The Ground Beneath Her Feet

by Salman Rushdie
The Ground Beneath Her Feet cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Magical Realism
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Paperback • £12.99
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Technical
  • ID: 6354
  • Added: 2025-11-13
  • Updated: 2025-11-15
  • ISBN: 9781409058779
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2012-08-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In this mesmerizing novel, the lives of famous musicians Vina Apsara and Ormus Cama are intertwined in a tale of love, loss, and the supernatural. When Vina disappears in an earthquake, Ormus embarks on a global journey to find her, traversing vibrant cities and delving into the heart of rock 'n' roll culture. /n/n As Ormus's quest unfolds, the world around him begins to unravel, revealing cracks in the fabric of reality. The novel explores themes of love, obsession, and the blurred boundaries between the real and the fantastical, all set against the backdrop of the music industry.

Reviews
Literary Review · 2025-11-13
gripping 4.50

The novel is gripping and immersive, drawing readers in as relentlessly as the earthquake that opens the story. It is a tale of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life.

The reviewer describes the novel as a compelling and immersive experience. They highlight how the story sucks readers in from the very beginning, much like the earthquake that sets the stage for the narrative. The tale is portrayed as a profound exploration of love and loss, with a focus on the unpredictable and often perilous nature of life. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats, making it a truly engaging read.

Quick quotes

    It sucks you in as remorselessly as the earth swallows its heroine in the massive earthquake with which the novel opens.

    The novel is gripping and immersive, drawing readers in as relentlessly as the earthquake that opens the story.

    It is a tale of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life.

Atticus Books · 2023-05-05
intellectual 4.20

The novel is dense with wordplay and references, making it a rich and intellectually stimulating read. It is a story that challenges and engages the reader on multiple levels.

This review emphasizes the novel's intellectual depth and complexity. The reviewer notes the dense use of wordplay and references to mythology, popular culture, and history, which add layers of meaning to the story. They describe it as a challenging yet rewarding read, one that engages the reader's mind and imagination. The novel is seen as a testament to Rushdie's skill in weaving together diverse elements to create a cohesive and thought-provoking narrative.

Quick quotes

    It's dense with wordplay and references to mythology, popular culture, and history.

    The novel is dense with wordplay and references, making it a rich and intellectually stimulating read.

    It is a story that challenges and engages the reader on multiple levels.

The Guardian · 1999-03-28
engaging 4.00

The novel is a whirlwind of emotions, bouncing between stoic acceptance and anguished despair. It explores themes of crossings, disappearances, and metamorphoses with a rich, layered narrative.

This review captures the essence of the novel's emotional rollercoaster. The reviewer highlights the contrast between the characters' stoic acceptance and their moments of profound anguish, noting how the story weaves together themes of transformation and loss. The narrative is described as dense and multifaceted, reflecting the complexity of human experiences. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the storytelling, even as it navigates through tumultuous events and personal metamorphoses.

Quick quotes

    In this novel about crossings, disappearances, earthquakes and metamorphoses, we are bounced between stoic, realistic acceptance and anguished Promethean despair.

    The novel is a whirlwind of emotions, bouncing between stoic acceptance and anguished despair.

    It explores themes of crossings, disappearances, and metamorphoses with a rich, layered narrative.

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