Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Salman Rushdie

Not Exactly the same cover, but still... 

Long back , Almost two years ago I saw this shiny blue book that said "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" written by someone called Salman Rushdie. "hey!" I thought, " isn't this the guy that wrote something very scandalous, about Islam or something...." Yes. I belonged to the uninitiated then. Turned the book back to read the blurb, that instantly impressed me. Whoa! I had just finished the latest Harry Potter, longing for something Good to read, something warm and magical and yet not dark and Nice. After that Time just whizzed by. Finished the book in record time and loved it too! For once the blurb did tell the truth! The man is unbeatable at witticisms and wordplay! The Hindi names he'd given his characters suggested their personality traits, they don't just serve as names. But did he take into consideration his English audience too while making these up? Of course there's a glossary...

It was something I immediately fell in love with, "Abhinaya" and "Khattam - Shud" and The Valley of K and The Dull Lake and all... :) The story per se, kids would love it. It makes, easy, absorbing interesting reading; But the true meaning of what he is trying to say only adults can understand.

A LOT of allegories, one finds in the book. The Sea of Stories - The Whole Tradition of Writing (i.e) The accumulation of Writings - fiction and otherwise. The threat posed to Writing and Literature - Pollution of the Sea of Stories. Courageous Haroun defeats the Shadow of the Evil Master Khattam Shud and saves the Sea. Removing the threat of pollution forever.

After reading I realised there was so much more detail to be explained, so much to be explored, so many things you can relate to and understand and so much scope for 'reading between lines'. Thats when I decided I would work on this book if I ever have to do some Research.

Unlike his Midnight's Children there isn't this dark and suffocating feeling about this book. It feels like sitting at the beach on a cool sunny day. It's the Beach after all Haroun and Mali and Butt and Iff might spot you anytime! Feel good. Interesting. Thumbs up and Five Stars!