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Midnight's Children

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'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie is a monumental piece of fiction that intertwines the life of Saleem Sinai with the development of India after British rule. Born on the stroke of midnight as India gains independence, Saleem's destiny is tied up with that of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The narrative follows Saleem and the other children born at the same time, whose lives mirror the struggles and triumphs of the nations they are part of. The book delves deep into India's abundant mythology, blending magical realism with historical events to create a captivating and poignant tale.

The writing style in 'Midnight's Children' is described as dense, challenging, and at times surreal. Rushdie's use of language and metaphor is praised for its beauty and depth, making him one of the most literary authors of our time. The plot is ambitious in scope, weaving together magical elements, historical facts, and internal dialogues to create a rich and immersive reading experience that requires devotion and perseverance to fully appreciate.

Characters:

The characters are rich and multifaceted, often serving as representations of specific historical or societal aspects, deeply embedded in the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is marked by its lyrical quality and complexity, at times meandering but always inviting deep reflection on its themes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot weaves together the personal and political narrative of Saleem Sinai, illustrating the historical tapestry of modern India and the magical events that shape his life.

Setting:

Set against the backdrop of modern Indian history, the novel's setting is intricately tied to the character's journey and the nation's identity.

Pacing:

While initially slow and dense, the pacing eventually picks up, offering a rewarding experience as the reader navigates through the intricacies of the story.
I was born in the city of Bombay … once upon a time. No, that won’t do, there’s no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar’s Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time...

Notes:

Midnight's Children was published in 1981 and is Salman Rushdie's second novel.
The story begins with Saleem Sinai's birth at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, which is the moment India gained independence.
The novel blends magical realism with historical fiction, making it both a metaphorical tale and a reflection on India's modern history.
Saleem discovers that all 500 children born during that hour share supernatural powers, such as telepathy and mind-reading, linking their fates to India's history.
Rushdie's writing is known for its lush, poetic language and intricate symbolism, often requiring readers to have background knowledge of Indian history to fully appreciate the narrative.
Midnight's Children received the Booker Prize in 1981 and was later awarded the Booker of Bookers in 1993 and 2008, being voted the best novel to have won the Booker Prize.
The narrative is presented from Saleem's perspective, often seen as unreliable and self-serving, reflecting the complexities of personal and national identity.
Themes in the novel include memory, trauma, politics, and the struggle for individual identity amidst the backdrop of a tumultuous history.
The book is heavily layered with significant cultural and political references, making it a challenging but rewarding read for those unfamiliar with India's past.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novel contains content warnings for violence, historical trauma, political oppression, and discussions of issues such as forced sterilization.

Has Romance?

The book contains medium levels of romance, with Saleem's relationships being complex but not the primary focus of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

The iconic masterpiece of India that introduced the world to "a glittering novelist-one with startling imaginative and intellectual resources, a master of perpetual storytelling" (The New Yorker)

Saleem Sinai is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the very moment of India's independence. Greeted by fireworks displays, cheering crowds, and Prime Minister Nehru himself, Saleem grows up to learn the ominous consequences of this coincidence. His every act is mirrored and magnified in events that sway the course of national affairs; his health and well-being are inextricably bound to those of his nation; his life is inseparable, at times indistinguishable, from the history of his country. Perhaps most remarkable are the telepathic powers linking him with India's 1,000 other "midnight's children," all born in that initial hour and endowed with magical gifts.

This novel is at once a fascinating family saga and an astonishing evocation of a vast land and its people-a brilliant incarnation of the universal human comedy. Forty years after its publication, Midnight's Children stands apart as both an epochal work of fiction and a brilliant performance by one of the great literary voices of our time.

WINNER OF THE BEST OF THE BOOKERS

SOON TO BE A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

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6 months

India's independence personified

 

About the Author:

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British-American novelist and essayist. His work, combining magical realism with historical fiction, is primarily concerned with the many connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations, with much of his fiction being set on the Indian subcontinent.

His second novel, Midnight's Children (1981), won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was deemed to be "the best novel of all winners" on two occasions, marking the 25th and the 40th anniversary of the prize. In 1983, Rushdie was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the UK's senior literary organisation. He was appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France in January 1999. In June 2007, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him for his services to literature. In 2008, The Times ranked him thirteenth on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.

Since 2000, Rushdie has lived in the United States. He was named Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University in 2015. Earlier, he taught at Emory University. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2012, he published Joseph Anton: A Memoir, an account of his life in the wake of the controversy over The Satanic Verses.

 
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