So glad that I saw a post on Mrs. B's blog, The Literary Stew, about reading Rushdie's Midnight's Children. She and Arti, of Ripple Effects, have decided to read this most worthy work beginning in March. Having never read anything by Salman Rushdie before, this book seems the perfect place to start.
Synopsis from the Man Booker Prize site: Born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, at the precise moment of India’s independence, the infant Saleem Sinai is celebrated in the press and welcomed by Prime Minister Nehru himself. But this coincidence of birth has consequences Saleem is not prepared for: telepathic powers that connect him with 1,000 other “midnight’s children” – all born in the initial hour of India’s independence – and an uncanny sense of smell that allows him to sniff out dangers others can’t perceive. Inextricably linked to his nations, Saleem’s biography is a whirlwind of disasters and triumphs that mirror the course of modern India at its most impossible and glorious.
Accolades: Midnight’s Children, was published in 1981. It won the Booker Prize for Fiction, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction), an Arts Council Writers’ Award and the English-Speaking Union Award, and in 1993 was judged to have been the ‘Booker of Bookers’, the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in the award’s 25-year history.
Also, Midnight's Children is being made into a film for October, 2012.
The reading plan is as follows, with a post for each of the dates below:
- March 31 -- Book One
- April 30 -- Book Two (Part A ending with 'Alpha and Omega')
- May 31 -- Book Two (Part B starting with 'The Kolynos Kid')
- June 30 -- Book Three
Won't you join us? We'd love to have you!
I own 5 books by Rushdie and haven't read any! I feel like I MUST take advantage of this. I'll be back later to sign up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting about it.
Sounds like fun. I will have to keep it in mind because I have only read Rushdie once and I think I own this one.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to read a Salmon Rushdie book & this is a good place to start. Thanks for doing this!
ReplyDeleteDiane, I own The Enchantress of Florence but have yet to pick it up. I guess I've been a bit intimidated by him, and it helps to know I'll be reading this with a small group. Thanks for considering it, I do hope you'll join in.
ReplyDeleteKailana, if you own it then there are no excuses, right? Well, maybe a few but, hey! We'll be in it together!
ReplyDeleteMS Teacher, so wonderful to hear from you! I'd love it if you'd read with us...maybe we could have it as a read aloud for our classes? Just kidding!
ReplyDeleteI started a read a long for this book last year but had to put it down and didn't get back to it. I am excited to be joining in and look forward to finishing it this time!
ReplyDeleteBooksNYC, I hope you didn't put it down because you didn't like it... ;) This should be a good time to go through it, slowly, together. I'm glad we're in a group as it's the first time I've read Rushdie, and I'm sure I'll have some questions.
ReplyDeleteI do need to read this one. Not sure if my schedule will allow me to join, but I'm glad to know about it! Will decide closer to March if I can do this or not. I read & reviewed Enchantress for publisher just before it came out. I liked it. Was baffled by one bit that didn't seem to fit; seemed odd. I felt like he'd done the research on this bit so wanted to use it anyway!
ReplyDeleteI hope it fits your schedule, Terri, I'd love to have you join us. As to Enchantress of Florence after I read it, I'd love to talk with you about it. "...baffled by one bit that didn't seem to fit" has me a bit on edge, though. I hate when that happens! ;)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're part of this! And your post seems to have generated more interest from others. The group is getting larger and that's great.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had time to join in because of the film coming out later this year. But, as I've already read it three times, I think I'll have to stick to my many unread books right now! I hope you enjoy it and read more of his books.
ReplyDeleteI chucked the Dutch translation on my DNF pile. Maybe a group read is just what I need :)
ReplyDeleteI ll think about it I have read iot before tried to reread it last year and never got back into it ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteMrs. B, so glad that you and Arti inspired me!
ReplyDeleteKristen, if you've already read it three times you'll be my go-to person for questions! Wow, that's amazing!
ReplyDeleteChinoiseries, if you put it on your DNF pile, I'm not sure how well that bodes for me. ;) Perhaps we'll put it on our DidFinish pile this year. Hopefully!
ReplyDeleteStu, I'd dearly love your input. I know you'll have valuable things to add to the discussion especially as you read these tricky, translated authors on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of joining you too, I have always wanted to read him but never did so far. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteBellezza - Oh I'd dearly like to join in with this. I shall see how my reading goes, especially as I'm lookng forward to Venice in February.
ReplyDeleteMidnight's Children is really good! I hope you like it.
ReplyDeleteRushdie is one of those authors I've always been intimidated by. I wonder if I can find this on audio. It might be a better way for me to sample his writing.
ReplyDeleteI hosted a read-along of the same book in late October 2010. We had fun and it is one of those books which is fluid in interpretation and quite an unusual reading experience. All the best Bellezza.
ReplyDeleteBellezza,
ReplyDeleteGlad you've jumped in unreservedly. I can feel the 'camaraderie' already. :) Thanks for posting this and yes, I agree with Mrs. B, you've quite a drawing power!
Cessie, it seems the perfect opportunity for those of us who've wanted to read Rushdie but haven't yet. Glad you'll (possibly) join us.
ReplyDeleteJoan, I know! I'm looking forward to Venice in February, too! Well, this will be India in March? It's something I feel I should have under my belt as a person who considers herself literary.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, so glad to have your praise of this work!
ReplyDeleteLes, just because I'm reading along doesn't mean I'm not intimidated. Perhaps you'll hold my hand as we read together? ;)
ReplyDeleteJoV, somehow I'd missed your host of Midnight's Children. I'm glad I'll have your posts to refer to.
ReplyDeleteArti, "camarderie" is the best part of book blogging. So glad we're doing this as a group rather than individually.
ReplyDeleteCount me in! This has been on my shelf for a while and I would love to read it with a group.
ReplyDeleteOk, I will consider... :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to join you guys in your Group Read. :) Count me in.
ReplyDeleteI've borrowed the book from the library, so I'm all ready to start. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeletePleased to join this book club.
ReplyDelete