publishers Weekly"
Praise for Salman Rushdie:
"Our most exhilaratinglyinventive prose stylist, a writer of breathtaking originality. . . . He has become, as much for his convictions as for his creativity, the finest English writer of India."
--"Financial Times "(UK)
"With Rushdie one is always in the presence of a true original. . . . More than any other contemporary English writer, Rushdie makes the page sing with his prose."
--"The Washington Post Book World"
"A master storyteller.
--"The Standard" (UK)
"A great novelist, a master of perpetual storytelling."
--V. S. Pritchett
Praise for "Fury":
"An exhilarating read. . . . One page of Fury is worth a thousand pages of the grey, risk-averse prose that passes so often for contemporary literary fiction."
--"The Globe and Mail"
"A beautifully written and carefully constructed novel. . . . [Fury] ricochets back and forth between well mannered realism and [Rushdie's] own brand of what might almost be called surrealism -- manic, absurdist, biting, over-the-top and very funny."
--"The Vancouver Sun"
"From the Hardcover edition."
Los Angeles Times
'Rushdie's greatest novel since 'The Satanic Verses'... There are few writers who can pull off such an act...transparent, extraordinary writing.'
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Salman Rushdie’s novel “Shalimar The Clown” begins with the dedication for the author’s Kashimiri grandparents and is, basically, about Kashmir, about Hindu-Muslim relationship in the area, about the artists and cooks village of Pachigam, about two youngsters Muslim Shalimar the clown and Hindu beauty dancer Boonyi, about their love, inter-religious marriage, Boonyi’s betrayal, Shalimar’s revenge, and then, also, Indo-Pak war because of Kashmir. It’s a book about reality, about destroyed values, the book that goes deep into ones soul, involving everything life can involve and, as if, smiling through tears at life’s total absurdity. The author masterfully pictures the way life is, opens characters’ souls, showing their ambitions, dreams, expectations, jealousy, love, lust and hatred. The story of the novel, the message sent through the novel, the way the novel is written and author’s knowledge – all was pretty shocking to me. Technically, the novel is very harmonious which was very satisfying to read and every phrase and sentence seemed to be worth learning by heart, taken as the words of wisdom or just written on the walls of one’s room. Although the story is about Kashmiri people, about what was happening in Kashmir and India (and about Europe in WW2 and today’s LA), for me it seemed like a story about humans and humanity, no matter which religion or continent they belong to, solving the great questions of being. The novel has a magic to deeply involve it’s reader into the story and make one feel as the part of Pachigam, with the help of natural descriptions of the geographical places of Kashimir, make one feel as if walking by the river of Muskadoon, or see the giant Himalayas, smell the smell of the pine trees, closely observe the domestic live of the Pachigami people and take part in traditional festivals. Also, the novel contains a lot of symbolism and characters are covered in mystery…It was impossible to guess what comes next and what is the end of the story…The end was really smashing…The story itself was tragic and breathtaking. Salman Rushdie’s “Shalimar The Clown” was one of the best novels I have ever read. A master piece and the great work of art. Should be enjoyed by everyone who likes history, philosophy, literature, is interested in world's cultures, or simply by those who want to read a really good book.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This novel is a tale of love and revenge, of paradise torn asunder and a cultural lesson on Kashmir. The story takes us through Europe during the second world war, India and Kashmir over large parts of the 20th century, and California in modern day. As much as the story enchants, it is sometimes surrounded by too many lessons from our author. But when it picks up speed during the second half of the book, it is captivating, and the final pages are impossible to put down. A worthy read, Rushdie's language is mesmerizing, at least when he sticks to the story...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
With a rich and strongly descriptive style reminiscent of Midnight's Children, Rushdie tells the tale of a love affair gone wrong, polluted by conflict, lust, and betrayal.
The story takes places in different parts of the world, each described so vividly and in such detail that the reader is under the illusion of really being present.
Rushdie introduces a great number of exotic and interesting characters, whose life stories seem nothing but entertaining on the surface but are in fact full of symbolism.
This book, like all of the novels I have read by Rushdie, has multiple dimensions. On the surface it is a tale of a love affair tainted by betrayal and with horrific consequences. On a deeper level one finds the story of Kashmir, a beautiful region torn between Pakistan and India, losing its identity and its natural beauty in the conflict. The third dimension is that of the human struggle, what human beings might or might not do in the face of betrayal and oppression, feeling the need to redefine themselves, obtaining new goals and identities in order to survive and face up to their fate.
This book has left me with a deep impression of Kashmir, and with a sense of sadness for the loss of its beauty in the face of violence. Rushdie has touched me to the core with this novel.
The story takes places in different parts of the world, each described so vividly and in such detail that the reader is under the illusion of really being present.
Rushdie introduces a great number of exotic and interesting characters, whose life stories seem nothing but entertaining on the surface but are in fact full of symbolism.
This book, like all of the novels I have read by Rushdie, has multiple dimensions. On the surface it is a tale of a love affair tainted by betrayal and with horrific consequences. On a deeper level one finds the story of Kashmir, a beautiful region torn between Pakistan and India, losing its identity and its natural beauty in the conflict. The third dimension is that of the human struggle, what human beings might or might not do in the face of betrayal and oppression, feeling the need to redefine themselves, obtaining new goals and identities in order to survive and face up to their fate.
This book has left me with a deep impression of Kashmir, and with a sense of sadness for the loss of its beauty in the face of violence. Rushdie has touched me to the core with this novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Writing on Air.
This has been my first reading of a Rushdie novel. Overall, I found it engaging and thought-provoking. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fusionfan
Beautiful, compelling book on Kashmir's tragedy
This is Rushdie at his very best, and I am surprised that (a) it's not been more widely recognised and (b) that the book has not caused more controversy. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jezza
Our future
Shalimar the Clown is a complicated and brilliant novel which truly captures our globalized world. The storytellng is vivid and fantastic. Read more
Published 21 months ago by eilidh Glendinning-Clark
This is Rushdie as we know him
This book is the magical Rushdie as his readers know him - fabulous language and literature and a compelling story. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Stein Claudia Dr
Yes, maybe the best Rushdie novel so far
People said things so beautifully in the other reviews, that I cannot add much else. I can only say that I read the novel many months ago, and the words are still etched in my... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2008 by Shantimar
Crimes of Passion
Let me first just say that this is a wonderfully magnificent novel told by a master storyteller and that every sentence is richly woven and a pleasure to read. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2008 by G. Lyon
Rushdie at his best:
This is storytelling magic of the highest order: whirlwind story and characters that stay with you long after you have finished the book (hell, the character of Shalimar will burn... Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2007 by F. X. Dessioux
Abandon all hope
This is the story of a serial killer driven by unremitting hatred for his wife, her lover and their child, set in the context of the destruction of Kashmir by the Indo-Pakistan... Read more
Published on 11 July 2007 by Pipistrel
A captivating narrative from the master of storytelling
I once heard someone describe reading Rushdie as like wading through treacle. I think this is an excellent description of his style. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2007 by Mr. R. A. Evans
A work of art!
With a rich and strongly descriptive style reminiscent of Midnight's Children, Rushdie tells the tale of a love affair gone wrong, polluted by conflict, lust, and betrayal. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2007 by Sonia
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