Quichotte - Salman Rushdie | Salman Rushdie's Puzzle Makes Me Insane

Quichotte - Salman Rushdie

This time, I want to review a book by another format or style. I want to share my review by divide it into three parts. Part one, two and, three. So, this article is part one. The thickness of Quichotte by Salman Rushdie is challenging for me because of the language (English). Despite that, I'm proud of myself because I have improved my English by reading an English novel. I'm wrong all this time when I thought it was really hard. I don't know until I did it. Hahaha. (But, I knew there are mistaken/error in my writing now...I hope readers still can understand my point. I'll learn more to improve my grammar and English writing).

Released : 2019
Genre : Fiction Novel
Publisher : Jonathan Cape
Size : 15.3x12.5
Format : Paperback
Language : English

Okay, back to Quichotte. Now, I'm on page 158. I amazed when I have so many things to comment about the book. I think it will be a long article. So, I decided to write the review by part to part. Okay, let's get started!

After I read the book bit by bit, page by page, and chapter to chapter, I interested to know who is the author. When I'm reading, I don't really choose who is the writer. I always look at the topics/titles or the content of the book. Sometimes, I just read without checking the content list or synopsis. Because I want to appreciate the author's message in her/his writing. And...I'll read everything and anything. I don't care who they are.

But this time, Quichotte keeps me thinking who is the writer. Why he wrote this way. Why he talked a lot about India/Indian? Why he has a lot of information regarding 'brown people'? Why he wrote a lot about ISIS, terrorists and etc. Because of curiosity, I decided to get to know more about Salman Rushdie.

SALMAN RUSHDIE

Salman Rushdie is a British-Indian novelist best known for the novel Midnight's Children in 1981 and The Satanic Verses in 1988. His writing in The Satanic Verses has accused him of blasphemy against Islam. In 1989 the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill him. I'm shocked by this information. What in my mind about him now? I don't take the negative thoughts or bad issues in a book or the author. But, I'm pretty sure some people in a certain country especially in the world of modern literature, Rushdie remain the stigma of the anti-Islam author. It must difficult to dissolve the stigma attached.

He was born on June 19, 1947, in Bombay (now it's called Mumbai), India. I just know this! The changing of the city's name? How did that happen? Based on my reading, renaming Mumbai from Bombay is happening in 1995. You can read A Brief History Of How Bombay Became Mumbai.

The only son of a wealthy Indian businessman and a school teacher, Rushdie was educated at a Bombay private school before attending The Rugby School, a boarding school in Warwickshire, England. He went on to attend King's College at the University of Cambridge, where he studied history. Read his biography to know more about him. I got a point! he studied history. So, no wonder he very expert writing historical fiction.

SALMAN RUSHDIE'S BOOK LIST

(TOP 10)

1. Midnight's Children (1981) - Midnight's Children is a loose allegory for events in India both before and, primarily, after the independence and partition of India. The protagonist and narrator of the story is Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment when India became an independent country. He was born with telepathic powers, as well as an enormous and constantly dripping nose with an extremely sensitive sense of smell. The novel is divided into three books.[Read More]
2. Shame (08 September 1983) - This story takes place in a town called "Q" which is actually a fictitious version of Quetta, Pakistan. In Q, one of the three sisters (Chunni, Munnee, and Bunny Shakil) gives birth to Omar Khayyám Shakil, but they act as a unit of mothers, never revealing to anyone who is Omar's birth mother. In addition, Omar never learns who his father is. While growing up, Omar lives in purdah with his three mothers and yearns to join the world. As a birthday present, Omar Khayyám Shakil's "mothers" allow him to leave Q. He enrolls in a school and is convinced by his tutor (Eduardo Rodriguez) to become a doctor. Over time, he comes in contact with both Iskander Harappa and General Raza Hyder.[Read More]
3. The Satanic Verses (1988) - The Satanic Verses consists of a frame narrative, using elements of magical realism, interlaced with a series of sub-plots that are narrated as dream visions experienced by one of the protagonists. The frame narrative, like many other stories by Rushdie, involves Indian expatriates in contemporary England. The two protagonists, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, are both actors of Indian Muslim background. Farishta is a Bollywood superstar who specialises in playing Hindu deities. (The character is partly based on Indian film stars Amitabh Bachchan and N. T. Rama Rao.) Chamcha is an emigrant who has broken with his Indian identity and works as a voiceover artist in England.[Read More]
4. Haroun And The Sea of Stories (27 September 1990) - At the beginning of the story, protagonist Haroun Khalifa lives with his father Rashid, a famous storyteller, and his mother Soraya, until the latter is seduced by their neighbor 'Mr. Sengupta' to leave home. Thereafter Rashid is hired to speak on behalf of local politicians but fails his initial assignment. The two are thence conveyed to the 'Valley of K' by courier 'Mr. Butt', to speak for 'Snooty Buttoo', another politician. Attempting to sleep aboard Buttoo's yacht, Haroun discovers 'Iff the Water Genie', assigned to detach Rashid's imagination, and demands conversation against this decision with Iff's supervisor, the Walrus. They are then carried to the eponymous 'Sea of Stories' by an artificial intelligence in the form of a hoopoe, nicknamed 'Butt' after the courier. Of the Sea of Stories, Haroun learns it is endangered by antagonist 'Khattam-Shud,' who represents "the end." [Read More]
5. Imaginary Homelands (1991) - collection of essays written by Salman Rushdie covering a wide variety of topics. In addition to the title essay, the collection also includes "'Commonwealth Literature' Does Not Exist".Salman Rushdie's “Imaginary Homelands” is an essay that propounds an antiessentialist view of place.[Read More]
6. East, West (1994) - anthology of short stories by Salman Rushdie. The book is divided into three main sections, entitled "East", "West", and "East, West", each section containing stories from their respective geographical areas (in the "East, West" section both worlds are influenced by each other). [Read More]
7. The Moor's Last Sigh (1995) - The Moor's Last Sigh traces four generations of the narrator's family and the ultimate effects upon the narrator. The narrator, Moraes Zogoiby, traces his family's beginnings down through time to his own lifetime. Moraes, who is called "Moor" throughout the book, is an exceptional character, whose physical body ages twice as fast as a normal person's does and also has a deformed hand. The book also focusses heavily on the Moor's relationships with the women in his life, including his mother Aurora, who is a famous national artist; his first female tutor; his three older sisters, Ina, Minnie and Mynah; and his first love, a charismatic, demented sculptor named Uma. Salman Rushdie mentions William Babington Macauley in this novel.[Read More]
8. The Golden House (5 September 2017) - The Golden House is a 2017 novel by Salman Rushdie. The novel, his eleventh, is set in Mumbai and New York.[Read More]
9. The Ground Beneath Her Feet (April 1999) - The title is taken from a song in the novel, composed by Ormus Cama after Vina's death. The lyrics to the song, with minor changes, were adapted and recorded by U2. The song was used in the 2000 film The Million Dollar Hotel, and the promotional music video featured Rushdie in a cameo appearance.[Read More]
10. Joseph Anton: A Memior (September 2012) - Rushdie used "Joseph Anton" as a pseudonym while in hiding following the fatwa that had been issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, the spiritual and political leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the midst of criticism by some Muslims and a widespread controversy over Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses (1988). He chose the name to honor the writers Joseph Conrad and Anton Chekhov. Rushdie was annoyed when police officers called him by the more casual nickname, "Joe." The memoir is an account of his life under the ongoing fatwa.[Read More]

Quichotte is a novel inspired by the classic novel title Don Quixote de la Mancha. Don Quixote published in 1605. Written by Miguel de Cervantes. He is from Spain. The original title is El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha. The book is divided into three books. In 1612, it was published in English for part one. Then, published in 1620 for the rest.

This novel genre is historical fiction or realism fiction. Because readers can find out the real history in the book. For example, the main character, Ismail Smile (Quichotte) was born in Bombay. There an explanation on page 29 about the city was "not called that now" in the bracket.

Many, many years ago, when the sea was clean and the night was safe, there was a road called Warden Road (not called that anymore) in a neighborhood called Breach Candy (still called that, more or less) in a city called Bombay (not called that now). - Page 29

Besides the readers reading to assess the character's feelings, emotions, crisis, and the situations, readers also can learn and increase the knowledge from the book. I love this book for those reasons. Other than history, Salman Rushdie also includes topics about mental health, psychology, racist issues, terrorist problem, the entertainment industry, and I'm sure there are more interesting topics in the book in my next reading (page 159 until the end).

The main story is about the journey of Quichotte and his son, Sancho pursuit his true love, Salma R. But it is not about romance at all... It is more than we think!

[PART 1]

The point of view of this novel is more than one POV. From chapter one until five, the POV is Third Person. In chapter six, the POV was changed to First Person. Salman Rushdie made Sancho as a narrator and the readers watch the story unfold through Sancho's eyes. Then, back to the Third Person in chapter seven.

As far as I've read the story (chapter one until ten), I was enjoyed the plot especially in part related to the character name Salma R and her background. Salma R's life reminds me of Marilyn Monroe and Gia but most similar to Marilyn Monroe. Salma R as known as Oprah 2.0, is a woman that Ismail Smile obsessed with.

When I trying to understand Ismail Smile's feeling of Salma R, I was like...' Ahh? no way...this is insane!'. Is the act of loving someone (deeply/crazily) who doesn't know us are worth it?

Let me share my comments on the chapter by chapter.

Chapter 1

In chapter one, the author introduced the main character of the novel. In the beginning, I have already begun to think that the book will be discussed about mental illness. But I'm not sure what is the type of mental illness yet. So, the question of this book is related to psychology topics. However, I was confused in the middle of the chapter when...

he had been seized long ago and now returned by the aliens in the mothership hiding in the sky above the meteors... - Page 17

Quichotte found his son from the future. What? Is the book genre are science fiction?

Chapter 2

My confusion was increasing in chapter two when the author introduced the character named Sam Duchamp. My reading got intense. My mind got chaos. I have to solve my puzzles. What? Who is Sam? Is he Quichotte? Who is Brother? Are they (Sam and Quichotte) siblings? There is no name for certain characters.

I keep reading and I found out that Sam Duchamp is a novelist. The shocking episode in this chapter is how Sam's father dead. Oh my god! Why? that's pathetic!

I think Sam and Quichotte are sick/mentally/crazy/insane. Hhuhu... But, yes... Sam is unwell.

...then Brother's anxieties were close to triggering a flight response. He wanted to run but didn't know where or how, which made him more fearful still...- Page 23

Sam has an anxiety disorder. His mental health occurred perhaps of the bully events while he was a child. Everyone knows bullying has a bad effect on young people. They'll bring those experiences for the rest of their life.

Back to the characters. What does Sam Duchamp have to do with Quichotte?

Chapter 3

At the beginning (Chapter one and two), I just liked this book as usual; a book. Once I get to chapter three, I started to fall in love with this novel. More than 'just like'. I flutter when I read about Salma R. I'm was curious. I want to know about the character more. I want to dig Salma R's story. I was wondering. Did I now become Quichotte? Interested in Salma R? Haha. What is her specialty until Quichotte willingly travels for the pursuit of her?

In chapter three, also the topics of mental health featured by the author. Severe mental illness can cause suicide. That's not in a fiction story only because that happened in real life.

These mental things in chapter three pulled me to keep reading about Salma R. Felt like can't stop reading. In my thought, that must be awesome when she is the main character. Hahaha.

Maybe her spirit was more adventurous than she knew. Maybe there was something in her that wanted to test itself against the challenges of the wider world...- Page 44

Same like chapter two, the story is about her dysfunctional relationship in the family. Based on my reading in this chapter, she looked optimistic and charismatic person. Her characteristic is attractive. Now I understand why Quichotte obsessed with her.

Chapter 4

I was carried away with Sam Duchamp's sister's life story. When I looked her way when she was angry, I think she also has a mental problem. Oh my god! It was like every character I accused being mentally ill. Hahaha. What a thought. But, based on my reading, I imagine the way she angry was looked like the green Marvel character; HULK...smash! smash! smash! hahaha.

Sam's sister's story made me reflect on my own past. But, her character was a little bit the same as Joker. The DC movie's character. She rebelled for not being able to pursue her dream. I don't know yet, but I think there are reasons why her parent hasn't allow her to do what she wants to.

In this chapter, I was touched by the sibling's relationship are increasingly mute. They don't want to get in touch. They obviously dominated by egoism. Honest, I don't really like her. I don't like this character. She seems manipulator. Toxic person.

Chapter 5

It's about a doctor. Quichotte's cousin. I'm not sure what is my thought about this chapter. It looks like I'm reading mindlessly. Perhaps, I don't understand the context. Let me guess...is it about the political scandal? Is he a scammer? I also think he was cheated on his wife.

Chapter 6

The perspective in this chapter changed to the First-Person POV. The readers watching the story through Sancho's eyes. Quichotte's Son. So, the readers will see the words "I," "me," or "we." in this chapter.

I'm in the middle of between believe and disbelieve that Sancho exists. Perhaps it exists in an unreal way; in Quichotte's head? Well, in chapter one, Sancho has arrived with an Alien ship. Haha.

I guess I have to call him Dad. But here's the thing. How am I supposed to feel properly what's the word. Filial. When we just met. I didn't grow up with him...- Page 82

However, in this chapter, Sancho can tell the readers a lot of the stories regarding Quichotte. Almost everything. Including his mind, his thoughts, his plans, and his history.

Sancho knows Quichotte's stories with details even though they just met. Sancho and Quichotte are puzzle characters. That's the element that made this novel super interesting.

Chapter 7

There is a hilarious part in this chapter. Sancho talked with a cricket. For me, it was so cute for someone talking to an animal. But it's so funny to talk with insects. Talking to cricket? I was thought, "Oh? That's Sancho's pet?"

Then, I was surprised when I got to know that it can talk. I was like, "what? talking insect!" For your information, it has a name. Italian name. That makes me laugh again. And then, Sancho can vanish it like magic after the cricket told him about the insula.

"That is correct," said the cricket, "he wants you to be fully human as badly as you do. He imagines it all the time. And to get you there, he will need to give you an insula." - Page 101

This chapter very entertaining to the readers (or maybe only me?).

Chapter 8

The author brings the readers back to Salma R's life story. This time, it's more details about the dark side of her. From my perspective, it was terrible. It's like you witness a beautiful lifestyle in social media but secrets are hiding beneath.

Other than that, even it was a terrifying story but still I as the reader feel sympathy for the character's condition. Do you hear about Electroconvulsive Therapy? The other names are electroshock therapy.

I have watched "Girl Interrupted" movie. That movie is a1999 American psychological drama film based on Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her stay at a mental institution. Her friend, Lisa Rowe (played by Angelina Jolie) diagnosed as a sociopath. She is charismatic, manipulative, rebellious and abusive. So, she often treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

In this chapter, the author more discusses the mental treatment of Salma R.

...He was the man who knew too much. He had helped her cover up a scandal that could have derailed her career. - Page 115

Another thing about this chapter; I wonder what caused her boyfriend's death?

Chapter 9

More about the political story. Some of the paragraphs are bored for me. But not everything in the chapter is boring. The part that makes me engage in this chapter is about discrimination based on skin color. Also, about Anti-Muslim sentiment in the West. Are they really suffer Islamophobic?

"You people wear beards and turbans, right? You shave your face and take the headgear off to fool us? T u r b a n s," she repeated slowly, making a swirling turban gesture around her head. - Page 126

Chapter 10

The story still about white people's racial attitudes but worse than in chapter 9. It has involving death and injury of brown people. I think that nonsense. But, it's happened in real life; in reality. This kind of situation disturbing the main character to focus his expedition and the readers. Huhu. Crazy.

"fucking Iranians," and "terrorists," asking them if their status was legal, and screaming, "Get out of my country." It was less than twelve hours since Quichotte and Sancho had been screamed at in the same words, and so, to their shame, they retreated into a corner and stood in the shadows. - Page 144

Unexpectedly, Sancho also has the time to fascinated with beautiful from beautiful.

Beautiful from beautiful. (Page 150)

Salman Rushdie is a very detailed person. He knows how to write a current affair in the novel. Besides presenting his fiction stories. There is a lot of information I got from the book. From history until science. Including the entertainment industry, movies, songs, and many more. Almost every chapter I learned new things. About the theme, I still in my efforts to reading for solving the puzzle of the story.

Okay, my review will stop here. I'll share more in Part 2 and 3. See you again. Thank you so much for reading my articles and I'm sorry if there are mistakes of grammar or anything in this article.

Please share this article on your social media. Don't forget to share with me your thoughts in the comment section below regarding Quichotte by Salman Rushdie.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Studygram | Bookstagram 🇲🇾 (@sillywonk) on Feb 13, 2020 at 9:00am PST

Hashtags : #MalaysianBookBlogger #BooksBlogger #BookBlog #Bookstagram #BookLover #BookWorm #Bookish #Instalibrary #GoodReads #EggheadRead #BookEgghead #BookDragon #BookCollector #BookReview #BookEggs #LetsGetreading #DefinitelyBooks #Bookstagram #IGreads #IGBooks