Group Read: Midnight's Children Week Three Book 3

The Grand Finale!

I started the 1st 30 pages of Book 3 and unfortunately it's a bit tough to get into! I was hoping the last part would really soar!

WARNING for those who haven't finished the book: contains spoilers

I just finished the book and rated it with 4,5 stars. I don't really know what to think - not having the necessary historical and literary background to judge it correctly.

As many of you stated early, the book demanded more concentrated reading than usual. I like how Rushdie used the language, although certain stilistic means became repetitive after awhile. It gave me the feeling of being in the middle of the action and in the end it always succeeded in drawing me back into the story - and to read just another page, just when I wanted to put the book aside.

Yet somehow it seems the book cannot decide whether it is a phantastic family saga or a (thrillingly written) factual report. Saleem keeps making great announcements throughout the story - placing tracks for the reader. And very often those tracks lead into a blind corner or to a different result than expected. I am not yet sure whether this was intended or whether Rushdie just ran out of analogies between India and Saleem at times and had to bend Saleems story in order to adapt it to history.

All the build-up around the the swapping of the name tags... and then everyone dies and even Shiva never finds out. Everywhere else, just this one story thread would have carried a whole book and a movie, but here it is more or less abandoned. The same with the midnight's children themselves - finally getting together, just to be robbed of their powers, not even in a spectacular way.

But the book can afford those 'letdowns', because seemingly small side branches of the story are perfectly and lovingly elaborated (like the jungle episode or the description of the pickle jars in the end ) and left me wanting to read more.

I already said this on the 2nd thread, but it felt so good that I will just share it here also.

Well, I didn't finish it. I made it about half way through and shelved it, telling myself that I had better ways to spend my time.
I thought that Midnight's Children pretty much just blew!~! Big green goats; that is how much it sucked!~!
Brenzi tagged it just right in her HOT REVIEW. I tried to like it Mark, I really did, but I truly disliked it almost all the way to the point where I put it down. Frankly, I am enjoying the dreaded Melville waaaaaaaaaaaay more!~! And I hate Melville!~!
But that is just this girl's point of view.

I've just finished. I'm glad I persevered with it, as it is a very interesting book. I need some time to think it over but I loved the use of language and imagery. I'll try to post a review in the next few days.

I thought that although this is a difficult book, each section had a terrific ending, and I thought that the very end of the book was the best of the three.
--BJ

Hey, I'm glad to see some positives in here, it's a nice change! I finished it today and have to say overall I was disappointed but I did find many terrific moments scattered throughout. My favorite part of the book was Book One, which like Bonnie pointed out, was more family related, with some very memorable characters but everyone dies out pretty quickly and then I had a hard time following a thread. I also wish he would have done more with the "Midnight Children".
I think a lot of symbolism went over my head. I'm sure the book was loaded with it. I do not regret reading it but it might have been a poor choice for a Group Read, due to it's challenging narrative. Live and learn, I guess!

Mark,

Don't blame yourself for the choice. I wanted to read this one for a GR too.

I think that having group support helps with a challenging read.
--BJ

Yeah Mark, don't be down! Even though, I couldn't get into reading the book myself, I followed the threads. There were few people who liked reading the book or even parts of it, and I think happy to have others to read it with. Being the guy choosing isn't always easy and sometimes the rest of us need a big push to try challenging things even when it comes to reading.

Mark I'm pleased that you organised this group read. I'm sorry so many people abandoned or didn't enjoy reading Midnight's Children; but that isn't your fault - as we all started with the idea that this was a book we wanted to read.

I think this is one of those books that you have to be in a certain frame of mind to enjoy. It did take me a bit of time to settle to this read but by the end I was really into reading it. I'm glad I have finally read it.

I've posted a review and I gave the book four stars. Hopefully the following is a link to my review!

http://www.librarything.com/work/2118/reviews/50890254

I don't fancy reading Norwegian Wood but I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the next Group Read and hope it will be something I want to join in with.

This is the first time I've come back to check on the GR thread since I gave up on MC somewhere near the end of Book 1. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to stick with it since this is an author I've always meant to read but never did. I'm surprised to see that so many others also struggled with it since it is generally well received. But anyway, and on the bright side, without the GR I never would have started it and would have wondered about what I was missing. Thank you Mark!

Thanks Joanne, Calm, Tami!!
You know, I forgot to leave a last comment here, thanking everyone for participating. I never really got down about it but as Group Leader, you hope that the book is a success and everyone has a good time. It was a difficult read but I do not regret giving it a shot. My next G.R. will be Norwegian Wood on May 1st! Hope you can make it! You guys are the best!

I finally finished!!

I think Rushdie is an amazing writer, I can see how this book won so many prizes. Ultimately I think there much of the book I didn't understand but I think that is my brain rather than any fault on the writer's part!

I don't think I would have managed to finish it without the group read to help me out and keep me going so thank you Mark!

I loved the pickle jars at the end of Part 3 and the way Saleem raised all the questions we had as the readers about parts of the book and so somehow deflected all the questions (if that makes sense).

Looking forward to Norwegian Wood although I think I need to schedule some light reading for April!

I finished this afternoon! It feels like such an accomplishment after nearly a solid month of slogging through it. I have to agree with your comments upthread, Mark, there were a lot of terrific moments in the novel but overall, it was disappointing. I really liked Book 2 and was hoping that Book 3 would bring everything together. I was anticipating a payoff for sticking out it to the end, but that never came. I thought Book 3 was the most confusing of the three. Then again, that may be due to my lack of historical knowledge of India and Pakistan in the 60s/70s.

One good thing about Book 3: the meaning of the spittoon seemed to be explained. It was like a talisman for Saleem and in the end, it became the one tangible thing that tied him to his past.

Thanks for organizing this, Mark! Rushdie was on my "Famous Authors to Read" list too and I'm glad I took this opportnity. I doubt I will read more of his books, but at least I've got one under my belt!

Heather- I'm so glad you enjoyed the book! I know it wasn't always easy but you toughed it out! Thanks!
Space- I agree with you about Book 3! I, too was hoping that this was where he was going to pull everything together for a satisfying conclusion but it became the most muddled section for me. Too bad! I enjoyed your comments!

Onward to Norwegian Wood!! Hope to see you all there!

I'll be there for Norwegian Wood. I am carrying it around in my backpack. Haven't started it yet, but will do so soon. Can't just carry dead weight around forever.

Like others, I didn't get to finish this one, but am glad that I started it. I will go back and pick it up, but will have to let it rest for now. Rarely do I not finish a book in the allotted three check-out (original with two renewals) at my local library but that's what happened with this one. Glad I gave it a try.

Benita- Hope you come back, I'd like to hear your final thoughts! See you on the Murakami!