First impression: fear. As if the seemingly harmless cover image was only a facade, the thickness of the book made me shake my head. 600 pages of pure words – not for the willowy-minded, indeed. As I began perusing through the first few pages of the novel, I was plunged into deeper shock; an army of my English teachers would have been no use. The numerous shifts from the narrator’s present to past, tedious referrals to cultural jargon that I simply did not know, and the boisterous and ingenious metaphors that tested my patience overwhelmed me. But more was yet to come; and indeed there was more.
[Source: Amazon]
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]
However, despite the obvious difficulty and confusion of the novel, it also makes many wonder: why has Midnight’s Children not found itself on to the shelves of classrooms of English-speaking minds? The ingenuity in the writing is simply breathtaking; every page is a mark of the author’s balance of imagination and facts. The symbolism and thematic exploration resonates for the audience; hours and days of discussion within a literary circle would not suffice for a full comprehension of the story. As many great novels do, the story seems to provide opportunities for the audience to use as a kindling for their own fiery interpretation.
Having finished the book, a reader is likely to sit and gape for quite some time. As difficult and dense as the book may be, the fruit of having finished reading the work is worthwhile; under the influence of brain-churning and flowery language, it inspires one to recount his or her life as Saleem recounts his. Midnight’s Children, simply put, is a wondrous novel.
Keebum Kim, Grade 11
Seoul International School