Grimus - Salman Rushdie's First... & corkiest. Review on Grimus - Salman Rushdie

Grimus is Salman Rushdie’s first novel. That and that alone is the reason why I read it. Before reading the book I had read several reviews of the book. The book was thoroughly criticised by all and sundry. According to one disgusted reader, Grimus being such a terrible book was the real reason Rushdie had a price on his head. LOL. Apparently even the author was critical of the book. I still dared to read this one and here is my review.

Whatever you think of this book, it will remain one of the most interesting books you will ever read. It’s a mix of philosophy, mythology and believe it or not a lot of science fiction! Yes, this book has everything from telepathic mind controlling aliens to parallel dimensions and inter-celestial travel, all in the garb of a philosophical tale weaved around a character named Flapping Eagle, a native Indian, who after drinking a potion that gives him immortality, lives aimlessly for more than 700 years, and then sets out in search of his sister. His quest brings him to an island that holds the key to his and many other's survival.

A world that is there but also not. A dimension within another. And the story then revolves around this island - its people, its origin and its death.

The most amazing part of book was how this island, this unique world, was thought of and presented. It’s a world which is inhabited by people who have all drunk a magic fluid and are now immortal. They are all aware that the world that they are living in is just one in a series of alternative worlds and that its existence is not in their hands. To survive here they need to be obsessed by any one cause and keep a single minded approach in life. They are happy to remain in a state of self denial and avoid facing the very reality of their existence. And to remain that way they keep playing out the small, petty things happening around them.

It’s all reminiscent of the way we all live our lives. Turning a blind eye to the obvious bigger picture and concentrate on the smaller petty issues that surround our immediate proximity.

Also amazing is how well the protagonist showcases that immortality is actually a burden, which he grapples throughout the novel.

However all this unfolds in a painfully slow pace in the book and if it was not for Salman Rushdie’s capability to turn a simple sentence into something that just touches you in some way or the other, you would get bored and feel lost as to what is happening in the book. Also at times the story gets just too bizarre to grasp and the characters just too weird. Probably that is the biggest reason why this book was criticized.

While the concept and the thought behind the book is appreciated one has to really go through many dreary pages before it all makes sense. I agree with this totally, but it’s the concept that makes this book so different. To think this was a first book of an author and that it was set so long ago. when such concepts were not commonplace, in itself is great.

So read Grimus only when you have lots of time and patience to hear a long, weird but unique story told by a master in his own eccentric way.

Happy Reading!