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Mar 05, 2013MCinnamon rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is one of the most difficult yet satisfying reads i have had in years. Its layer upon layer of metaphors to represent the rise and fall of the main character Saleem as compared to his twin sister, the country of India itself, who were both born on midnight aug 15, 1957. The turbulent times is reflected in Saleems life. Themes of sound, exile, mirror actions, the family nucleus, parts being broken, and parts seen to represent the whole person enterweve between the two. Its a story about a boy growing with the story of India written on his face... literally. While reading this novel keep a note pad available and write down characters names or else you will get lost. There is some 100 plus characters that move the plot along, and some of these characters change their name along the way to further confuse you. The main story is 1000 people born the hour India gets its independance from England, and each has their own power or magic that sets them apart from normal people. Saleems power is to be able to talk to anyone at a distance... even thousands of miles away. It explores the possibility of these new breed of people and what they can do to make a better India, but will India let them. If this book is too much for you then try reading JOHN WYNDHAM - THE CRYSALIDS. Rushdie actually took his initial idea for this novel from that one, a 1950 sci-fi novel about kids growing in a post apocholypse society where anyone who is different if ostricized (ie.. kill the mutant). Its on the grade 9 reading list so is a light read. Rushdie is too much for the average reader, but is still an excellent book that i highly recommend.