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Victory City
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
8 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
The epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuriesfrom the transcendent imagination of Booker Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie. In the wake of an insignificant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in fourteenth-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. After witnessing the death of her mother, the grief-stricken Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for the goddess Parvati, who begins to speak out of the girls mouth. Granting her powers beyond Pampa Kampana's comprehension, the goddess tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnagaliterally "victory city"the wonder of the world. Over the next two hundred and fifty years, Pampa Kampanas life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnagas, from its literal sowing out of a bag of magic seeds to its tragic ruination in the most human of ways: the hubris of those in power. Whispering Bisnaga and its citizens into existence, Pampa Kampana attempts to make good on the task that Parvati set for her: to give women equal agency in a patriarchal world. But all stories have a way of getting away from their creator, and Bisnaga is no exception. As years pass, rulers come and go, battles are won and lost, and allegiances shift, the very fabric of Bisnaga becomes an ever more complex tapestrywith Pampa Kampana at its center. Brilliantly styled as a translation of an ancient epic, this is a saga of love, adventure, and myth that is in itself a testament to the power of storytelling.
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review
BarbaraBB
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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Bailedbailed

I used to be such a Rushdie fan but I can‘t finish this one. I just can‘t concentrate on this fairytale-like story. It‘s not him, I knew what to expect. It‘s me 🤷🏻‍♀️

#pop24 visually impaired author

sarahbarnes I used to love him too, and I haven‘t wanted to read him for a long time. 1mo
Ruthiella Sometimes you have to break up with an author. 1mo
Lindy Moods change. Tastes change. It doesn‘t matter the reason: Bailing = care for our own mental health. 1mo
See All 18 Comments
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes 👯😀 1mo
BarbaraBB @Ruthiella Apparently. I admit I was afraid on forehand that I wouldn‘t love his writing anymore. I had postponed reading him for a long time 1mo
BarbaraBB @Lindy You are very right. The older I become the more I think bailing is okay 😀 1mo
LeahBergen What @sarahbarnes said! Me, too. 1mo
squirrelbrain I should remember that @Lindy - thank you! I *still* force myself to finish a book once started. 1mo
squirrelbrain I listened to this and it worked for me - perhaps the fantastical style suits audio better. 1mo
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen I feel the same way 1mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I can imagine that audio works better but my mind kept wandering, I just couldn‘t concentrate on what Inwas reading. I am sorry for that. I know you loved it and Cindy did too. I guess I would too but I just couldn‘t do it 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
Lindy @squirrelbrain I guess stick-to-it-iveness has its own rewards. 1mo
Readerann Since I bought this, I‘ll probably read it eventually. Sadly, I doubt Rushdie has another Midnight‘s Children in him. That remains one of my all-time favs. 1mo
BarbaraBB @Readerann I think you‘re right. I loved that one. The Satanic Verses too and some more of his works published in those years 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
Suet624 I‘m proud of you for knowing when to bail. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I bailed on this one, too. I couldn‘t get into it at all. 1mo
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books That is reassuring to be in good company! 1mo
76 likes18 comments
review
Deblovestoread
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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Pickpick

#AuthorAMonth

I enjoyed my first Rushdie and am thankful to #AAM for giving me the motivation. While there were parts that were slow for me (likely my headspace and lack of focus to blame not the book) I appreciated this look at the rise and fall of a fictional empire. A bit of court intrigue and some fantasy elements made it a pleasurable read.

Cinfhen Im glad you enjoyed this one! It was my first Rushdie too! Somehow it felt very accessible even though there were plenty of elements I normally don‘t enjoy. It was playful and philosophical 🧡 1y
59 likes1 comment
blurb
Read4life
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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My #AuthorAMonth book is complete. I don‘t know that I‘ll read another Rushdie, but I‘m happy I tried another author thanks to #AuthorAMonth.
#BookSpinBingo #RushAThon

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y
Soubhiville Yay! Good job. 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
Andrew65 Did you enjoy it? Yet to try one of his books for #AuthorAMonth 1y
53 likes4 comments
review
Cinfhen
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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Pickpick

#AAM @Soubhiville I LOVED this book - I hardly read historical fantasy because it‘s usually so out of my grasp but VC was so imaginative and accessible. The story of a 9 year old orphan who becomes a vessel for an ancient Hindu goddess, creating a magical kingdom from a handful of seeds. The story spans centuries and follows the rise and fall of Bisnaga, a land of cultures, religions, arts and diversity and the young girl who is gifted longevity.

BarbaraBB Oh wow, now I feel I need to read it too. I loved Rushdie‘s earlier books but haven‘t read him recently b 1y
Cinfhen I‘m happy to send you my copy when you return from your vacation @BarbaraBB 1y
Soubhiville I‘m glad you liked it! Great review. 1y
BarbaraBB That‘s so sweet! I‘ll send you this one if you like? 1y
Cinfhen Im not sure if I‘ll enjoy Little Bird Heart @BarbaraBB - I‘ll wait to read your review 😂but I appreciate the offer xx 1y
73 likes5 stack adds5 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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#AAM @Soubhiville Just started this one and I‘m already swept up in Rushdie‘s epic storytelling - it‘s also giving me LOADS of #TheWorldIsMyOyster vibes ….stay tuned for my upcoming musical choices 😁

JamieArc Ooh good to know you‘re enjoying it! I would be surprised if this doesn‘t make the Booker Longlist. 1y
Cinfhen I‘m really hoping it does @JamieArc - he‘s had such a year and this book is masterclass 🙌🏻 1y
Read-y_Picker Oh no. I just HAD to stack this one but I don't know if I'll get to it this month. Another one on the TBR!
1y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen @Read-y_Picker it‘s NEVER ENDING!!!! But at least we have great books to look forward too💖 1y
squirrelbrain Having nearly finished this, I‘m hoping it makes the Longlist too @jamiearc - it‘s fabulous! 1y
JamieArc @squirrelbrain Oh! Good to hear! 1y
67 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Sara_Planz
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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Pickpick

What I loved most about this is the way it was told. Rushdie tells it in the style of an epic story. Interwoven in this fantastical tale are lessons about religious fanaticism and ethnic battles, but also lessons about disagreements on the family level. Power comes in many forms, and the wielder has a choice whether to do good or evil with it. Rushdie proves he is a literary master with what will be one of the must read books of his career.

ashw21 Can't wait to read this!
2y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
dariazeoli
Victory City: A Novel | Salman Rushdie
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I had been wondering how Rushdie was doing since the attack on him last summer. Here‘s a new piece leading up to the release of his new book.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/13/salman-rushdie-recovery-victory-ci...

Jas16 Thanks so much for sharing 2y
54 likes1 comment