Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by Salman Rushdie
Haroun and the Sea of Stories cover
Good Books rating 3.85
Fantasy
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Paperback • £7.99–£10.99
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Format • £9.49–£10.44
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Technical
  • ID: 1685
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9780141342399
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2012-11-29
  • Formats: 37
  • Reviews: 4

Haroun's father, a renowned storyteller, brings joy to the city of Alifbay with his enchanting tales. However, when his father suddenly loses the ability to tell stories, Haroun embarks on a quest to find the source of the problem. His journey takes him to the Sea of Stories, a mystical place where stories are born, and he meets a variety of whimsical characters, including the Hoopie bird and the Water Genie./n/nAs Haroun navigates through this fantastical world, he uncovers the secrets behind his father's sudden silence and learns valuable lessons about the power of stories and the importance of imagination. This captivating tale is a celebration of storytelling and the endless possibilities that lie within our imaginations.

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.

Efsunland · 2016-07-04
fun 4.40

The book is fun with clever wordplay and well-managed shifts from wonderment to suspense. It reads in a way that is engaging and entertaining for both children and adults.

The reviewer enjoyed the book's clever wordplay and the way it skillfully shifts from moments of wonderment to suspense. They found the narrative engaging and entertaining, making it suitable for both children and adults. The reviewer appreciated the book's whimsical and magical qualities, which added to its overall charm. The reviewer enjoyed the book's clever wordplay and the way it skillfully shifts from moments of wonderment to suspense. They found the narrative engaging and entertaining, making it suitable for both children and adults.

Quick quotes

    This book was fun with lots of clever wordplay.

    The shifts from wonderment to suspense are well-managed.

    It reads in a way that is engaging and entertaining for both children and adults.

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