The Satanic Verses, (Hardcover)

Many people recognize the name Salman Rushie and can recall the political and religious tensions created by this novel. Far fewer can explain the actual characters, plot points and conflicts of the narrative. "The Satanic Verses" is not an easy ready. Written in the late 1980s by a gentleman of Indian, British and Muslim descent, it carries many literary, cultural and religious references and allusions that may stump a casual reader. The language can change from basic and lewd to elegant on a whim. The story can, at times, be a confusing mixture of realism, surrealism, and fantasy without clear distinction of what's real or fake, if narration is reliable or unreliable. The novel covers many conflicting themes and elements of morality, religion and society that will force readers out of their comfort zones. However, that's the true beauty of the novel. The constant conflicting themes and elements forces the reader to question their own thoughts on important issues while still being an intriguing narrative that dares to challenge genre and literary expectations. It's a challenging read but rewarding and certainly interesting. Certainly not a novel for everyone. However, it is certainly recommended for those looking for a different reading experience and anyone interested in checking out an important part of modern literary history.