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Petra X's Reviews > Grimus
Grimus
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This is a horrible book. But I finished it out of respect for the author then discovered that not even Rushdie rates it! It is interesting only because Rushdie plays around with the magical realism that will play a major part in his writing and touches on themes he will later explore in much greater depth.
I don't recommend anyone who is thinking of reading Rushdie to think that as this is one of his shorter ones it would be a good one to start with, it really isn't a good read. Rather go for Shame with the wonderfully drawn character of the Virgin Ironpants (Benazir Bhutto). Now that book would make anyone want to explore more Rushdie.
Recommended to writers: knowing that Rushdie won the Booker of Bookers for his magnificent book Midnight's Children should give you hope that even if your first book flops (because it is crap) there is still hope, you can still aim for the top and know that it's possible to reach there.
Read back '96ish, Why does this awful book stick in my head?
I don't recommend anyone who is thinking of reading Rushdie to think that as this is one of his shorter ones it would be a good one to start with, it really isn't a good read. Rather go for Shame with the wonderfully drawn character of the Virgin Ironpants (Benazir Bhutto). Now that book would make anyone want to explore more Rushdie.
Recommended to writers: knowing that Rushdie won the Booker of Bookers for his magnificent book Midnight's Children should give you hope that even if your first book flops (because it is crap) there is still hope, you can still aim for the top and know that it's possible to reach there.
Read back '96ish, Why does this awful book stick in my head?
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 1996
–
Finished Reading
June 13, 2008
– Shelved
November 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
books-i-really-loathed
November 18, 2012
– Shelved as:
fiction
May 5, 2015
– Shelved as:
reviewed
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Fatma
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 03, 2012 10:41AM
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What kind of comment is that Fatma? It makes no sense at all, just a series of punctuation marks?
Pre-GR i read The Ground Beneath (Her/Your?--forgot) Feet and liked it; and Fury which I didn't like very much.
I tried a bit of The Ground Beneath Her Feet and several other Rushdie's. Didn't like any of them except Shame and Midnight's Children. Either I love Rushdie or I find his over-wordy style difficult to read and never get into the books.
I want to be a Rushdie fan, but I haven't liked a single thing, so I quit.
Emily wrote: "I want to be a Rushdie fan, but I haven't liked a single thing, so I quit."I could understand that. He's not the easiest writer. But I have a method for reading books that I want to read and have not been able to. I've done two that way,
The Emperor of All Maladies I just couldn't get into, so I put it in the kitchen and when I had to stir something or just wait a few minutes I read a paragraph or two, or even a couple of pages. It took me a year to get through but it was worth it. Tremendous book.
The other, Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure I also gave the kitchen treatment to but about half way or so through the book it suddenly became really interesting to me, so it graduated to handbag-book and eventually to the coveted position of bedside-table book.
Great plan. This might help me :-)
I actually didn't like Midnight's Children either. I just don't enjoy Rushdie. But I thought it was a skillfully written book.
We all like different things in reading. This is good. If it wasn't everyone would just write essentially the same book - fanfiction.
I gave this 2 stars, I did like that this IS a book about ideas and even the author says so. But I like a story.
Greg wrote: "I gave this 2 stars, I did like that this IS a book about ideas and even the author says so. But I like a story."I've just seen this comment and read your review. You have given me a new perspective on the book, thank you. But I don't think I'm going to reread it.
I struggle with Rushdie overall. Always a challenge. I think I’ve started Midnight’s Children, but never got back to it. Perhaps I need to try harder.
Margitte wrote: "I struggle with Rushdie overall. Always a challenge. I think I’ve started Midnight’s Children, but never got back to it. Perhaps I need to try harder."Life is short and there are so many other 5 star books out there. Maybe he will appeal to you more in the future, maybe not.
Ineke wrote: "Strangely enough, or not, Rushdie just doesn’t figure on my list. Great forthright review Petra."I don't think that's strange, you have other authors you prefer and consider more important to read.
A fascinating review, Petra. I love Rushdie, but many of titles, including this one, do not appeal to me.
Kenny wrote: "A fascinating review, Petra. I love Rushdie, but many of titles, including this one, do not appeal to me."Thank you. There was one advantage to Grimus not shared by most of Rushdie's other books - it was short! The only other one that was short that I can think of was [book:Shame|4831 and that was excellent.
