Shame

by Salman Rushdie
Shame cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 6350
  • Added: 2025-11-13
  • Updated: 2025-11-15
  • ISBN: 9780099578611
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1995-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Omar Khayyam Shakil's unique upbringing with three mothers who share everything, including pregnancy, shapes his early life. Raised in a fortress, Omar is taught to reject shame, a lesson that proves invaluable when he ventures into a world where shamelessness is the norm. /n/n 'Shame' is a novel that defies categorization, offering a captivating fairy-tale narrative that doubles as a devastating political satire. With exquisite humor and entertainment, it explores themes of identity and societal norms in a way that is both thought-provoking and delightfully absurd.

Reviews
Bookaapi · Faizan Fahim · 2024-05-08
insightful 4.00

The novel explores the history of Pakistan through the lens of shame, showing how pride can lead to violence. It's a well-researched and brilliantly written piece.

Faizan Fahim delves into the historical and political context of Pakistan, highlighting how Rushdie's exploration of shame and pride is both profound and relevant. The novel is a well-researched and brilliantly written piece that offers a unique perspective on the country's history. Fahim appreciates Rushdie's playful narrative style and the way he weaves complex themes into a compelling story. The novel is a powerful exploration of the consequences of shame and pride, making it a significant read for anyone interested in Pakistan's history and politics.

Quick quotes

    Shame by Salman Rushdie explores the history of Pakistan through the lens of Shame.

    He shows how pride gets hurt and leads to violence.

    A well-researched and brilliantly written novel which would be of interest to anyone linked to Pakistan.

We Need To Talk About Books · 2022-05-25
excellent 4.50

The novel is short, fast-paced, and powerful, showcasing Rushdie's signature magic realism and post-colonial themes. It's a testament to his prime as a writer.

This novel is a testament to Rushdie's prowess as a writer. It's short, fast-paced, and packed with power, showcasing his signature magic realism and post-colonial themes. The story is a whirlwind of events and characters that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. The reviewer particularly appreciates Rushdie's ability to weave complex themes into a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It's a novel that highlights Rushdie's skill and creativity, making it a must-read for fans of his work.

Quick quotes

    Short, fast-paced and powerful, Shame is a novel of a great writer in his prime.

    Flexing the magic-realism, post-colonial, musculature he is known for.

    A whirlwind of events and characters that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

The Guardian · 2017-09-19
timely 4.00

The novel is rooted in the details of 1970s Pakistan but reads with startling immediacy. It speaks directly to contemporary issues, making it a timeless piece.

This novel is a captivating blend of history and contemporary relevance. The antic fairytale of billionaires and 'badmashes' is deeply rooted in the political and social landscape of 1970s Pakistan. However, the narrative's immediacy makes it feel eerily relevant today. It's a powerful exploration of shame and its consequences, wrapped in a story that feels both distant and intimately close. The reviewer appreciates how Rushdie's playful narrative style and magical realism bring the story to life, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    The antic fairytale of billionaires and 'badmashes' is rooted in the details of a time that might sound remote, but it reads with startling immediacy.

    It speaks directly to us now, making it a timeless piece.

    Rushdie's playful narrative style and magical realism bring the story to life.

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