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The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
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The Satanic Verses (original 1988; edition 1989)

by Salman Rushdie

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11,996139530 (3.75)4 / 615
A hijacked jumbo jet bound for London blows apart high above the English Channel. Two figures, Indian actors of opposing sensibilities, Gibreel and Saladin, fall to Earth, and are washed up on an English beach. Soon curious changes occur -Gibreel seems to have acquired a halo, while Saladin grows hooves and bumps at his temples. They are transformed into living symbols of what is angelic and evil. This is the initial act in an odyssey that merges the actual with the imagined.… (more)
Member:irbod
Title:The Satanic Verses
Authors:Salman Rushdie
Info:Viking (1989), Edition: Assumed Reprint, Hardcover, 560 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
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Work Information

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1988)

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    CGlanovsky: Deals with religion and includes physical transformation of characters.
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    Cecrow: Magical realism in the Bible's backyard.
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» See also 615 mentions

English (121)  Dutch (4)  Spanish (3)  Italian (2)  French (2)  Catalan (2)  Portuguese (Portugal) (1)  Finnish (1)  Portuguese (Brazil) (1)  Danish (1)  Hungarian (1)  All languages (139)
Showing 1-5 of 121 (next | show all)
Rushdie's subject is the immigrant experience, the feeling of being alien in a home you wish to make your own, or scornfully resist making yours. How you can make yourself at home, or think you have, only to have a single label make you other again. How you can believe you have left your old identity behind, only to have it recapture you without warning. As Rushdie wrote in his 2012 memoir, the experience "puts into crisis everything about the migrating individual or group, everything about identity and selfhood and culture and belief. So if this is a novel about migration it must be that act of putting in question. It must perform the crisis it describes."

There's a frequent blurring of the line in these pages between reality and fantasy, not just for the characters but for the reader as well. 'Magical realism' doesn't strictly apply, with everyone trying to rationalize the unbelievable or declare it madness. But fantastical things do occur in this story, as the mysterious narrator assures us. A man becomes an angel, and another becomes a devil, after surviving an impossible explosion and tumble through the air. A man relives the ancient past in not-quite-dreams, speaks to a ghost riding a magic carpet and influences the weather. Another man infests the dreams of others. No sooner is an unusual element dismissed as make-believe or madness than evidence appears that proves otherwise. Or does it?

In other words, this novel is 'performing the crisis' of the immigration experience, as promised. It isn't often that an author feels obliged to explain his novel after the fact; but then neither is it often that an author finds himself the victim of a death sentence issued by a foreign power, forcing him into hiding for a decade and having to remain vigilant thereafter, only to be wounded by a stabbing on stage at a live event in 2022. Reading this novel had zero negative impact on my outsider's view of Islam, for whatever that's worth. ( )
  Cecrow | Jan 13, 2024 |
Los versos satánicos
Salman Rushdie
Publicado: 1988 | 510 páginas
Novela Sátira

Los versos satánicos narra la historia de Gibreel Farishta y Saladin Chamcha, dos actores de origen indio. Farishta es una estrella de Bollywood especializado en papeles religiosos con un fuerte complejo de superioridad; Chamcha, un emigrante que ha roto con su pasada identidad hindú, trabaja como actor de voz para comerciales, experto en adoptar cualquier acento, lo que le ha ganado la fama del Hombre de las Mil Voces.

Al principio de la novela hay un atentado en el avión en el que viajaban, el Bostan 706, de India a Inglaterra. Sin embargo, sobreviven milagrosamente al caer cerca de las costas inglesas, transformados Farishta con una aureola angelical y Chamcha con unas nacientes protuberancias en la frente, respectivamente arcángel Gabriel y Shaitan.

Sus caminos se separan en la casa de playa de la señora Rose Diamond en donde son buscados por la policía acusados de ser inmigrantes ilegales, pero sólo es puesto bajo custodia Saladin Chamcha, puesto que Gabriel se les presenta a los oficiales irradiando la luz angelical de su aureola, convenciéndoles de su honesta estancia en el país sin tan siquiera decir una palabra. En cambio, a Chamcha, con sus ahora enormes cuernos caprinos que no solo lo delatan como extranjero sino que lo convierten en la viva representación de todo lo que es maligno y engañoso, los oficiales se lo llevan entre burlas y abusos físicos, a pesar de que afirma ser ciudadano inglés y ser sobreviviente del Bostan. Farishta lo observa todo como alejado, en trance, y no intenta siquiera ayudar. Chamcha nunca olvidaría el incidente.

A la par de la narrativa principal, se intercalan visiones soñadas por Gibreel Farishta, que lo representan como el mensajero de Dios. Una de estas visiones narra la historia de Ayeesha, una joven campesina hindú, quien dice recibir mensajes de Dios a través del Arcángel Gabriel. Ella encabeza una peregrinación a La Meca, a pie, a través de la India. Al llegar a la costa del mar de Arabia, los creyentes entran y se sumergen convencidos de que el arcángel separará las olas y les permitirá el paso libre, sin embargo todos se ahogan.

En esta visión es donde se hace alusión a los versos satánicos: Abu Simbel, líder de Jahilia y esposo de Hind, sacerdotisa de la diosa Al-Lat, le ofrece a Mahound un pacto: él admitirá a tan sólo tres de las diosas de Jahilia, como arcángeles de Alá, y le permitirá al pueblo su adoración y Abu Simbel (y por consiguiente, el pueblo) aceptará a Alá. Mahound atribulado sube al monte Cone, a pedirle una revelación al Arcángel Gabriel, obligándole inconscientemente a dictarle unos versos en los que se proclame la validez de las tres deidades.
  libreriarofer | Aug 23, 2023 |
Well I can see why Muslims were pissed as shit about this book, especially since, to paraphrase a line in the book, followers of Mohammad cannot stand wit, or insults.

( )
  blueskygreentrees | Jul 30, 2023 |
I've read and enjoyed a number of Rushdie's other novels and have been meaning to read this one for years. But sadly, this important and critical acclaimed, novel was a bit of a let down. There were flashes of brilliance, there's no denying that. But it simply wandered around way too much. Both the heroes were delusional and disturbed and I guess Rushdie wanted to bring that point across. But a novel needs a certain sense of ebb and flow, and this novel with it's herkie jerky plot, was sorely lacking in any type of flow. ( )
  kevinkevbo | Jul 14, 2023 |
This was…a lot. It was very creative, and well written, like nothing I’ve ever read before. But at the same time it was very tedious and l, I guess, my lack of knowledge about Indian and British cultures, and the subcultures between the two, might have influenced my understanding and comprehension of the material. It definitely resulted in taking longer than usual to “get into” the book. By the end, while I was fully invested and interested, it also felt like a chore to complete. It was hard to reconcile… ( )
  MrMet | Apr 28, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 121 (next | show all)
Talent? Not in question. Big talent. Ambition? Boundless ambition. Salman Rushdie is a storyteller of prodigious powers, able to conjure up whole geographies, causalities, climates, creatures, customs, out of thin air. Yet, in the end, what have we? As a display of narrative energy and wealth of invention, ''The Satanic Verses'' is impressive. As a sustained exploration of the human condition, it flies apart into delirium.
 
Los Versos Satánicos; Novela 1988, Conj de Editoriales Españolas 1989; Salman Rushide; India - Inglaterra.

Hasta las personas que no leen habrán escuchado hablar alguna vez de este libro y/o de su autor; yo era uno de aquellos a finales de los 80’s. Cuando empezé a leer en el ‘94 sabía que éste sería uno de esos libros que leería alguna vez. No recuerdo haberlo visto y dejado pasar: simplemente no lo encontraba, pero tampoco lo buscaba. Y ahora, caminando por una librería de segunda mano lo encontré en primera edición española, en buen estado y a un precio razonable: y habían 2 ejemplares. Para los fanáticos islámicos es blasfemo desde que el Ayatolá Jomeini sentenciara una fatwa en febrero del ‘89 condenando a muerte a Rushdie por escribir tal obra. Vamos al libro:
De sus 9 capítulos sólo la parte 1 del Cap 1 me pareció la más difícil de digerir: la conversa y pensamientos de los hindúes-musulmanos Gibreel Farishta y Saladim Chamcha durante la caída en la explosíon del avión sobre Londres.
En esta primera historia lo interesante es la metamorfosis que se da con la sobrevivencia y renacimiento: Farishta en el Arcángel Gabriel, con aureola y todo, y Chamcha en Shaitan, con pequeños cuernos naciendo de sus sienes, y poseedor de un aliento sulfúrico. En capítulos posteriores la descripción de la metamorfosis del segundo, acostumbrándose a su nueva condición de macho cabrío es magistral.: mucha ironía y humor negro en esos capítulos.
Farishta, actor e ídolo del cine hindúe, y Chamcha, el hombre de las mil y una voces, que se abrió paso haciendo comerciales de tv, ganándose de a pocos un lugar en esa misma indústria, anglófilo, y desencantado de su fé y su cultura, adoptando como suya la inglesa (quizá el alter ego de Rushidie). Luego de caer en la playa londinense Chamcha, en plena metamorfosis, es arrestado y ultrajado por la policía inglesa en el apartamento de Rosa Diamond, mientras que Farishta , vestido con ropas del difunto esposo de ésta es hasta respetado por los mismos policías, sin necesidad de mencionar palabra alguna. Ahí hay un primer punto de quiebre: el angélico guarda silencio mientras ve como su amigo es arrestado y clamándole que cuente a sus captores lo ocurrido, mientras que el diabólico es maltratado, humillado y arrestado injustamente, sin darle la mínima opción de defenderse, ni escucharlo, de decirles que él es uno de los dos únicos sobrevivientes de la explosión de avión.
La segunda historia: Ayesha, la bella joven con su nube de mariposas amarillas que la siguen por donde vaya, que influenciada en sueños por el arcángel Gabriel inicia un recorrido convenciendo a todo un pueblo ir hacia la Meca en una peregrinación bíblica. Aquí también las historias de Mishal, y su esposo Mizra Saed con su ateísmo, tratando de disuadir a su mujer enferma en no escuchar las palabras de Ayesha rinden grandes páginas del libro.
La tercera historia es sobre Mahound (se supone que es Mahoma), el comerciante que se convierte en profeta, quien inicia una religión en un desértico pueblo, Jahilia, y, quien inspirado por el Arcángel Gabriel quien le hablaba en sueños en el Monte Cone incluye unos versos dictados por él, pero luego cree que quien le recitó esos versos fue Shaitan. Rushidie hace ver que ni de Shaitan, ni del arcángel salieron aquellos versos, tan solo de la cabeza de Mahound. Esta historia es corta y una de las menos interesantes en comparación con las dos primeras, pero es la que debe haber iniciado la ira del Ayatolá Jomeini.
Todo un clásico de la literatura contemporánea. Imprescindible
added by manigna | editNHK
 

» Add other authors (15 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Rushdie, Salmanprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Capriolo, EttoreTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dastor, SamNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Emeis, MarijkeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Häilä, ArtoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
"Satan, being thus confined to a vagabond, wandering, unsettled condition, is without any certain abode; for though he has, in consequence of his angelic nature, a kind of empire in the liquid waste or air, yet this is certainly part of his punishment, that he is... without any fixed place, or space, allowed him to rest the sole of his foot upon." ~ daniel defoe, the history of the devil
Dedication
Dedicated to the individuals and organizations who have supported this publication.
First words
"To be born again " sang Gibreel Farishta tumbling from the heavens, "first you have to die."
Quotations
If you live in the twentieth century you do not find it hard to see yourself in those, more desperate than yourself, who seek to shape it to their will.
“Then tell me why your God is so anxious to destroy the innocent? What's he afraid of? Is he so unconfident that he needs us to die to prove our love?”
With death comes honesty.
Dr. Faustus sacrificed eternity in return for two dozen years of power; the writer agrees to the ruination of his life, and gains (but only if he's lucky) maybe not eternity, but posterity, at least. Either way ... it's the Devil who wins.
What kind of idea are you?
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Information from the Italian Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
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Wikipedia in English (2)

A hijacked jumbo jet bound for London blows apart high above the English Channel. Two figures, Indian actors of opposing sensibilities, Gibreel and Saladin, fall to Earth, and are washed up on an English beach. Soon curious changes occur -Gibreel seems to have acquired a halo, while Saladin grows hooves and bumps at his temples. They are transformed into living symbols of what is angelic and evil. This is the initial act in an odyssey that merges the actual with the imagined.

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A tale of two men/human angel and demon/amazing writing!  (ReadWriteLib)

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