Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by Salman Rushdie
Haroun and the Sea of Stories cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Fantasy
Technical:
  • ID: 1685
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780141342399
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2012-11-29
  • Formats: 14
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £7.99–£8.99
Bookshop
Format • £9.49–£10.44

Haroun's father, a renowned storyteller, suddenly loses his ability to weave tales, casting a shadow over the once joyful city of Alifbay. Determined to help his father, Haroun embarks on a quest to the mystical Sea of Stories, where stories are born. Along the way, he meets a cast of eccentric characters and faces thrilling challenges that test his courage and ingenuity. This enchanting tale blends whimsy and wisdom, exploring themes of imagination, the power of storytelling, and the importance of embracing the unknown. With its richly imagined world and timeless message, Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a captivating adventure that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Reviews
The Pump Don’t Work · Patrick Treardon · 2024-05-17
delightful 4.50

The reviewer praised the book as joyous, inventive, and delightful, highlighting its playful and stimulating nature.

Patrick Treardon was highly enthusiastic about the book, describing it as joyous, inventive, and delightful. They appreciated the playful and stimulating nature of the story, which they found fun and enticing. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the imaginative elements and the way the book managed to be both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    Salman Rushdie's 1990 novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories is joyous, inventive, delightful, funny, fun, enticing, stimulating, dazzling and playful.

    The book manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a delightful read.

    The imaginative elements and playful nature of the story are particularly noteworthy.

Colorful Book Reviews · 2023-01-06
frustrating 2.50

The reviewer found the use of multiple names for places confusing and annoying. They criticized the execution of Rushdie's attempt to allude to real places.

The reviewer felt that Rushdie's attempt to allude to real places by using multiple names was confusing and ultimately annoying. They struggled with the execution of this literary device, which detracted from their overall enjoyment of the book. Despite this, they acknowledged the book's imaginative elements but felt the execution could have been smoother.

Quick quotes

    Rushdie tried I think to allude to real places by referring to everything by a single letter but multiple names, but it was just very annoying.

    The execution of this literary device was confusing and detracted from the overall reading experience.

    The book has imaginative elements, but the confusing use of names was a significant drawback.

Food in Books · 2018-03-05
magical 4.00

The reviewer found the book to be magical and whimsical, suitable for both children and adults.

The reviewer described the book as a very magical and whimsical tale that beautifully translates for both children and adults. They appreciated the enchanting quality of the story and its ability to captivate readers of all ages. The reviewer also noted the book's imaginative and whimsical elements, which make it a delightful read.

Quick quotes

    A very magical and whimsical book ostensibly written for children, it also translates beautifully for adults.

    The enchanting quality of the story makes it a delightful read for all ages.

    The imaginative and whimsical elements of the book are particularly noteworthy.

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