Reviews

Osten, Westen by Salman Rushdie

keevadonoghue's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

christospanayi's review against another edition

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4.0

Read this after the recent attack on the author. I loved the author's style and storytelling method. Interesting perspective and insight that I can only imagine is an outcome of his own experience. I will definitely read some of his more well known works too.

glennab28's review against another edition

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3.0

I suppose I should stop saying I don't like short stories as a rule. I did enjoy several of these, though they were very hit or miss. the ones in the 'east' (read: india) section I did like - small vignettes that were poignant in a quiet way. by and large the 'west' section was a miss for me. an impressive range of voice, but little in terms of real characters or deep sentiments. the final story of 'east west' to me was the most enduring

creekhiker's review against another edition

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4.0

Strong collection of short stories, with Rushdie's usual mixture of humor and heartbreak.

mcjf's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

parib's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

green_lo's review against another edition

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4.0

great fun, but also beautiful. from imagining an auction of dorothy's ruby slippers to columbus'
lust... and to the east, of course.

allthebooks3000's review against another edition

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4.0

Not all of the stories were my cup of tea. I was going to give the collection a much lower score, but the second half surprised me and put the first half in context.

essjay1's review against another edition

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3.0

I may have enjoyed this more had I read it, rather than listening via audiobook. It was hard to follow on audio in parts. My favourite stories were the first two: Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies ( where a woman attends the Consulate so she may join her husband from an arranged marriage in England, only to derail her interview with incorrect answers, in order to remain in India as an independent woman - genius!) & The Free Radio, which examines government attempts during the State of Emergency to address high birth rates with sterilisation of poor men. My other favourite was the final story, The Courter - about a family living in England and the various trials & tribulations they encounter. 

In most of these Rushdie seems to be dealing with the ideas of home, and the immigrant experience, particularly between England & India, and between India & neighbouring countries.

heath_the_leaf's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0