The Satanic Verses

By: Salman Rushdie

Narrated by: Sam Dastor

Length: 21 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Inextricably linked with the fatwa called against its author in the wake of the novel’s publication, The Satanic Verses is, beyond that, a rich showcase for Salman Rushdie’s comic sensibilities, cultural observations, and unparalleled mastery of language. The tale of an Indian film star and a Bombay expatriate, Rushdie’s masterpiece was deservedly honored with the Whitbread Prize.

The story begins with a bang: the terrorist bombing of a London-bound jet in midflight. Two Indian actors of opposing sensibilities fall to earth, transformed into living symbols of what is angelic and evil. This is just the initial act in a magnificent odyssey that seamlessly merges the actual with the imagined. A book whose importance is eclipsed only by its quality, The Satanic Verses is a key work of our times.

©1988 Salman Rushdie (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"No book in modern times has matched the uproar sparked by Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, which earned its author a death sentence. Furor aside, it is a marvelously erudite study of good and evil, a feast of language served up by a writer at the height of his powers, and a rollicking comic fable." (Amazon.com review)

"A rollercoaster ride over a vast landscape of the imagination." ( The Guardian)

"A masterpiece." ( The Sunday Times, London)

Beyond my comprehension.

I purchased the Satanic Verses after reading The Golden House - which I LOVED. Rushdie's writing is lyrical, funny & ironic in so many ways. As a former New Yorker and transplant from UK, I enjoyed his cross cultural references.

However, I was only able to get through the 1st five chapters of Satanic Verses until I
got "completely" lost. I felt like being in the audience of an opera done in German instead of Italian.

I was intrigued by the first few chapters, but then by Chapter 4 I was way over my head.

Still love Rushdie's Golden House but I am not able to read the Verses.

I was one of those people

What made the experience of listening to The Satanic Verses the most enjoyable?

You know the type, they are the loudest critics and yet have never even seen the movie or read the book which they are lambasting. I am ashamed to say that I vaguely remember condemning Salman Rushdie and this book without reading it in 1989, thinking he should have known better than to offend the Ayatollah. I wish I had been wise enough to condemn the fatwā which called for Rushdie's death. I wish I had been courageous enough to stand up for freedom of speech. Well now I have read The Satanic Verses and I loved it. No wonder Rushdie and Christopher Hitchens were friends. Rushdie and write! This is a bizarre story no doubt but so entertaining. There are a few good lessons buried in there too. I highly recommend the book. I'll be reading more of Rushdie's work. And I will be reading the books and watching the movies before passing judgment on them in the future.

What is evil? What is good? Can you reconcile with your past and, embrace the future?

I truly loved this book. I think you most go in to reading this work with a completely open mind, with no preconceived ideologies or, prejudice.
You will learn a lot. I really enjoyed the back and forth between God and Man, as well Gabriel and Muhammad. I realized why the Imam, who became the Shah and,religious leader of Iran got so angry about this book. It was because made him look bad. If you study history, when he came back to Iran in the beginning many people thought there would finely be democracy. We all know how well that went. Look where are now, no thanks to even more American intervention. I loved authors narrative, like we were in on a conversation with God and, he/she saying " I have done everything I can. Let these poor saps figure it out on their own. " as there horrific otherworldly tests, sidelines and, stumbling blocks placed on their path to their future or demise. I will definitely read again! So I can pick up on any parts I might have missed. Maybe I found it easy to embrace because my religious beliefs are not secular, the thing that I have never understood. The three religions that fight the most are all born of Abraham, I just don't get it. I know Sunnis and Shiites, still born of Abraham.

Exceptionally well read.

Sam Dastor’s work on this controversial books. As usual, Rushdie is at times laugh-out-loud funny.

Confusing

A multitude of words, beautifully read, but difficult to make any sense of the story.

certainly gave me pause

Wasn't what I was expecting. I'll have to listen once again in a quieter environment to truly absorb it all.

Well

Well this is the first book that I won’t finish. 20% in and I can’t take it anymore

Intricate and worthwhile

This book is like no other. Although it does bear some resemblance to midnight children, which also was brilliant, it is its own story with its own ups and downs. There were so many smaller stories, and so many characters, I did need to reference a guide, so as not to get lost. But it helped deepen my understanding. This book was interesting, amusing at points, deeply profound at others, sometimes very strange, always intriguing. I would give it another 10 stars if I could. Oh, and the read was perfect I think. Sometimes the reader can really change your whole perspective on a story, and he really brought the story the life. Thank you.

Exceptional and Provocative

If you’re familiar with conservative religious views, you’ll understand why this book is provocative. I learned of this book only because a coward tried to silence the Immortal genius that is Salman Rushdie and thus the title popped in my news feed/Twitter. I believe this heinous act likely only served to magnify the audience! This is an exceptional book! Ignore the lazy readers they want everything distilled to readers digest chitter chatter. Also, defy the terrorists that hate all they do not understand! You’ll be rewarded, challenged and entertained by reading one of the greatest writers to share this planet with us.

The subtlety of the message: There is no God but God…..the rest is up to us.

I particularly liked the way in which the author delivered his message, through the subterfuge of comic characters, carrying on in a life confused by the crashing of dissimilar views of fate, and Fortune, in the hands of a supreme being.