FIRST PUBLISHED: 1980
ISBN: 978-0-099-52978-1
GENRE: Magic Realism, Historical Fiction
EXCERPT:
'Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything
that went before me, of all I have been seen done, of everything done-to-me…..'
Saleem Sinai, Midnight’s Children.
REVIEW:
Midnight's Children, the 2nd book
by Salman Rushdie, deals with India's transition from the holds of British
Raj to post independence civil struggle, and build-up of the new Indian era—all
with a dash of magic. The story revolves around children born at the exact time
of India’s partition, during midnight. It has an interesting frictional climax as
each and every child born is blessed with some magical power. Saleem Sinai is a
brilliant protagonist, created by Rushdie, who is telepathic with a peculiar
problem of a constantly running enormous nose and a very strong sense of smell.
The story gradually progresses from realizing the powers of all kids like him
to organizing the Midnight’s Children conference. He acts as a telepathic
conduit, bringing the midnight’s children together and deciphering the meaning
of each power.
The book holds you, as it is set amidst real life incidents. It is a
journey to India’s past. Through a beautiful literary journey, the reader
becomes a part of the making of Modern India. The narration is simple yet
captivating. It has a perfect plot with a straight laced protagonist troubled
by witty and cunning antagonists. There are a lot of instances where Rushdie skilfully
camouflages his questions and conclusions of our nation, in Saleem’s simple
thoughts and words. The story is intriguing as it weaves different facets of
India as—a British colony; partition and war plagued country and Modern India—a
puppet in Indira Gandhi’s political arena—all as important turning points in a
common man’s life born with an uncommon fate. Also it successfully conjures a
spell of the cultural and traditional diversity that India had and has to
offer. The story is not only the sum total of Saleem’s life but is also metaphorically
the sum total of India—as we know it today.
Rushdie with his literary brilliance manages to show India as a caged
phoenix, pained, and tortured, that burns itself out and rises from the ashes—with
not just memories of the past, but also the vision of a bright future. Stories
written with the flare to entertain yet educate are the greatest works on
literature. Midnight’s Children
states the obvious with a new luminosity and a broad outlook. It makes people
realize what past tried to teach and what present and future have in store, and
also why they need to harness what they have with the right motive.
Pros:
1. Brilliant narration by Rushdie with great eloquence that opens the bounds
of imagery and vocabulary.
2. The life-like events make you believe in this magical fictional tale.
3. The simple characters with heterogeneous personalities show a vast range
of feelings that make you cry, laugh, and sympathize with them.
Cons:
1. Too many characters to remember, as the story develops.
2. Use of too many non-English words would make people refer the glossary
every now and then.
On the whole, the book creates a magical country alongside our real
India, to help us see the difference yet satiate ourselves with what we are
left with by the end of the novel. I see it as one of the
most successful retrospections of post colonial India and thus a must read. Clearly
a book with accolades of Booker Prize, the James
Tait Black Memorial Prize and the
"Booker
of Bookers" makes Rushdie a deserving
candidate of the Nobel Prize that has eluded him so far.
MY RATING:-4.7/5
PAGES: - 446 (hardback)
COST: - Rs. 399/- (hardback)
p.s.- the review is completely my own view about the book...vaisakhi mishra
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