Narration Lacking, Story Engaging

Great book. Unlike Rushdie's usual books in that it's not depressing and is optimistic for a better world. A bit too long though.
However, the narration leaves much to be desired. The broad American accent takes away from the intended experience and atmosphere of the book. And the God-awful (and quite racist) faux-Indian accent that begins the third chapter almost made me return the book.

8 people found this helpful

1001 whimsical, capricious, and wanton jinn

"This is a story from our past, from a time so remote we argue, sometimes, about wither we should call it history or mythology. Some of us call it a fairy tale. But on this we agree: that to tell a story about the past is to tell a story about the present. To recount a fantasy, a story of the imaginary, is also a way of recounting a tale about the actual. If this were not true then the deed would be pointless, and we try in our daily lives to eschew pointlessness whenever possible."
- Salman Rushdie, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights.

"In the end, rage, no matter how profoundly justified, destroys the enraged. Just as we are created anew by what we love, so we are reduced and unmade by what we hate."
- Salman Rushdie, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights.

Probably 3.5 stars. Don't misunderstand me. I liked the book. I liked its playfulness. The mixture of high and low, of jinn and man, of future telling its past. I loved how it streaks across 1001 days (or nights), a strange myth of the time of strangeness told 1001 years later. How it mixes Harry Potter with Henry James. I loved the cartoon versions of Obama, al-Qæda, etc.

So, yes, it really was a fun read and if these 290 magical realist, baggy, non-linear pages were birthed by some freshman IEL writer just out of some MFA lamp, I would probably call it a great 4-star book, but this is Rushdie dammit. This is the guy who wrote Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses. You will always be graded by your progeny and against your siblings. Rushdie and his books are no exception. His standard is set and the standard is pretty damn high, so three dark stars for this book, and perhaps one star trapped in some blue bottle somewhere.

27 people found this helpful

Words cannot describe what I think of this book

This was my first Salman Rushdie book, and after reading it I purchased Satanic Verses and The midnight children with my own money. I never do that, I blew my book budget for the month because I just had to hear more from him. They way he weaves a tale is mind blowing, it's truly incredible. My only problem is that sometimes I had to rewind because I had missed something, which shows how much I love this book because I HAD to understand what was going on at all times. It's not the kind of book that you can listen to while doing other things, you have to immerse yourself in the strange and wonderful world to get the full effect, a good book for a long car ride. I really cannot praise this book enough.

6 people found this helpful

My first (and not last) Rushdie book... Wow

Would you consider the audio edition of Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights to be better than the print version?

It's easy to get carried away in the stream-of-conscious flow of writing while it is being narrated to, but It would have been nice to able to go back and forth recalling the many names of characters in this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did finish it in two sittings.

Any additional comments?

This is definitely going to be a book I will listen to again. There is so much philosophy being mixed into a clever "fantasy" novel. This is my first book by Rushdie and I know I will be checking out the Satanic Verses.

17 people found this helpful

Superb

I have a PhD in mythology and have taught the 1001 nights. This is a stunning telling, filled with metaphor and one of Rushdie's finest. What a gift

1 person found this helpful

Interesting...

This book was a bit hard to follow at times. The writing was an interesting blend of biblical and mythological phrasing with occasionally current colloquium. Some of the nomenclature chosen sometimes detracted from the depth and gravity of the story. Also, the dialogue was often punchy and on the nose. Overall the premise and execution were thought provoking and intriguing. There were just a few hang-ups that made it a challenging story to get into at times.

1 person found this helpful

another classic

I am a big fan of all Rushdie's books, this is a wonderful tale of humanity, magic and might. Weaving the magic world and the standard in a way that is new yet familiar with his other works. Two thumbs up.

1 person found this helpful

Breathtakingly amazing

Rushdie as usual weaves the natural and surreal with elements from history and present to create another masterpiece that reveals the destructive role of religious beliefs and to advocate for reason and humanity

1 person found this helpful

Just don’t

The imagery and characters in the book are enjoyable but the plot meanders aimlessly like a lost child with ADHD then concludes in an underwhelming meh.

1 person found this helpful

oh so tedious!

What did you like best about Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights? What did you like least?

The idea is brilliant but it goes on and on and on. Without the perfect performance I wouldn't have endured half of it.

1 person found this helpful