Joseph Anton: A Memoir
bySalman Rushdie
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Situation No One Should Have to Experience
ByTimothy Haughon March 24, 2016
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Up front: I am a huge fan of Salman Rushdie’s writing. You know that question that’s asked every year, which writer who hasn’t yet won should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature? Rushdie is one of the writers on my list. That said, having heard Mr. Rushdie speak and/or be interviewed on a number of occasions, for what it’s worth, I can’t say that I’m a fan of the persona he presents. He often comes across as arrogant and small-minded. Though this autobiography did not change that opinion significantly, it did make me appreciate much more how difficult his life has been.
For some readers, I am sure that Mr. Rushdie’s third person approach to writing this autobiography highlighted his arrogance; however, I understood his desire to tell his story in this way. Dealing, as it does, primarily with the years he was under the fatwa, I am sure that he feels disconnected from that person now. The third person writing is simply a reinforcement of the understanding that Salman Rushdie is not truly “Joseph Anton”, a name he chose from Conrad and Chekhov as his security code name. It is a tragedy when anyone has to hide behind a fake name out of fear. For someone like Rushdie, whose persona is built upon the name that appears on his books, it is a double tragedy that he is all too happy to leave behind when he is finally freed from the threats on his life.
As one of the earliest victims of radical Islam, Rushdie’s situation is a small version of what has played out in New York, Paris, Brussels, and elsewhere. His surprise at being placed under a death sentence by Islamic clerics for a book published in England is real. The years he spent moving from place to place, hiding under police protection, is a terrible story, compounded by a section of public opinion that wanted him left to his own devices. As a part of the public that supported his fight for freedom of speech and literal freedom during these years, I was sympathetic to his plight and its inherent difficulties.
The two most revealing things to me in this story are how he dealt with the various relationships in his life and how he tried to keep writing. I liked how Rushdie maintained good relationships with his guards even as he pushed back against his handlers higher up the command chain. I was happy to see how he tried to maintain a relationship with his children, particularly his older son, who was old enough to be seriously affected by the fatwa. On the other hand, I was disappointed by his ability to go through wives. His rationalizations as he entered into affairs and broke up marriages were not very convincing, even to himself, I think. Of course, even at the time he published his follow-up novels to The Satanic Verses, I was impressed at his ability to create so well under such stress. This book gives a clearer view of what that struggle was really like.
I feel in love with Rushdie’s writing in college, around the time that the furor over The Satanic Verses broke and I’ve followed him ever since. Rushdie is at his best when he writes big books. Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses, The Moor’s Last Sigh (my personal favorite), and The Ground Beneath Her Feet are magnificent, Dickensesque achievements. As a rule his shorter novels, though often decent, do not have the power of his other stories. With its novelistic style this book, though nonfiction, is reminiscent of his best novels and is, without a doubt, the best book he’s written in the past 15 years.
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4.0 out of 5 starsI came away with real dislike for the way he interacts with women
ByRichard Ellson October 15, 2016
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A powerful story told in detail of a highly creative writer under the threat of death from fundamentalist authoritarian religious leaders. It is a story worth reading carefully in our times as we grapple with the interactions of world cultural and religious communities. That said, I found it a long and time consuming read. Rushdie's style is to use lots of words following every thread of events. In this case "he" is at the center of the long winding story (anytime you see the word "he" you know it is referring to Rushdie). I came away with real dislike for the way he interacts with women, but his story of trying to be a truly gifted and productive creative writer in a world of hateful, controlling institutions is very relevant. The last chapter particularly made the case that living cultures needs creative artists who poke, prod, rephrase, respin, and re-express all their supposedly solid and unchanging aspects, if only for us to see anew their deeper character.
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4.0 out of 5 starsMixed, but ultimately worth the effort.
ByStepan Spoonwallaon February 15, 2015
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I've been a fan of Rushdie's fiction forever, but not that impressed by his nonfiction. Using 'The Jaguar's Smile' as typical, his insights are rather predictable right-of-center British-American self-justifying drivel. I read this one anyway, because I wanted to hear the inside story of being under the fatwa. Yes, he's awfully sure he's been unfairly persecuted (which he has, arguably) and at times quite full of himself, indignant that not everyone sees him as worth the trouble he's brought upon them. Understandable that he would frame this all in terms of defending free speech, because there is certainly a strong element of that in this drama, but he could help his case by being less of a pompous wanker when it comes to seeing his own motivations; a bit of humble pie would go a long way. I liked the view it gives of the whole thing in the context of what was going on on the world stage at the time, and when he stopped trying to make everyone view him as a persecuted, blameless everyman, he did a good job. I was happy for the pseudonymous Joseph Anton when he was released from bondage, as it were. (How about that guy -- choosing a name that shows his ego, hmmm?)
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2.0 out of 5 starsIt's not very often that I can' finish a book, but I lost interest in this one pretty quick.
ByA. O. Reasonon February 22, 2013
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All I can say, is that a book is a very personal experience, so I'm not going to complain about the writing skills of Rushdie. For me, Rushdie writing this book in the third person, just ruined it for me. I believe I understand the experiment. His life often reads like a Detective / Murder mystery novel, typically done in the third person. But it's not a detective novel or murder mystery, it's autobiographical, and the third person reads ridiculous, when "he" should be "I" and that's that. I kept wanting to put myself in Rushdie's place, as he unfolds his story, but that's pretty hard to do, when he is referring to himself as "he". Preposterous writing style for the venue. I'm off to read the next book on my list, I'm actually sorry to say. 600+ pages of unreadable stuff for me. Shame really. I wanted to like this book very much.
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5.0 out of 5 starsSalvation can also victimize
ByDavid Warrenon January 11, 2016
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What to say? A political and religious fanatic orders the murder of a renowned author. How do the institutions the author's government respond? Why, of course, they blame the victim. But they reluctantly accept their regrettable duty to protect the author's safety, even though protection regrettably requires the author to live in close confinement for years. And how does the author react? With gratitude to start, then with increasing ill-temper. And how do his publishers and friends behave? With shock, then with distance.
The many implications of Rushdie's saga are pretty clearly laid out and deeply troubling. Realpolitik is often responsible for a multiplication of its own problems. Appeasement does not fix a problem, but confrontation has its limits also. Reality is complex and contrary. Artists exist to warn us of these things.
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2.0 out of 5 starsPass, super disappointed
ByBrianna Stimpsonon August 27, 2015
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I don't idolize very easy, and so it was a huge disappointment to find out my hero since college is the man in this book. Even if you're here for Rushdie's writing alone you are in for a dissapointment--it's just a one-sided, straight forward account of how horrible Rushdies life is, having women there for him unconditionally while not being attacked. Meanwhile he mentions only a few of the dozens that were.
The issues and larger problems he dealt with are actually super important and nuanced--but it's hard to grasp them while trying to read past all the famous people that adore him, the books and movies being made after him, and the women pining over him (oh, and the bitter rants he puts in as asides. That's the most creative part, unfortunately.)
I will admit I'm bitter about the whole approach to this book, but in the same breath will iterate that this is not a captivating book in any sense.
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2.0 out of 5 starsSalman Rushdie's account of the fatwa years
Bytrish at dublin bayon June 3, 2014
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As a partial account of the events of the time, it was quite interesting, although the constant name-dropping and the endless parade of cardboard-cutout people and events soon became boring. I stuck it out to the end. and to be sure, it was a terrible thing that happened to Salman Rushdie, and to freedom of artistic expression, and he showed courage in living through it. But ultimately, I kept wondering how those people - wives and others- he chewed up and spat out as he stomped though the years of his oppression would have described what happened. Ultimately it was self-serving and superficial. As Lacan says, the world of the narcissist has no place for others. And worst of all, the prose is leaden.
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4.0 out of 5 starsRusdhie tells all
ByAAon January 28, 2013
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What stands out most about this book is the naked honesty of the writing. This alone and most importantly, makes it a winner. Those offering flaws in Rushdie's character and actions as criticisms of the book, are foolish to not realize that if flaws are to be found, it is because they are laid out before the reader. If he was unfaithful and allured, we know it because he acknowledges as much. It it not a nuance captured by your scathing insight in a book offering cover-ups. Of course, what makes the book immensely absorbing is the thrilling and real tale not just surrounding the author but spanning countries, peoples and ideologies, replete with delightful anecdotes and fascinating events.
If Rushdie doesn't interest you, this book may also not (surprise?)
To me, this memoir read like a novel that grew most interesting towards the end where the writing was somewhat paced, more passionate and eloquent. The writing overall is unpretentious and flows. For those of you annoyed by the arcane nature of his fiction (that occasionally includes me), this is also a reprieve.
If you don't know already- this book details his years under the fatwa and all the politicking that took place. Besides, Rushdie shares the very personal and intimate details of his life and gives you enough to enable you to psychoanalyse his actions- the protracted endurance of a bad marriage, the ending of a relatively pleasant one- but like I said before, he never offers excuses but lays out circumstances and frequently self-incriminates. Whether you find him at fault or consider his actions only human under the situation is entirely upto you. He does not tell you what to think. Rushdie opens himself up to scrutiny with candour. Your criticism of his moves is not criticism of the book- the book wins all the more for its ability to offer that capacity to its readers.
For those who find him self-absorbed, well, this is an autobiography. If you find the armed Jaguars and the high-level diplomacy pretentious, the story couldn't be told without these. He IS a celebrity so expect celebrityhood and high and mighty company. Several big names are thrown about (I did not know a lot of the literati so lost out on what could be interesting anecdotes), but don't expect him to go on a tangent about your favourite people. This is HIS memoir. Don't expect Christopher Hitchens or Martin Amis or whoever you like. They find respectful mention and as much acknowledgement as is necessary to tell his tale.
If you are fond of Rushdie, I highly recommend this. If you are a religious bigot, I recommend it even more highly. Chances are, you will see reason.
There's a whole world of people that owes Rushdie an apology.
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4.0 out of 5 starsImperfect but important book
ByDFechteron January 12, 2013
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I recommend this book even though it is in some ways a bit disappointing. I am a devoted reader of Salman Rushdie's amazing fiction and a passionate supporter of the battle he has fought for the right to free speech. The reprehensible fatwa declared against him by the Ayatollah Khomeini on Valentine's Day 1989 for the so-called offenses against Muslims committed in "The Satanic Verses" would keep Rushdie under cover and dependent upon police protection for thirteen years. This book deserves to be read to understand and honor the sacrifices Rushdie was forced to endure and to recognize those who stood with him. (More people than Rushdie were affected, not least the Japanese translator of his book, who was murdered; the Italian translator and Norwegian publisher, who were both seriously wounded; and numerous booksellers whose shops were firebombed.)
I say the book is a bit disappointing for two reasons. First, it is not like his fiction. It sounds obvious and even silly to say but in writing about a real life - even a life that could be described as stranger than fiction - Rushdie does not, perhaps can not, deliver the magical imagery, the enchanting wordplay, the unforgettable characters that we find in his novels. To be fair, we do get some interesting portraits: the eccentric but devoted members of the police detail guarding him, some of his friends and family. But these are generally shallow and occur only in the context of events. The only `character' who is with us from beginning to end is Salman Rushdie.
In some ways the book reads like a compilation of diary entries, except they are written in the third person. (Which I found a little off-putting. I do not know if Rushdie has explained why he wrote his own memoir in the third person. It could be because, as a writer of fiction, it is his comfort zone. It could be that it helped him avoid some of the pain of reliving the experience. But it also could be that it allowed him to create some distance between himself and some of his actions, particularly regarding his relationships with women, which are, to put it mildly, inconsistent.) No doubt Rushdie keeps a detailed journal which allowed him to be precise with names, dates and locations. Still, there are numerous long passages describing mundane facts such as where he went, who he saw, what kind of wine they drank, and so on. Rather than add richness to the story they induce drowsiness. Worse, he will then inform us that he spent a weekend with the brilliant Mario Vargas Llosa but we don't get a word about what they discussed.
Second, if there was a prize for name dropping, this book would get first, second and third place. We read about his trip to the beach with Australian writer Peter Carey; partying in New York with Toni Morrison, Susan Sontag, Annie Leibovitz and Paul Simon; staying at Bono's "place" in Killiney; dinner with Jay McInerney ("Willie Nelson was there! And Matthew Modine!"); dinner with Eric ("and Tania") Idle, Steve Martin and Garry Shandling (who provides the funniest line in the book); something else with Bono; and so on.
That said, however, I keep reminding myself that associating with Salman Rushdie in those days was potentially dangerous; public appearances with Rushdie were actually important statements of support, both for him and his cause. So in the end I am glad to know who stood with him and who ran the other way.
There are also some fascinating sections describing how the authorities go about protecting someone with a fatwa on his head. We can judge by the results how effective they were. According to Rushdie there were perpetual inconveniences but very few if any close calls. Rushdie also brings us behind the scenes to the "Secret Policeman's Ball," the annual shindig where both the protectors and the protected mingle; Margaret Thatcher (to drop a name) is one of the guests.
If you're going to read one thing by Rushdie, don't start here, start with one of his novels. ("The Satanic Verses" is a good choice but also consider "Midnight's Children," which is amazing.) If you're a fan, if you want some insight into the author, if you are interested in the struggle to maintain freedom of speech, "Joseph Anton" isn't perfect but is worth a read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat read for anyone even those who've not read other work by Rushdie
BySvetlana Didorenkoon May 2, 2017
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Fantastic book. Great to read even if you've not read any other books by Salman Rushdie. It's about so much more than him and his work. It's about freedom of expression, the courage it takes to guard it, the details of his experience as a writer imprisoned in his own home because of his writing, and so much more.
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