February '12 / Man Booker Reading: Midnight's Children

[Dark Muse]

Upon finishing the story I cannot help but to wonder if in fact the more fantastical parts of the story were not in fabrications that Saleem created as a defense mechanism to escape the reality of his life, and perhaps to give greater meaning to the tragedies he has suffered, maybe also his own need to feel as if he were more important and significant than he was. He wanted to feel like he was a part of something greater and perhaps that is a natural enough desire, this is his own way of seeking the greater meaning and purpose of his life by creating this vision of himself as being special.

I wonder what the authors intentions are, if indeed the author means for us to take what Saleem tells us at face value, or if we are intended to see it as an exaggeration and as has been pointed out mythologizing the truth. I do think it is interesting at the end of the story Saleem himself points out to the reader certain inconsistencies in the story, and thus plants into the mind the seeds of doubt of what may have happened, but at the same time he also expects/asks for the story to be taken as truth and swears that it has happened the way he tells it.

He also admits that he lied about the fate of Shiva, but than swears that was the one and only time he has lied, but of course once a person confesses to a lie they are putting the whole of their integrity in doubt. What is the purpose of giving a lie, and than confessing to it? He could have easily concealed from the reader that he lied. It seems by letting us know about his capability and temptation to lie he is giving us leave to question everything else within the story.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I think we are definitely meant to question the narrator--as is the case with almost any first person narrative. Saleem's mental state is definitely questionable, and, unless I'm misremembering, there is no evidence given to his claims aside from his word. At one point I think he even tells the reader that you'll just have to trust and believe him; a clear sign that the reader should do anything but.

After thinking about it, I think I'd lower my rating to a 4 (8.5, really). I was looking at some of the other books I've given a nine, and realized it just doesn't belong in the same category.

[Dark Muse]

At one point I think he even tells the reader that you'll just have to trust and believe him; a clear sign that the reader should do anything but.

Yes towards the end he himself states that there is no proof to anything he says, other than the fact that he apparently really is impotence which he says Padma can verify. But for the rest we just have to trust him.

He also makes a list of inconsistencies within the story and points out things which contradict each other, but simply states that it happened the way it happened because that is how it happened.

Thus he is appealing to the reader to take him completely on trust while even he admits that he is asking us to believe something very difficult to believe of which there is no supporting evidence.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Ashamedly I didn't make the Februray deadline, but I'm still plodding along at page 425.
Previous posters have offered amazing comments and insight that leave me at a loss for words to supplement. Perhaps I can muster up a few thoughts of my own once I finish.

[Atomic]

Yes, question the narrator...question that ugly, unreliable narrator as if he were Raskolikov. He is NOT to be trusted.

My favourite character by far was Reverend Mother. She made this book.

[mona amon]

Just finished this book. Whew! It took me almost 2 months. A found it quite a chore at times to read, although there's never a dull moment in all its 647 pages. I guess too much happening on the pages is just as tiresome as too little.

I don't know how to rate this. It definitely wasn't average, so I can't give it 3 stars, hmm...

I felt the attempt to link Saleem's life story with the history of the nation was a bit contrived, and the book never reached the heights it seemed to promise.

However, there were many things about it which I enjoyed - its playfulness and vitality and wackiness - OK, what the hell, I'm going to give it 4 stars.