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timinbc's review
4.0
It made me smile. That was the idea, I'm sure. There seem to be quite a few reviews out there that lag this book for not being Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Shakespeare. Heck, it's a fun story for a 12-year-old, with plenty of stuff thrown in for adults to enjoy. It's a cupcake. Enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed!
There are puns and jokes, some of them groaners as they ought to be. There are references to about half of the gods and magical creatures that ever "existed". There are improbable solutions to all the challenges, and let's not forget that this is normal for the genre.
There are references to parts of modern society, and a bit of video-game metaphor thrown in. It might have been just as good without the latter, but again, it's for a child.
Read. Enjoy.
There are puns and jokes, some of them groaners as they ought to be. There are references to about half of the gods and magical creatures that ever "existed". There are improbable solutions to all the challenges, and let's not forget that this is normal for the genre.
There are references to parts of modern society, and a bit of video-game metaphor thrown in. It might have been just as good without the latter, but again, it's for a child.
Read. Enjoy.
sidharthvardhan's review
2.0
The book is as different from Rushdi's signature epics like Midnight Children and Satanic Verses as possible. There are mere hints of orgies that dominate other his other books. Also the book is not long like other books.
His strengths are however present. One do find Rushdi's love for story telling as well as magical mysticism. There are also some strong metaphors and word plays. It is these very things that make book worth reading.
The problem is that there is almost no character development. The story runs almost too fast, more in flashes than in scenes - as such you fail to feel for characters or the thrill of adventure, the book is about. The inspiration from 'video games' is also not my favorite part.
One is forced to conclude that Rushdi, despite having a good story to tell (as always) failed to do the justice to the same by failing to give it enough space and 'time' to develop ..... but before we conclude that Rushdi wrote book for his 13-year old son, it may be a fine book for a kid of that age. An easy story running at brisk rate.
His strengths are however present. One do find Rushdi's love for story telling as well as magical mysticism. There are also some strong metaphors and word plays. It is these very things that make book worth reading.
The problem is that there is almost no character development. The story runs almost too fast, more in flashes than in scenes - as such you fail to feel for characters or the thrill of adventure, the book is about. The inspiration from 'video games' is also not my favorite part.
One is forced to conclude that Rushdi, despite having a good story to tell (as always) failed to do the justice to the same by failing to give it enough space and 'time' to develop ..... but before we conclude that Rushdi wrote book for his 13-year old son, it may be a fine book for a kid of that age. An easy story running at brisk rate.
organicwario's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bsmith320's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
littletreefox's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
scribbler67's review
4.0
Liked it a lot, but didn't love it like I loved Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
jalapena's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pizzamyheart's review
3.0
I had high hopes for this book. I remember reading Haroun and the Sea of Stories in high school and loving it. The sequel falls flat. It has it's moments. I would have preferred rushdie expand on many of the little stories instead of the bigger one. He has great ideas, but the book just didn't feel right. It felt as if his publisher asked him to write a sequel and his heart wasn't in it.