Salman Rushdie is one of the most celebrated who has enthralled readers with his vivid imagination and poetic words since the release of his first novel Grimus back in 1975. We have been taken to vivid and varied places all over the world by him through his novels, each of which is deftly integrated into his narrative. As the gifted author turns a year older, let's take a look at 7 of his must-read books.
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1981 Booker Prize?winner?and?perhaps?Rushdie's best-loved novel,?Midnight's Children tells?the story of Saleem Sinai, who is born at midnight, just as India?gains?independence from Britain. The book is a classic example of how Rushdie uses magical realism to narrate the story of Saleem's special powers?and a telepathic connection to?1,000 other?midnight children.
The Ground Beneath Her Feet takes the reader through the glamorous world of rock 'n roll amidst the chaos of change. The plot revolves around Vina Apsara, a famous singer, who disappeared after a devastating earthquake never to be seen again. The novel, at its core, is the heartbreaking tale of Apsara and her lover Ormus Cama's romance. Rushdie weaves a fascinating tale that is inspired?by rock music and the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.? ??
Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a whimsical and ingenious?children's tale?that follows the journey of Haroun, a young boy who?embarks on a journey to?save?his father's storytelling?skills?from a dark force.?Rushdie sets out to emphasise the importance and the power of storytelling and fantasy with this energetic tale that will appeal to both children and adults.
The Moor's Last Sigh, inspired by historical and cultural elements, such as the life of the last Moorish King of Granada, chronicles the story of a son of the dynasty of crime lords who has been banished and journeys from India to Spain. The story takes the reader along the son's perilous?journey that?becomes fraught with danger as he discovers other's passions and learns how to navigate their frustrations.
The Satanic Verses, arguably Rushdie's most well-known work, is a reinterpretation?of Prophet Muhammad's story that prompted the Ayatollah to declare the book anti-Islamic. It centres on a voice actor and a Bollywood actor who, after a supernatural mishap, end up on an island and transform into the devil and an angel. Relying on contemporary events, Rushdie masterfully weaves a tale of magical realism with the book.
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Shalimar the Clown tells the story of a Kashmiri Muslim by the name of Shalimar who becomes a terrorist after he is betrayed by his wife Boonyi, who leaves him for an American diplomat. With the novel, Rushdie delicately explores the themes of love, betrayal and life's complexities against the backdrop of Kashmiri politics.
Another book by Rushdie nominated for the Booker Prize, Quichotte is a tale of illusion vs reality, retelling Miguel de Cervantes' famous Don Quixote story with a meta-element and a central role for a character by the name of Salman R. A?modern masterpiece about the search for love and family,?Quichotte is?best?suited?for fans of fresh?twists?on classic literature.
As we wish Salman Rushdie a fantastic birthday, let's hope he continues to beguile us with his literary masterpieces and the magic he brings to the world of literature with his imagination.
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