Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
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Web ID: 18352534Interesting thoughts
Knife By Salman Rushdie On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie – renowned author and subject of an Iranian ayatollah's fatwa – was to give a talk at a literary conference. Suddenly, a young man in black rushed the stage and stabbed him 15 times. It was only through the intervention of others present that the attacker was subdued and Mr. Rushdie survived. As announced on the book's cover, this is a book of meditations after an attempted murder. The author does not, from his own memory, describe the actual attack. He claims to have only hazy memories of the 27 seconds involved. However, he does have clear memories of the horrific, - sometimes humiliating – measures made to save his life. His multiple injuries, including the loss of one eye, are described in detail. Also described are the heroic measures made by his wife and family, friends, and medical personnel which ultimately supported him on his long road to recovery. Mr. Rushdie goes on to reveal the things he would wish to say – the questions he would ask – if he had the chance to speak to his attacker. He talks at length about the fatwa issued against him for his "The Satanic Verses". He expresses his hurt at being judged by Muslims worldwide – as well as people such as Jimmy Carter, who implied that he deserved the hate. He goes on to say that the love he has felt from his wife and family, as well as thousands of others who supported him, will now be his guiding light going forward. This is all very uplifting and writing this book must have been cathartic for Mr. Rushdie. He is truly a great writer, and did not deserve what happened to him. However, while protesting that our problems today stem from hatred toward people who espouse different ideas which we don't understand, the author proves his point by his belittling of others who aren't on the same spectrum of thought as himself. He is indeed right in the source of our problems; he shows how easily we all can fall into that trap. If there were more listening and trying to understand instead of fear and hate, the world would be a better place.
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Quick Read to Make You Think
Rushdie has the immense talent to talk frankly – it feels like you’re having a philosophical chat with a friend at café – about big topics in a no-nonsense way. He talks about free speech and art and freedom and strength in the face of unfathomable violence without ever losing that piece of humanity that makes a person unique whether its wit or humor.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com