Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (novel #198)

…above all things, I fear absurdity. ~ Saleem Sinai

 

Midnight’s Children is an allegory, using magical realism, and I think you’d have to call it historical fiction as well. The fictional narrator recalls real events and persons in India, just prior to independence from Great Britain in 1947 and continuing another 30 years.

 

The narrator Saleem Sinai is born at the stroke of midnight August 15, 1947 at the very moment India becomes independent. At the same moment another child is born, whose mother does not survive.

 

At the stroke of the midnight hour, while the world sleeps, India awakens to life and freedom…And beneath the roar of the monster there are two more yells, cries, bellows, the howls of children arriving in the world, their unavailing protests mingling with the din of independence which hangs saffron-and-green in the night sky.

 

Shortly after birth the babies are switched, unbeknownst to the parents. Saleem is raised in affluence while the other, Shiva, lives as an orphan in extreme poverty, a life that should have been Saleem’s.

 

Saleem, and all of India’s Midnight Children, born in the first hour of independence, are endowed with magical powers. The closer their birth to midnight, the greater their powers. Hence Saleem and Shiva are the most powerful, and eventually become enemies. Saleem can communicate telepathically with all the Midnight Children, and hopes to use their collective powers to help the young nation, while Shiva is more personally ambitious.

 

I didn’t love it; I didn’t hate it, but I respect it. I’m certain I’d appreciate this book more if I had better knowledge of Indian history. I thought it was a fascinating premise, and I think it’s probably rather brilliant…just mostly wasted on me. My deficiency, not the authors. I am reminded of John Updike’s first rule of literary criticism: 

 

“Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.”

 

I think Rushdie wished to tell the world of India’s struggles in her early life. I think he did that admirably, but it wasn’t particularly compelling for me.

 

My rating 3 ½ out of 5 stars

 

 

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NOVA this week (May 18, 2022)

NOVA this month actually. It’s been a while since I posted, and even longer since I reviewed anything. That is partially due to not enjoying my current read, Midnight’s Children, which always slows me down, but more significantly due to major life upheaval.

But in a good way.

My bride and I sold our house at the beginning of May, and downsized to a one bedroom apartment. Lest that sound like economic constraint, I will declare quite the opposite. I plan on retiring in early 2024, and then moving to Michigan to be near our grandchildren. With that life-change on the horizon, we decided to take advantage of the housing market, thinking the recent home buying frenzy was not likely to last much longer; we may have timed it nearly perfectly. We’ve done alright selling before, but I’ve always dreamed of selling in an extreme seller’s market, with buyers in a bidding war, and selling as-is for more than original asking price – and dreams do come true. Our house was on the market two days, before we had a contract at a premium price. We are very thankful.

But, this blessing resulted in a rather hectic period of yard sale, packing, shipping to storage, setting up the apartment, inspection, appraisal, and closing. All in just over a month.

All done now ***deep breath***

We are quite comfy and content in our new digs, though I do miss my library. Most of my books are in storage for a while. 

I will soon get back to reviewing books. A few of my long-time followers will recall that this blog was originally about my quest to read the 100 Greatest Novels. Midnight’s Children will be #198, so I should close out the second century of great novels this summer. 

Cheers

The Wanderer

 

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