Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Jonathan Cape (2017)
Description
"A modern American epic set against the panorama of contemporary politics and culture--a hurtling, page-turning mystery that is equal parts The Great Gatsby and The Bonfire of the Vanities On the day of Barack Obama's inauguration, an enigmatic billionaire from foreign shores takes up residence in the architectural jewel of "the Gardens," a cloistered community in New York's Greenwich Village. The neighborhood is a bubble within a bubble, and the residents are immediately intrigued by the eccentric newcomer and his family. Along with his improbable name, untraceable accent, and unmistakable whiff of danger, Nero Golden has brought along his three adult sons: agoraphobic, alcoholic Petya, a brilliant recluse with a tortured mind; Apu, the flamboyant artist, sexually and spiritually omnivorous, famous on twenty blocks; and D, at twenty-two the baby of the family, harboring an explosive secret even from himself. There is no mother, no wife; at least not until Vasilisa, a sleek Russian expat, snags the septuagenarian Nero, becoming the queen to his king--a queen in want of an heir. Our guide to the Goldens' world is their neighbor Rene, an ambitious young filmmaker. Researching a movie about the Goldens, he ingratiates himself into their household. Seduced by their mystique, he is inevitably implicated in their quarrels, their infidelities, and, indeed, their crimes. Meanwhile, like a bad joke, a certain comic-book villain embarks upon a crass presidential run that turns New York upside-down. Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, The Golden House also marks Salman Rushdie's triumphant and exciting return to realism. The result is a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention--a powerful, timely story told with the daring and panache that make Salman Rushdie a force of light in our dark new age. Advance praise for The Golden House "A ravishingly well-told, deeply knowledgeable, magnificently insightful, and righteously outraged epic which poses timeless questions about the human condition. As Rushdie's blazing tale surges toward its crescendo, life, as it always has, rises stubbornly from the ashes, as does love."--Booklist (starred review) "Where Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities sent up the go-go, me-me Reagan/Bush era, Rushdie's latest novel captures the existential uncertainties of the anxious Obama years. A sort of Great Gatsby for our time: everyone is implicated, no one is innocent, and no one comes out unscathed."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"-- "When the aristocratic Golden family moves into a self contained pocket of New York City, a park in Greenwich Village called "The Gardens," their past is an absolute mystery. They seem to be hiding in plain sight: Nero Golden, the powerful but shady patriarch, and his sons Petya, a high functioning autistic and recluse; Apu, the successful artist who may or may not be profound; and D, the enchanting youngest son whose gender confusion mirrors the confusion - and possibilities - of the world around him. And finally there is Vasilisa, the Russian beauty who seduces the patriarch to shape their American stories. Our fearless narrator is an aspiring filmmaker who decides the Golden family will be his subject. He gains the trust of this strange family, even as their secrets gradually unfold - love affairs and betrayals, questions of belonging and identity, a murder, an apocalyptic terror attack, a magical, stolen baby, all set against a whirling background in which an insane Presidential Candidate known as only The Joker grows stronger and stronger, and America itself grows mad. And yet The Golden House is a hopeful story, even an inspiring one - a story about the hope that surrounds, and is made brighter by, even the darkest of situations. Overflowing with inventiveness, humor, and a touch of magic, this is a full-throated celebration of human nature, a great American novel, a tale of exile wrapped in a murder mystery, a meditation on the nature of good and evil, a thrilling page turner, and a coming of age story for the ages"--… (more)
Media reviews
Salman Rushdie De familie Golden beschrijft de ondergang van een rijke familie in het huidige Amerikaanse tijdsgewricht. Pater familias en multi-miljonair Nero Golden is met zijn drie zoon neergestreken in New York. Ze zijn India, min of meer, ontvlucht nadat zijn vrouw bij een terroristische
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aanslag in een hotel in Mumbai, India is vermoord. Onder schuilnamen hebben ze zich gevestigd in een groot huis in New York…lees verder Show Less
Whether by design, chance, or oracular divination, Salman Rushdie has managed, within a year of the 2016 election, to publish the first novel of the Trumpian Era. On purely technical merits this is an astounding achievement, the literary equivalent of Katie Ledecky lapping the Olympic field in the
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1500-meter freestyle. The publishing industry still operates at an aristocratic pace; Egypt built the new Suez Canal in less time than it typically takes to convert a finished manuscript into a hardcover. As a point of comparison, the first novel to appear about September 11, Windows on the World, by the French author Frédéric Beigbeder, was not published until August 2003. Yet less than eight months into the administration, Rushdie has produced a novel that, if not explicitly about the president, is tinged a toxic shade of orange. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member veeshee
I really wanted to like this novel but I have to be honest: I did not enjoy it at all. It was very difficult to get through and I almost gave up multiple times. It starts off in a very boring way with nothing going on. That doesn't stop the narrator from narrating everything in a very melodramatic
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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way, which serves no purpose whatsoever. I really did not like the narrator at all; his voice tried to hard to mark its importance and there were just too many pop culture references for my liking. It's clear that the author is a master in the art of making connections; his comparisons between the politics in the States and the happenings in the Golden family were apt and brilliant. However, getting to these moments was a challenge and it stopped impressing me after a time because of the way the author presented it. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough to appreciate the nuances and the arguments the author is trying to make ... but at the end of the day, I didn't enjoy reading this story. Overall, this was not the greatest novel I've read.... but I think I will give the author another chance to wow me! I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Nickelini
Why I Read This Now: I started this before I went to see Salman Rushdie a few weeks ago. I knew he was going to discuss this book, so I thought I should read it. Didn't quite finish before the show, but had read enough that the conversation was interesting.
Comments: the book blurb you can find
The narrator is one of the neighbours, a young NYU film student, who sees a film in the Golden family.
Secrets are revealed, and I pretty much had an idea of Nero Golden's dark secret from the beginning, but I don't think that was the point.
This is the 4th Rushdie novel I've read. When I saw him, he said that he was a great admirer of Charles Dickensand his ability to capture the times and place he lived in with exquisite detail. He wanted to do the same thing with New York City from 2008 to 2016. I would say he did this very, very well, in that there is a lot of Dickensen realism in this, while at the same time pulling from the trademark Rushdie love of myth and fable (in this case, Roman, Persian, Indian and Arab). There is a lot going on all the time, and often I found myself reading and thinking "what the ?*#% does this have to do with moving the story forward?" In the question and answer part of the event I went to, a woman asked him how he works with his editor who must try to "rein in all his facts," and I thought it was the best question of the night. Rushdie pretty much brushed it off and answered the second part of her question (which I don't even remember) and commented something that makes me think he doesn't believe all his reams of esoteric tangential knowledge were vital to the novel. Me? Not so much.
Which leads me to my:
Rating: parts I really liked, parts bored me. 3.5 stars
Recommended for: not sure. If you've never read Rushdie, perhaps this shouldn't be your first attempt at him (I actually recommend reading some of his non-fiction essays first). However, if you're interested in a novel version of the time and place, give it a try. The overlap with current events and figures is a fun and interesting take on where we are in the world today.
Comments: the book blurb you can find
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everywhere describes this book well. Nero Golden and his three adult sons show up from an unnamed country, mysteriously pre-established in NYC around November 2008 and with their new (fake) names, and immediately fit in to the wealthy NYC circles. They move into a grand house in Sullivan Heights, which is a very cool area of NYC previously unknown to me, even though I've been within a block of it on at least two trips to Manhattan. Houses on two streets share a common garden between the blocks, but it's private and only for the residents. Hence why I probably walked down these streets with no idea what was going on in private behind the houses. I think this is a very fine setting for a novel, indeed. The narrator is one of the neighbours, a young NYU film student, who sees a film in the Golden family.
Secrets are revealed, and I pretty much had an idea of Nero Golden's dark secret from the beginning, but I don't think that was the point.
This is the 4th Rushdie novel I've read. When I saw him, he said that he was a great admirer of Charles Dickensand his ability to capture the times and place he lived in with exquisite detail. He wanted to do the same thing with New York City from 2008 to 2016. I would say he did this very, very well, in that there is a lot of Dickensen realism in this, while at the same time pulling from the trademark Rushdie love of myth and fable (in this case, Roman, Persian, Indian and Arab). There is a lot going on all the time, and often I found myself reading and thinking "what the ?*#% does this have to do with moving the story forward?" In the question and answer part of the event I went to, a woman asked him how he works with his editor who must try to "rein in all his facts," and I thought it was the best question of the night. Rushdie pretty much brushed it off and answered the second part of her question (which I don't even remember) and commented something that makes me think he doesn't believe all his reams of esoteric tangential knowledge were vital to the novel. Me? Not so much.
Which leads me to my:
Rating: parts I really liked, parts bored me. 3.5 stars
Recommended for: not sure. If you've never read Rushdie, perhaps this shouldn't be your first attempt at him (I actually recommend reading some of his non-fiction essays first). However, if you're interested in a novel version of the time and place, give it a try. The overlap with current events and figures is a fun and interesting take on where we are in the world today.
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LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
Nero Golden, a billionaire, arrives in New York City after escaping some unknown unfortunate circumstances in India, with his three adult sons to take up residence in a mansion backing up onto a secluded park. The narrator of the novel is Rene, a film student who lives with his parents in another
The oldest Golden son, Petya, (Petronius) is agoraphobic, alcoholic, and possibly autistic. The middle son, Apu, (Lucius Apuleius) is a charming avant garde artist with a stunning girlfriend who is a sculptor. The youngest son D, (Dionysus) is still finding himself, including trying to figure out his sexuality and gender.
In addition, soon after their arrival, the father Nero marries a beautiful and bombastic Russian, Vasilisa, who wants nothing more than to cement her hold over Nero (and his property) by becoming pregnant with another son.
All this is happening against the backdrop of an unusual U.S. presidential election featuring another NYC billionaire, who has purple hair and is known as "The Joker" who is running for president.
As is common with Rushdie the writing is wonderful and wordplay abounds. There is broad-ranging commentary on contemporary American culture and life. The story is told episodically, and sometimes mythically. If anyone could pull it off, Rushdie could. But I don't think he quite pulls off a successful novel. The language is there, but it never pulled together for me and I never engaged with the novel. I don't regret reading it, but it never called to me, and it's no where near as good as several other of his novels I have enjoyed.
2 1/2 stars
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house backing up onto the park (which is accessible only to residents whose homes back onto the park). Rene becomes intrigued with the Golden family and begins telling their story as he learns it or imagines it, and along the way, muses as to how he would film it.The oldest Golden son, Petya, (Petronius) is agoraphobic, alcoholic, and possibly autistic. The middle son, Apu, (Lucius Apuleius) is a charming avant garde artist with a stunning girlfriend who is a sculptor. The youngest son D, (Dionysus) is still finding himself, including trying to figure out his sexuality and gender.
In addition, soon after their arrival, the father Nero marries a beautiful and bombastic Russian, Vasilisa, who wants nothing more than to cement her hold over Nero (and his property) by becoming pregnant with another son.
All this is happening against the backdrop of an unusual U.S. presidential election featuring another NYC billionaire, who has purple hair and is known as "The Joker" who is running for president.
As is common with Rushdie the writing is wonderful and wordplay abounds. There is broad-ranging commentary on contemporary American culture and life. The story is told episodically, and sometimes mythically. If anyone could pull it off, Rushdie could. But I don't think he quite pulls off a successful novel. The language is there, but it never pulled together for me and I never engaged with the novel. I don't regret reading it, but it never called to me, and it's no where near as good as several other of his novels I have enjoyed.
2 1/2 stars
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LibraryThing member kayanelson
I seriously should have never finished this book. But Salman Rushdie is a well known author and I had never read any of his works.
So, I liked the plot and I liked the unique and diverse characters. What I didn't like was the writing style and the philosophizing. If a writer wants to be
Having said that, I am impressed with Rushdie's breadth of knowledge, including his wide vocabulary.
So, I liked the plot and I liked the unique and diverse characters. What I didn't like was the writing style and the philosophizing. If a writer wants to be
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philosophical, slide it in so that the reader barely knows that's what's being done. I also felt like he said in 30 words what could be said in 10.Having said that, I am impressed with Rushdie's breadth of knowledge, including his wide vocabulary.
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LibraryThing member debkrenzer
I had never read a Salman Rushdie book before, but I had heard of him and what a good writer he was. So. . . I was pretty excited when I requested and received this book.
That excitement lasted until I started reading it. It was just so tedious. And, yawn. . . boring.
There were numerous times when
The narrator kept promising that "the story" will be coming. Well, after 60% into this story, I said "wow, I don't have to read all of this". I rarely like to abandon books because I feel so bad in doing so. But this one, I could not take it anymore. Not sure if this the writer's typical style, something that did not appeal to me either, or if it's different.
I do appreciate, however, that Random House and Net Galley provided me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
That excitement lasted until I started reading it. It was just so tedious. And, yawn. . . boring.
There were numerous times when
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the narrator of this story would say the same things over and over again. Using different words, of course. I would be reading thinking surely there's been enough talk describing something with the Golden family and then several pages later it would be said again, paragraphs of content with different wording.The narrator kept promising that "the story" will be coming. Well, after 60% into this story, I said "wow, I don't have to read all of this". I rarely like to abandon books because I feel so bad in doing so. But this one, I could not take it anymore. Not sure if this the writer's typical style, something that did not appeal to me either, or if it's different.
I do appreciate, however, that Random House and Net Galley provided me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member Wassilissa
Like Rushdie´s earlier novels the „Golden House” is very well written, exciting, good to read.
Nero Golden is at the heart of this story, erecting buildings with his name in gold. “This was a powerful man, no, more than that – a man deeply in love with the idea of himself as powerful.”
Nero and his three sons have immigrated from India, having fled some catastrophe under mysterious circumstances. The eldest son, newly named Petronius, is known as Petya; Lucius Apuleis becomes Apu; and Dionysus is D. The story is told from the point of view of their Manhattanite neighbour and confidant, René. René is an aspiring filmmaker who finds in the Goldens the perfect subject. A lot of the book is told in references to movies, but also to books and art.
American policy plays role but not central, more as a background distraction. The Golden House begins with the election of Barack Obama in 2008 and concludes with the election of “The Joker,” a nickname for a Trump-y amalgam who has the green hair, white skin and red lips of Gotham City’s original.
I like the book and think it is Rushdie´s best novel since “Midnight's Children”. A little bit I wonder who is Rushdie in this book. René states at one point that the author always has something of ll his characters in himself.
And I wonder why there are no novels like this in modern German literature.
Nero Golden is at the heart of this story, erecting buildings with his name in gold. “This was a powerful man, no, more than that – a man deeply in love with the idea of himself as powerful.”
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Nero and his three sons have immigrated from India, having fled some catastrophe under mysterious circumstances. The eldest son, newly named Petronius, is known as Petya; Lucius Apuleis becomes Apu; and Dionysus is D. The story is told from the point of view of their Manhattanite neighbour and confidant, René. René is an aspiring filmmaker who finds in the Goldens the perfect subject. A lot of the book is told in references to movies, but also to books and art.
American policy plays role but not central, more as a background distraction. The Golden House begins with the election of Barack Obama in 2008 and concludes with the election of “The Joker,” a nickname for a Trump-y amalgam who has the green hair, white skin and red lips of Gotham City’s original.
I like the book and think it is Rushdie´s best novel since “Midnight's Children”. A little bit I wonder who is Rushdie in this book. René states at one point that the author always has something of ll his characters in himself.
And I wonder why there are no novels like this in modern German literature.
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LibraryThing member LisaSHarvey
THE GOLDEN HOUSE
SALMAN RUSHDIE
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Random House
PUBLISHED September 5, 2017
An fabulously intelligent and mysterious novel about identity set against the backdrop of contemporary American politics and culture.
SUMMARY
Barack Obama has just been inaugurated
Upon the Golden’s arrival at their new home, the Murray mansion, the grandest of all the homes in the Macdougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District, we soon are introduced to the Golden’s neighbor, and our narrator René. René is an ambitious young filmmaker full of energy and ambition and enamored with the Golden’s mystique. He ingratiates himself with the family in order to learn as much as he can, with the hope of finding out what brought them here and developing a movie about them. He not only tells the story but soon plays a part of the story, he inevitably become embroiled in the family’s quarrels, romances, infidelities and their secrets.
REVIEW
THE GOLDEN HOUSE is set against the backdrop of current American culture and politics. As the family assimilates to life in the US, events begin unfolding triggering disaster for the Golden family. The mystery of who this family were, where they immigrated from, and why, is a predominant part of the story.
The character development for THE GOLDEN HOUSE was masterful. Nero and each of his sons image, personality, interests, strengths and weaknesses leap off the pages of this book. It's easy to become enthralled with each of their unique and perhaps, peculiar lives. And even René, the knowledgable neighbor, and creative and passionate narrator proves to be a most endearing character. His integration with the family proves to be more than even he expected.
The story of the of Golden family is intense, mysterious and complex. A variety of topics are included in this 368 page book: current politics, fidelity, sexual identity, autism, art culture, migration, honesty, and sins of the father. The complexity of the book is derived from René’s innumerable historical, literary, and film references, many of which I was not familiar with. While this was somewhat challenging, it did not diminish the enjoyment of THE GOLDEN HOUSE. Another imaginative part of the book was René’s telling of portions of the story as a scripted scene of how he would film it for his movie. Loved it! One of my favorite parts of the book was SALMAN RUSHDIE’s adroit humor when describing the 2016 presidential election, in particularly the ingenious symbolic use of a certain comic book villain as the crass candidate in the election. Not that there was ever any doubt that RUSHIE admirable stood with Her.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SALMAN RUSHDIE
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Random House
PUBLISHED September 5, 2017
An fabulously intelligent and mysterious novel about identity set against the backdrop of contemporary American politics and culture.
SUMMARY
Barack Obama has just been inaugurated
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the first time when a septuagenarian foreign billionaire and his three adult sons take up residence in New York’s Greenwich Village. Nero Julius Golden arrives at his new home in a Daimler limousine, with his eldest son Petya, 44, who is agoraphobic and an alcoholic; Apu who is 41 and a romantic and flamboyant artist, and D who at 22 is the baby of the family and harbors a deeply held secret. But, that is only one of many secrets that this family holds. The biggest secret is why they have come to the United States, and changed their identities. While still in the limousine Nero tells his son to never tell anyone where they came from. Upon the Golden’s arrival at their new home, the Murray mansion, the grandest of all the homes in the Macdougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District, we soon are introduced to the Golden’s neighbor, and our narrator René. René is an ambitious young filmmaker full of energy and ambition and enamored with the Golden’s mystique. He ingratiates himself with the family in order to learn as much as he can, with the hope of finding out what brought them here and developing a movie about them. He not only tells the story but soon plays a part of the story, he inevitably become embroiled in the family’s quarrels, romances, infidelities and their secrets.
REVIEW
THE GOLDEN HOUSE is set against the backdrop of current American culture and politics. As the family assimilates to life in the US, events begin unfolding triggering disaster for the Golden family. The mystery of who this family were, where they immigrated from, and why, is a predominant part of the story.
The character development for THE GOLDEN HOUSE was masterful. Nero and each of his sons image, personality, interests, strengths and weaknesses leap off the pages of this book. It's easy to become enthralled with each of their unique and perhaps, peculiar lives. And even René, the knowledgable neighbor, and creative and passionate narrator proves to be a most endearing character. His integration with the family proves to be more than even he expected.
The story of the of Golden family is intense, mysterious and complex. A variety of topics are included in this 368 page book: current politics, fidelity, sexual identity, autism, art culture, migration, honesty, and sins of the father. The complexity of the book is derived from René’s innumerable historical, literary, and film references, many of which I was not familiar with. While this was somewhat challenging, it did not diminish the enjoyment of THE GOLDEN HOUSE. Another imaginative part of the book was René’s telling of portions of the story as a scripted scene of how he would film it for his movie. Loved it! One of my favorite parts of the book was SALMAN RUSHDIE’s adroit humor when describing the 2016 presidential election, in particularly the ingenious symbolic use of a certain comic book villain as the crass candidate in the election. Not that there was ever any doubt that RUSHIE admirable stood with Her.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Cats57
I have always wanted to try a book written by Mr. Rushdie ad I’m not sorry I tried this book…tried being the operative word! Apparently, I just don’t have the brains to become engaged with this sort of complex novel. I didn’t care for the political views of Mr. Rushdie but realize that this
This was a beautifully written book, with deeply complex characters that just didn’t capture my attention -I think I will be giving Mr. Rushdie a pass from now on. Apparently, I just can’t appreciate books like this – OR he just can’t write for the masses!
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gives me another view of the world.This was a beautifully written book, with deeply complex characters that just didn’t capture my attention -I think I will be giving Mr. Rushdie a pass from now on. Apparently, I just can’t appreciate books like this – OR he just can’t write for the masses!
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
When the new neighbours move in, René immediately declares them his object of study and protagonists of the film he is going to make. The Golden family are simply fascinating, the father Nero and his three sons Petya, Apu and D. Interestingly, all carry ancient Roman names even though they
Salman Rushdie is well known for his politically loaded novels which never go unnoticed. Again, his latest novel puts the finger in a wound, this time the American and the question which played a major role in the 2016 presidential election: who is a true American and what makes you and American? Apart from this, in “The Golden House” the supervillain The Joker wins the election which is not very promising for the nation.
Even though there is an obvious political message, this hides behind the family story of the Goldens. Here, unfortunately, I had expected much more. Admittedly, the four men are drawn with noteworthy features and fates and to follow their struggles after settling in the USA is far from uninteresting, but it also is not as fascinating and remarkable as I had expected. It is the chronicles of an immigration family, not less, but also not more. Their numerous secrets can create some suspense, however, much of it is too obvious to really excite.
Where Salman Rushdie can definitely score is in the side notes:
“True is such a twentieth-century concept. The question is, can I get you to believe it, can I get it repeated enough times to make it as good as true. The question is, can I lie better than the truth.“ (Pos. 3380) and
“You need to become post-factual. – Is that the same as fictional? – Fiction is élite. Nobody believes it. Post-factual is mass market, information-age, troll generated. It’s what people want. “(Pos. 3390)
These are the times we are living in. Truth is created by the ruling classes and repeated as often as necessary until the people believe it. It is even better than fiction. This should definitely make us think about our consumption of media and question the producers of the news.
I appreciate Rushdie’s capacity of formulating to the point, the masses of references to novels and films are also quite enticing, at least they show that Rushdie himself in fully immersed in the western culture, but, nevertheless, I missed something really captivating in the novel. It was somehow pleasant to read, but not as remarkable as expected.
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obviously come from India. There must be more they are hiding. Their male idyll is threatened when Vasilisa shows up, the father’s new Russian lover. When René’s parents die in an accident, the Goldens become his replacement family and he moves in with them which gives him the opportunity to study them from much closer. The more time he spends with them, the more secrets are revealed and finally, he himself becomes a part of the family secret. Yet, the past the Goldens wanted to flee from catches up and they have to pay for what they thought they could leave behind them.Salman Rushdie is well known for his politically loaded novels which never go unnoticed. Again, his latest novel puts the finger in a wound, this time the American and the question which played a major role in the 2016 presidential election: who is a true American and what makes you and American? Apart from this, in “The Golden House” the supervillain The Joker wins the election which is not very promising for the nation.
Even though there is an obvious political message, this hides behind the family story of the Goldens. Here, unfortunately, I had expected much more. Admittedly, the four men are drawn with noteworthy features and fates and to follow their struggles after settling in the USA is far from uninteresting, but it also is not as fascinating and remarkable as I had expected. It is the chronicles of an immigration family, not less, but also not more. Their numerous secrets can create some suspense, however, much of it is too obvious to really excite.
Where Salman Rushdie can definitely score is in the side notes:
“True is such a twentieth-century concept. The question is, can I get you to believe it, can I get it repeated enough times to make it as good as true. The question is, can I lie better than the truth.“ (Pos. 3380) and
“You need to become post-factual. – Is that the same as fictional? – Fiction is élite. Nobody believes it. Post-factual is mass market, information-age, troll generated. It’s what people want. “(Pos. 3390)
These are the times we are living in. Truth is created by the ruling classes and repeated as often as necessary until the people believe it. It is even better than fiction. This should definitely make us think about our consumption of media and question the producers of the news.
I appreciate Rushdie’s capacity of formulating to the point, the masses of references to novels and films are also quite enticing, at least they show that Rushdie himself in fully immersed in the western culture, but, nevertheless, I missed something really captivating in the novel. It was somehow pleasant to read, but not as remarkable as expected.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Following a terrorist attack, Nero Golden and his three sons leave their country and head for the United States where they settle into The Gardens, an exclusive New York enclave. What follows is the story of the Golden family: Nero and his three sons: Lucius Apuleius, Petronius, and their
Neighbor/Narrator Rene, an aspiring filmmaker in search of a meaningful story, decides his defining film project will be to capture the lives of the Golden clan.
Beginning with a preponderance of foreshadowing, the jumbled ideas of identity, transition, and change pop up for a moment, but ultimately fall victim to bombastic political diatribe and snarky gossip disguised as moments of social commentary.
The novel seems determined to touch on a myriad of topics; art, music, film, literature, and mythology all get a turn, often for no apparent reason. The characters, though well-developed, are uniformly unlikeable; the ending feels rushed. Despite some decidedly brilliant prose, little happens throughout most of the novel.
Thinly-veiled, vacuous political commentary threads itself through this often tedious tale. Although current events form a backdrop for the novel, readers may ultimately find themselves nonplussed and overwhelmed.
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half-brother Dionysius. Neighbor/Narrator Rene, an aspiring filmmaker in search of a meaningful story, decides his defining film project will be to capture the lives of the Golden clan.
Beginning with a preponderance of foreshadowing, the jumbled ideas of identity, transition, and change pop up for a moment, but ultimately fall victim to bombastic political diatribe and snarky gossip disguised as moments of social commentary.
The novel seems determined to touch on a myriad of topics; art, music, film, literature, and mythology all get a turn, often for no apparent reason. The characters, though well-developed, are uniformly unlikeable; the ending feels rushed. Despite some decidedly brilliant prose, little happens throughout most of the novel.
Thinly-veiled, vacuous political commentary threads itself through this often tedious tale. Although current events form a backdrop for the novel, readers may ultimately find themselves nonplussed and overwhelmed.
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LibraryThing member bemislibrary
Nero Golden and his family are not your usual neighborhood residents they are much more interesting. Their language is that of the highly educated. Their actions self-centered and thug like. The political race for United State President is relevant and social commentary is appropriate as one
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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reflects on recent American history. The writing is excellent and the narration consistent. The plot jumps around and you need a list to keep track of all the characters. However, Rushdie’s ability to blur the lines will have readers wondering what fiction is and what are facts, how much is autobiographical, and how much it taken from headline news. I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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LibraryThing member c.archer
Salman Rushdie is an amazing storyteller! The Golden House is no exception. His use of language is outstanding, and his writing is witty and timely. The Golden House portrays the popular measure of elite success- power and money. Like many tycoons, where the money comes from isn't an issue. Its
This is a must-read for any fan of Rushdie! His style is unique and magnetic. It took me a little while to be captivated by this intriguing tale, but once I was hooked, I was all in.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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presence imparts power and prestige. The Golden family is the perfect example of a wealthy family that is adored and lauded in spite of the fact that they have appeared out of nowhere and their past is a total mystery. One young neighbor finds himself drawn into their mystique and makes it his life work to uncover and make a film of their history. As a moth to a flame, his attraction to the Goldens makes it impossible to not become immured in their fated story.This is a must-read for any fan of Rushdie! His style is unique and magnetic. It took me a little while to be captivated by this intriguing tale, but once I was hooked, I was all in.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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LibraryThing member RodRaglin
Rich, but unsatisfying
A man of extreme wealth immigrates from Mumbai to Manhattan along with his three adult sons. They change their identities and keep the reason for leaving their previous home a mystery though they don't live like recluses, just the opposite, they embrace their new homeland with
The Golden House is about this family and the unraveling of their mystery as told by a neighbour, a film maker, who takes an interest in them because he hopes their story will provide the plot for a movie he wants to make.
Rushdie's characters are larger than life, and I mean down right over the top. Indeed, there are no ordinary people in this novel, every one is eccentric, brilliant, extremely talented, very well dressed and beautiful beyond description though Rushdie does his best to describe all the above lavishly and extensively.
In fact he spends so much time on sumptuous imagery, on references to Greek mythology and on quotes that might make sense if I knew author of the quote and the context in which it was being used, I very soon became bored and early on found my self skimming pages to find something that advanced the plot.
The Golden House is an "insiders" book. If the reader knows the locales, events, jargon, trends, author of quotes, context of quotes, the heroes and heroines of Greek mythology and their significance then I imagine you're supposed to feel included, with it, up to date, part of the club, and oh so contemporary. If you don't you're a boob, a rube, a member of the cultural lumpenproletariat and don't deserve to know what's going in his book.
Rushdie obviously is an excellent, clever, educated, intelligent, sophisticated member of the upper crust of society and he sets out to prove that in every paragraph of this book.
The writing is so rich, so decadent I felt the same way I did when during the Holidays I overindulged in Christmas cake, shortbread and mince tarts - well fed, yet ironically, unsatisfied.
Keeping with my New Year's resolution of not enduring to the end books I'm not enjoying, I abandoned The Golden House about a quarter way through.
A man of extreme wealth immigrates from Mumbai to Manhattan along with his three adult sons. They change their identities and keep the reason for leaving their previous home a mystery though they don't live like recluses, just the opposite, they embrace their new homeland with
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excess and extravagance.The Golden House is about this family and the unraveling of their mystery as told by a neighbour, a film maker, who takes an interest in them because he hopes their story will provide the plot for a movie he wants to make.
Rushdie's characters are larger than life, and I mean down right over the top. Indeed, there are no ordinary people in this novel, every one is eccentric, brilliant, extremely talented, very well dressed and beautiful beyond description though Rushdie does his best to describe all the above lavishly and extensively.
In fact he spends so much time on sumptuous imagery, on references to Greek mythology and on quotes that might make sense if I knew author of the quote and the context in which it was being used, I very soon became bored and early on found my self skimming pages to find something that advanced the plot.
The Golden House is an "insiders" book. If the reader knows the locales, events, jargon, trends, author of quotes, context of quotes, the heroes and heroines of Greek mythology and their significance then I imagine you're supposed to feel included, with it, up to date, part of the club, and oh so contemporary. If you don't you're a boob, a rube, a member of the cultural lumpenproletariat and don't deserve to know what's going in his book.
Rushdie obviously is an excellent, clever, educated, intelligent, sophisticated member of the upper crust of society and he sets out to prove that in every paragraph of this book.
The writing is so rich, so decadent I felt the same way I did when during the Holidays I overindulged in Christmas cake, shortbread and mince tarts - well fed, yet ironically, unsatisfied.
Keeping with my New Year's resolution of not enduring to the end books I'm not enjoying, I abandoned The Golden House about a quarter way through.
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LibraryThing member novelcommentary
Ever since the novel Midnight's Children, I have looked to read other novels by Salman Rushdie. I thought Midnight's Children was one of the greatest books I ever read. This new novel called The Golden House fully shows his immense ability as a writer, his frequent use of literary illusions, and
Though I always find Rushdie's writing to be a wonder, I have to admit that at times it seemed to bog down my enjoyment of the narrative. I think that Rushdie tried to do a lot in this novel and listening to an interview in the Guardian he admits that the presidency of Trump became important to be included in the book. So among all the many subplots he also decided to weave the election of the one called the joker into his storyline. But in all the novel did satisfy its premise. Rene did tell the story of the Golden house, the members of the family, their history and their demise. Still the author ties up the ending in a satisfying way. Maybe not my favorite read of late, but one that furthered my understanding of this author's genius.
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his eye on the absurd scenarios of the world. In this novel a Jay Gatsby type character by the name of Rene lives in the Gardens of Manhattan. He lives with his academic parents and is somewhat shielded from life by this little enclave of culture. Then a new neighbor arrives a wealthy 70 something millionaire who has a shady past and three sons. In the course of the novel Rene will uncover the secrets of this family and tell the story of these three sons. In addition he will tell the story of the new Russian wife that Nero Golden takes on and the complications that are formed when he , Rene, agrees to a bargain with her.Though I always find Rushdie's writing to be a wonder, I have to admit that at times it seemed to bog down my enjoyment of the narrative. I think that Rushdie tried to do a lot in this novel and listening to an interview in the Guardian he admits that the presidency of Trump became important to be included in the book. So among all the many subplots he also decided to weave the election of the one called the joker into his storyline. But in all the novel did satisfy its premise. Rene did tell the story of the Golden house, the members of the family, their history and their demise. Still the author ties up the ending in a satisfying way. Maybe not my favorite read of late, but one that furthered my understanding of this author's genius.
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LibraryThing member JeffV
This book takes some patience, but as a whole, it does pay off. Nero Golden (not his real name) and his also Roman-themed sons (Apuleus, Petronius, and Dionysus) start a new life in New York in the late 2000's. The narrator weaves in and out of this story as both an observer and as chronicler
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deeply involved with the events he is relating as his character is developing this very story into a screen play. The plot, such as it is, unveils itself slowly, it's more like a tapestry that gradually comes into focus. The book is full of allusion and very little of it subtle (care to guess who The Joker is who vanquished the determined Batwoman in an upside down election?) The story is a tragedy in the ancient sense as the monikers of the characters tend to foreshadow their lives. The book was also filled with references, both pop and historical, that I seemed to get. Rushdie is of my generation so maybe that should be of no surprise, but he seems to have been browsing my library too. In the end, movie influences seem to win out, and the final scenes would do any Korean director proud. Show Less
LibraryThing member Neftzger
This was a book that I really enjoyed and looked forward to getting back to every time I had to stop reading for a bit (you know those horrible moments when real life interferes with being able to read 24/7?). The story centers on a family of immigrants in New York, their mysterious past (exactly
The book is narrated by a friend of the family who is somewhat of an outsider to the very wealthy circles that Nero navigates, but the narrator is also a film maker who is in search of a story. Nero Golden and his family are the perfect subject for a documentary, and so the narrator begins working on this task but quickly becomes part of the sub plot within his own narrative.
The most intriguing aspect of this book for me was how Rushdie tackles of topics that are headlining our nightly news. Fiction is often the lens through which we see the world around us most clearly, and Rushdie does this adroitly. This was a great read.
Note: I received an ARC of this title form the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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how did they make all that money?) and the relationships they forge in their new homeland.The book is narrated by a friend of the family who is somewhat of an outsider to the very wealthy circles that Nero navigates, but the narrator is also a film maker who is in search of a story. Nero Golden and his family are the perfect subject for a documentary, and so the narrator begins working on this task but quickly becomes part of the sub plot within his own narrative.
The most intriguing aspect of this book for me was how Rushdie tackles of topics that are headlining our nightly news. Fiction is often the lens through which we see the world around us most clearly, and Rushdie does this adroitly. This was a great read.
Note: I received an ARC of this title form the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
As my first foray into Salman Rushdie's ouevre this was not a great success. I thought there was just too much going on in the story and I don't think I grasped the overall message. Perhaps listening to it as an audiobook was not the right choice.
The story revolves around a mysterious family of a
So there are all these various stories being explored by Rene for his film but he also has a story of his own which intrudes. By the end of the book Rene may be the only one to make it out unscathed or at least functioning. It's obvious that the Golden family stands in for the Roman Empire which fell catastrophically. Possibly the Roman Empire is a stand in for the United States and Rushdie is predicting its fall. He does allude to the 2016 election with the presidential candidates being The Joker and Batgirl. I did rather like that part of the book.
The story revolves around a mysterious family of a
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father and three sons who moves into a house in Greenwich Village in New York City. The father says his name is Nero Golden and his three sons all have Roman names. A neighbour, Rene, is the narrator of the story. He is a film director and he thinks the Golden family would make a great film so he wants to get to know them. This he does; in fact he becomes quite close to all of them. When Nero falls in love with a beautiful Russian woman Rene is right there. Later the woman, who becomes Nero's wife, wants to have a child but Nero is not able to produce enough sperm. So Nero's wife approaches Rene to have sex with her during her ovulations and she does become pregnant but then doesn't want to have anything to do with Rene after or to let Rene have a relationship with his son. Each of Nero's first three sons have issues of their own. The youngest is confused about his gender identity and is considering becoming a transgender woman. The oldest suffers from agoraphobia and can't set foot out of the house but he is a brilliant computer game developer. The middle son is an artist who misses their home city (which is finally revealed to be Mumbai, India).So there are all these various stories being explored by Rene for his film but he also has a story of his own which intrudes. By the end of the book Rene may be the only one to make it out unscathed or at least functioning. It's obvious that the Golden family stands in for the Roman Empire which fell catastrophically. Possibly the Roman Empire is a stand in for the United States and Rushdie is predicting its fall. He does allude to the 2016 election with the presidential candidates being The Joker and Batgirl. I did rather like that part of the book.
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LibraryThing member rmckeown
Salman Rushdie has become another of my favorite authors. His detailed and mysterious characters all have stories too intense, too interesting, and all with splashes of humor. While he has something of a reputation as a writer of dense and obscure fiction, his last ten or so novels were all written
As the dust jacket notes, “On the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration, an enigmatic billionaire from an [unidentified] foreign shore and takes up residence in the architectural jewel of ‘the Gardens,’ a cloistered community in New York’s Greenwich Village.” Of course, the neighbors are fascinated. His chosen, new world name is Nero Golden, and his three sons have adopted names of other Roman figures, Apu—from Lucius Apuleius, Dionysus prefers, “D,” and Petronius, takes the nickname, Petya. Each of these three men take turns unraveling the mystery of this family.
Rushdie also weaves lots of references to a whole slew of literary and real characters ranging from Anton Chekhov to George Clooney. Here is a sample of what is in store for the intrepid reader. “That night he talked and drank without stopping, and all of us who were there would carry fragments of that talk in our memories for the rest of our lives. What crazy, extraordinary talk it was! No limit to the subjects he reached for and used as punching bags: the British royal family, in particular the lives of Princess Margaret, who used a Caribbean island as her private boudoir, and Prince Charles, who wanted to be his lover’s toy; the philosophy of Spinoza (he liked it); the lyrics of Bob Dylan (he recited the whole of ‘Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands,’ as reverently as if it were a companion piece to ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’; the Spassky-Fischer chess match (Fischer had died the year before); Islamic radicalism (he was against it) and wishy-washy liberalism (which appeased Islam, he said, so he was against it too); […] the novels of G.K. Chesterton (he was a fan of The Man Who was Thursday); the unpleasantness of male chest hair; the ‘unjust treatment ‘ of Pluto, recently demoted to the status of ‘dwarf planet’ after a larger body, Eris, was discovered in the Kuiper Belt” (48-49). This is about two-thirds of the list of his topics.
Nero had some unspecified plans for the future. Rushdie writes, “Nero had hired the most powerful members of the city’s tribe of publicists, whose most important task was not to get, but to suppress, publicity; and so what happened in the Golden House very largely stayed in the Golden House” (52). One son is something of a loose cannon. Rushdie writes, “D Golden, when in his brothers’ company, alternated between ingratiation and rage. It was plain that he needed to love and be loved; there was a tide of emotion in him that needed to wash over people and he hoped for a returning tide to wash over him. […] Sometimes he seemed wise beyond his years. At other times he behaved like a four-year-old child” (67).
Salman Rushdie is an amazingly talented writer who can sweep a reader along on fantastic waves of literature, philosophy, history, and politics, while never forgetting to smile. His latest novel, The Golden House has from me, a solid 5 stars
--Chiron, 4/10/18
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with details that leave absolutely nothing left un-said or un-described. His latest novel, The Golden House, maintains his marvelous and intriguing prose style.As the dust jacket notes, “On the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration, an enigmatic billionaire from an [unidentified] foreign shore and takes up residence in the architectural jewel of ‘the Gardens,’ a cloistered community in New York’s Greenwich Village.” Of course, the neighbors are fascinated. His chosen, new world name is Nero Golden, and his three sons have adopted names of other Roman figures, Apu—from Lucius Apuleius, Dionysus prefers, “D,” and Petronius, takes the nickname, Petya. Each of these three men take turns unraveling the mystery of this family.
Rushdie also weaves lots of references to a whole slew of literary and real characters ranging from Anton Chekhov to George Clooney. Here is a sample of what is in store for the intrepid reader. “That night he talked and drank without stopping, and all of us who were there would carry fragments of that talk in our memories for the rest of our lives. What crazy, extraordinary talk it was! No limit to the subjects he reached for and used as punching bags: the British royal family, in particular the lives of Princess Margaret, who used a Caribbean island as her private boudoir, and Prince Charles, who wanted to be his lover’s toy; the philosophy of Spinoza (he liked it); the lyrics of Bob Dylan (he recited the whole of ‘Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands,’ as reverently as if it were a companion piece to ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’; the Spassky-Fischer chess match (Fischer had died the year before); Islamic radicalism (he was against it) and wishy-washy liberalism (which appeased Islam, he said, so he was against it too); […] the novels of G.K. Chesterton (he was a fan of The Man Who was Thursday); the unpleasantness of male chest hair; the ‘unjust treatment ‘ of Pluto, recently demoted to the status of ‘dwarf planet’ after a larger body, Eris, was discovered in the Kuiper Belt” (48-49). This is about two-thirds of the list of his topics.
Nero had some unspecified plans for the future. Rushdie writes, “Nero had hired the most powerful members of the city’s tribe of publicists, whose most important task was not to get, but to suppress, publicity; and so what happened in the Golden House very largely stayed in the Golden House” (52). One son is something of a loose cannon. Rushdie writes, “D Golden, when in his brothers’ company, alternated between ingratiation and rage. It was plain that he needed to love and be loved; there was a tide of emotion in him that needed to wash over people and he hoped for a returning tide to wash over him. […] Sometimes he seemed wise beyond his years. At other times he behaved like a four-year-old child” (67).
Salman Rushdie is an amazingly talented writer who can sweep a reader along on fantastic waves of literature, philosophy, history, and politics, while never forgetting to smile. His latest novel, The Golden House has from me, a solid 5 stars
--Chiron, 4/10/18
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
When the extremely wealthy and mysterious Nero Golden and his three sons move to New York with new and telling names that they themselves have chosen from a country and a city that would not be named throughout most of the novel, The Golden House, it sets off a great deal of curiosity, rumour, and
The Golden House by Salman Rushdie is chockfull of wordplay and references to mythology, literature, film and pop culture, most enjoyably (at least if you are politically liberal) the story of a man born with green hair, a villain who calls himself the joker, who will rise to become president. There were times when I found all of these allusions a bit tiring, even smug – I started counting the number of foreign films he could manage to mention on a single page. Overall, though, I quite enjoyed this book. It is a witty, intelligent, and insightful character study about the absurdity of the times we live in, a world where a man born into immense wealth can reinvent himself from real estate developer with multiple bankruptcies, to reality star, to populist president of the United States of America.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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innuendo among their neighbours. Among the curious is Rene, son of two academics, a budding filmmaker and narrator of the story. After entering the inner circle of the Golden household, he is is determined to discover all their secrets so that he can make a documentary or, perhaps even better, a mockumentary about them.The Golden House by Salman Rushdie is chockfull of wordplay and references to mythology, literature, film and pop culture, most enjoyably (at least if you are politically liberal) the story of a man born with green hair, a villain who calls himself the joker, who will rise to become president. There were times when I found all of these allusions a bit tiring, even smug – I started counting the number of foreign films he could manage to mention on a single page. Overall, though, I quite enjoyed this book. It is a witty, intelligent, and insightful character study about the absurdity of the times we live in, a world where a man born into immense wealth can reinvent himself from real estate developer with multiple bankruptcies, to reality star, to populist president of the United States of America.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member asxz
There's no one quite like Sir Salman. This was an absolute joy from start to finish. Contrary to what I had thought, The Golden House (or gilded cage) is not simply a satire on Trump, but a glorious Rushdiyan tragedy where every thought references some delicious piece of popular culture from points
Rushdie is having enormous fun even while his characters are wrestling with weight and fate. In one memorable paragraph, Rushdie gets from classical Greek myth to The Tempest via a complete lyric from Lieber and Stoller's "Stand By Me". When an author is having this much fun, it doesn't always translate into fun for the reader. Not so here. The Golden House is everything I could have hoped for from a Salman Rushdie novel, which is to say everything anyone could ever hope for from a work of new fiction.
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throughout history. In fact Trump appears only as a background distraction. Rushdie is having enormous fun even while his characters are wrestling with weight and fate. In one memorable paragraph, Rushdie gets from classical Greek myth to The Tempest via a complete lyric from Lieber and Stoller's "Stand By Me". When an author is having this much fun, it doesn't always translate into fun for the reader. Not so here. The Golden House is everything I could have hoped for from a Salman Rushdie novel, which is to say everything anyone could ever hope for from a work of new fiction.
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LibraryThing member thorold
Rushdie's most recent novel seems to be a kind of moral fairy tale about how, in real life, the bad guys (Trump, in this case) always win, and how the only real weapons we have to protect ourselves against the ultimate triumph of evil are love and truth. But, in case we start wondering whether he's
A father, Nero Golden, and three sons with equally Roman names, arrive to live in a grand house in Greenwich Village at the time of Obama's inauguration. Their neighbour, a young film-maker called René, is intrigued by the absence of any information about where they have come from and gradually starts to see them as the subject of an epic movie, with himself, naturally, cast as the narrator. But he can't help getting drawn into the tragic course of the action himself. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the evil, cackling, green-haired, white-faced figure of the Joker, Nero's rival in the real-estate business... (you can see where this is going).
Rushdie isn't always totally convincing in capturing the voice of his millennial narrator, and he occasionally strains the joke of René's obsessive way of seeing everything in movie terms beyond the plausible elastic limit of 2000% or so, but of course it's still always Rushdie talking and we want to listen to him, so he just about gets away with the hyperbole.
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got religion in his old age, that's carefully buried under a ton of references to Suetonius, Great Cinema, Shakespeare, Bollywood, Edgar Allan Poe, Chekhov, Flaubert, Matthias Grünewald, and much else. A father, Nero Golden, and three sons with equally Roman names, arrive to live in a grand house in Greenwich Village at the time of Obama's inauguration. Their neighbour, a young film-maker called René, is intrigued by the absence of any information about where they have come from and gradually starts to see them as the subject of an epic movie, with himself, naturally, cast as the narrator. But he can't help getting drawn into the tragic course of the action himself. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the evil, cackling, green-haired, white-faced figure of the Joker, Nero's rival in the real-estate business... (you can see where this is going).
Rushdie isn't always totally convincing in capturing the voice of his millennial narrator, and he occasionally strains the joke of René's obsessive way of seeing everything in movie terms beyond the plausible elastic limit of 2000% or so, but of course it's still always Rushdie talking and we want to listen to him, so he just about gets away with the hyperbole.
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LibraryThing member Opinionated
Every decade or so Sir Salman attempts a version of The Great American Novel. "Fury" was one, "The Golden House" is another. And as is so often the case with his later period writings, there is much cleverness to enjoy, many opportunities to laugh out loud, occasional profundity but ultimately it
There is no need to recap the plot as many of the reviews have done that already. Suffice to say that The Golden Family arrive in New York, escaping from an obscure, but clearly wealthy past in an unnamed city, that is equally obviously Mumbai. But their Golden House rapidly becomes a Gilded Cage from which its impossible to escape. Its a good premise; but unfortunately from there it doesn't quite work. Firstly, the narrative device that Rushdie uses, the boy next door who is taken into everyone's confidence, is a familiar one that is never convincing, From Nick Carraway to Nick Guest in The Line Of Beauty, the reader struggles with the idea that such a secretive group would take a stranger such as Rene into their confidence and in one case, their bed, so recklessly.
And so, the characters don't quite work. Petya, the oldest son is well advanced on the autism curve - so of course he is a brilliant and prolific app and game developer in the dark. Apu, the second son is of course a fabulously talented but troubled artist - although the scenes in which he returns to Mumbai are perhaps the most powerful, moving and truthful of the novel. The youngest son, D, struggles with gender identity, and it must be said, that Rushdie's baleful observation of the absurdities of some modern conversations about gender are powerful here. But none of the characters feels properly rounded - charicatures rather than characters.
But its the female characters that are the real issue. Vasilisa, wife to patriarch Nero Golden is a stereotype of the rapacious Russian trophy wife. OK, so stereotypes have to be based on fragments of truth, but still Vasilisa, who could have been fascinating is a hollow, unconvincing shell. The other female characters also fail to convince
Which is not to say I didn't enjoy the book; I did. I frequently laughed out loud. Even the parody of the Trump presidential run (which despite the book's blurb, is very much a background detail, rather than a key narrative element) is amusing. Its just ultimately unsafisfying
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doesn't reach the high standards it sets for itself. This is because ultimately the characters don't quite work and are not quite believable. There is no need to recap the plot as many of the reviews have done that already. Suffice to say that The Golden Family arrive in New York, escaping from an obscure, but clearly wealthy past in an unnamed city, that is equally obviously Mumbai. But their Golden House rapidly becomes a Gilded Cage from which its impossible to escape. Its a good premise; but unfortunately from there it doesn't quite work. Firstly, the narrative device that Rushdie uses, the boy next door who is taken into everyone's confidence, is a familiar one that is never convincing, From Nick Carraway to Nick Guest in The Line Of Beauty, the reader struggles with the idea that such a secretive group would take a stranger such as Rene into their confidence and in one case, their bed, so recklessly.
And so, the characters don't quite work. Petya, the oldest son is well advanced on the autism curve - so of course he is a brilliant and prolific app and game developer in the dark. Apu, the second son is of course a fabulously talented but troubled artist - although the scenes in which he returns to Mumbai are perhaps the most powerful, moving and truthful of the novel. The youngest son, D, struggles with gender identity, and it must be said, that Rushdie's baleful observation of the absurdities of some modern conversations about gender are powerful here. But none of the characters feels properly rounded - charicatures rather than characters.
But its the female characters that are the real issue. Vasilisa, wife to patriarch Nero Golden is a stereotype of the rapacious Russian trophy wife. OK, so stereotypes have to be based on fragments of truth, but still Vasilisa, who could have been fascinating is a hollow, unconvincing shell. The other female characters also fail to convince
Which is not to say I didn't enjoy the book; I did. I frequently laughed out loud. Even the parody of the Trump presidential run (which despite the book's blurb, is very much a background detail, rather than a key narrative element) is amusing. Its just ultimately unsafisfying
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LibraryThing member charlie68
Fiction as film? Film as fiction? Reality in film and fiction? Conceit piling on conceit. A rambling account of the Golden family with a broad commentary on sexual identity and life in the modern USA , the Joker and Batwoman included.
LibraryThing member AStoriedSoul
A very timely, relevant, and important work for today's American political climate, Rushdie explores the moment in time for American culture and politics that many considered the "Golden Age" of contemporary America: the Obama administration, which recalls a Camalot-esque atmosphere. Then we move
I have read so much of Rushdie's work, and I never cease to be impressed. However, if you have not read any Rushdie, this isn't a bad place to start if you want an introduction to his work. I highly recommend this.
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into the twists in society and thought that led to the Trump election through his characters, particularly Mr. Golden. His writing is, as always, lyrical, witty, and artful. Rushdie really understands the nuances of social commentary and how to balance satire for a very pointed criticism of issues. Rushdie asks the important questions to "what is American culture" and asks us to critically think about who and what we are, what we stand for. The plot work and pacing is superb and unparalleled, and I find this story reminiscent of his earlier works Midnight's Children and Fury. This book left me chilled much as Fury did with how eerily prophetic and timely it was. Particularly, if you liked Fury, you will like the Golden House.I have read so much of Rushdie's work, and I never cease to be impressed. However, if you have not read any Rushdie, this isn't a bad place to start if you want an introduction to his work. I highly recommend this.
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LibraryThing member LDVoorberg
This is the first Salman Rushdie book I have ever read; I received the book through SantaThing.
It wasn't for me. There are a few good pieces in it, like The Joker vs Batwoman 2016 election comparisons (the rant about the Joker is spot-on) and the discussions about gender options.
However the rest
Grandiose, but not me.
It wasn't for me. There are a few good pieces in it, like The Joker vs Batwoman 2016 election comparisons (the rant about the Joker is spot-on) and the discussions about gender options.
However the rest
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of the story is just a convoluted story part Gatsby, part Lear, part Godfather Bollywood movie about a family I never care about told by a narrator I never empathize with. It was fantastical and nutty. There are SO many art, pop culture, mythical, historical, movie, music, literary, political etc references my head spun. I am sure this is a kind of political satire or commentary, but that is not my genre. Grandiose, but not me.
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Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2019)
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Longlist — Fiction — 2018)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Fiction — 2017)
NPR: Books We Love (2017)
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2017)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
384 p.; 6.38 inches
ISBN
178733015X / 9781787330153
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