Too dazzling for me
|
This is the first novel by Rushdie that I have read, and I doubt I shall now go off to look for others by him. Now let me try to explain why. . .
As another reviewer has stated, Rushdie's prose is challanging. He very rarely creates a simple sentence; instead they are often long in length and in meaning. What this means is that Rushdie is able to create dazzling descriptions which bring his world to life, right there on the page for you. But what this also means is that, unless you are paying the utmost attention, you can be left lagging behind. So, even though I revelled in his imagery and ability to bring things to life, there were many times when the story just washed over me. I was not able to give THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE the attention and the time that it really needs.
Having said that, what I have taken away from the novel is the beauty of storytelling. There is a recurring theme looking at if something exists in the imagination of another, does it have a life independent from this?
Also there is the exploration that stories have a danger of being spoken wrongly or even being lost altogether.
Although I would not say this is a light read, if you like to completely immerse yourself in another world, and have the time to dedicate to properly doing this, THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE would probably satisfy you. If you are looking for an 'easier' read, look elsewhere.
|
|
Back on form
|
As an avid Rushdie fan, I was deeply disappointed with "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" - a jarring mis-step - and was not totally enthralled by "Shalimar the Clown". However, Enchantress is a return to form for an author I genuinely regard as without peer amongst his generation.
What makes Rushdie so great? His use of language is simply staggering. He can construct the most dizzying, dense and multi-dimensional sentences. His prose is certainly convoluted, but it is not at the expense of the story. Far from that, the narrator is often as beguiling a character as any of the main protagonists. If you love the English language, history, theology, philosophy, etymology, art... in fact, anything which might pique a curious mind, Rushdie offers a cocktail of wonderment for the senses.
I see no reason to explain the premise or the storyline - you can read that in Amazon's description, and equally, it is only half the reason to read this novel and is, as always with Rushdie's work, an allegory for deeper philosophical and geo-political theses.
Rushdie's books are something of a challenge to read - his prose is not light and economical - but the challenge is well-worth taking. Nothing good ever comes easy. This is such an enjoyable book - I hope it's a lasting return to form.
|
|
|
A glorious celebration of storytelling
|
I remember, long ago, the furor surrounding The Satanic Verses. It was not until much later that read this controversial novel, and, with it, much of Mr. Rushdie's work. All are clearly works of a staggeringly creative mind. I found each of them to not quite live up to Mr. Rushdie's potential.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories, on the other hand, is a beautiful, sprawling tale that convinced me that Salman Rushdie missed his calling. As a writer of adult novels, he is very, very good; as a children's author, he could be Great.
The Enchantress of Florence is by far the finest of Rushdie's novels. An engrossing and enchanting tale of lost family and lost eras, this novel is a delirious and delightful and dizzying celebration of telling stories.
Bravo, Mr. Rushdie. Bravo.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada