Shame

This is the second time I’ve tried reading this book, and I finally managed to get through it.A story that is part semi-historical and part fantasy, it tells the story of Pakistan through two families as they come together, fall apart, come back together, in a realistic chain of political and romantic events. At times difficult to read, but overall it absorbed me completely.My only quibble is with this kindle edition and some errors that the proof-readers missed. The use of 1 (Ones) instead of the capital I. The last three chapters bore more spelling errors of names and other words (weire instead of we’re, which is implied by the context). It’s nothing that can’t be figured out which I done, but breaks the immersion in the story for a moment.Despite this, I have to give this book a 5 star rating. I don’t do this often, but books rarely impress me as much as this, and possibly not since Yuya Sato’s Dendera. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book is a well researched and brilliantly written novel which would be of interest to anyone linked to Pakistan. Rushdie has a very playful narrative style which provides some comic relief as well as keeping the story from becoming monotonous.The novel itself is about the reasons for Pakistan's struggles; still coming to terms with post colonialism, the effects of partition, conflict of the islamic religion, hostilities between west and east Pakistan, westernised elites leading the country. All these themes are encapsulated by the extremes of shame and shamefulness.I have heard from some reviews that the book can be enjoyed without understanding the history of Pakistan. This may well be true but I do feel that you will get the most out of this book if you have an interest in the history and politics of Pakistan.

Another gem from Rushdie. The story of Omar is a 'magic realism' take on the identity crisis of Pakistan. The first modern theocratic state which, when conceived, was intended to be secular. What does it mean to be Pakistani? The country, arbitrarily formed by the British drawing lines on a map, suffers from conflicting cultures, language and religion. A fascinating analogy of country and individual.

I wish I hadn't waited so long to read a Salman Rushdie novel. I'm now torn between rereading Shame at least three more times or starting into Rushdie's other works. The first chapter of Shame blew me away. The colour is beyond description. The chapters after that, simply took my breath away as I hadn't realised an author could take such liberties. When I'd become accustomed to the breath-taking story telling, I discovered I was now engrossed in the lives of the characters. That the characters included a country, cultures and a history, as well as people, helped me finally understand why Rushdie is just so important an artist.I couldn't wait. I've ordered 'Midnight's Children' and 'The Satanic Verses.'

Released between the critically acclaimed 'Midnight's Children' and the hugely controversial 'The Satanic Verses', Rushdie's 'Shame' is a book which has been largely forgotten and overlooked in recent years; but is it a novel which can stand toe-to-toe with Rushdie's best? Not really. The novel centers, unsurprisingly, around the idea of shame, weaving a self-consciously uncertain, and often fragmented tale of upper class Pakistani life, but also of the cruelties, suppression and rumour of a country which has seen it's fair share of conflict. There are flashes of Rushdie's brilliance in the book, such as in his exploration of the martyrdom of the wrongly revered former President Iskander Harappa, and in his discussion of issues like censorship, but too often the book stumbles. Rushdie's treatment of the brain-damaged Sufiya Zinobia is perhaps the novel's biggest mis-step, a bizarre story which seems to link her deficincies to evil, and by rumour, transforms her into a mythical white panther. The mystical elements of Rushdie's novels has rarely seemed so poorly used.On the whole, 'Shame' is a work with definite promise, and some interesting explorations of the danger of restrictions on social freedoms, as well as a curious, and in-depth exploration of the issue of Shame itself, but this is a novel which never quite finds its footing, and passages of the book seem both akward, strange, and even rather dull. For Rushdie fans, there's enough here to make this a worthwhile, if rather frustrating read; but for the uninitiated, this is far from Rushdie's best work, and probably not the place to start.

I re-read Rushdie's novel now against the background of his 'Joseph Anton', and it is surprising how farsighted this book appears today. Many details seem to be foreshadowing, although, of course, they are not.Apart from this, I love - as I did some 25 years ago - the colouring (or should I say seasoning?), the constant surprises (though I should not be surprised, really), the 'oriental' story-telling with its western breaks.Three mothers to one child? - no problem!Ali Baba's cave as a gigantic brothel for the in-laws of one family? - what an idea!This book is sheer delight.Thomas Brueckner

I have few words for any of the works of Salman Rushdie as they leave me beyond words.Well done, Mr Rushdie. Thank you.

i had to get another copy having yet again given my previous one to a friend to read. i love the book but the format was slightly disappointing.

Je recommande

Paper quality is good and received the delivery in time.If you want to know more about the book.. check it on Goodreads

Gift for dad in law he loved it

Absolute perfection. What a complex and gorgeous tour de force. I cannot recommend this book enough! The characters are rich and plot lines sophisticated. I cannot even put into words how much this booked touched and impressed me. Modern classic and truly enjoyable. It strikes that rare balance of literary mastery while being entertaining and just enjoyable.

A book to read. A page turner.