I just finished listening to the audiobook of Knife by Salman Rushdie, narrated by the author. It’s a memoir of sorts, sharing his thoughts and experiences following the attempt on his life at the Chautauqua Institute in 2022. I wanted to share a few thoughts.
It was excellent. It’s the first book by Salman Rushdie that I’ve read, and I found his writing compelling and powerful. It’s no wonder that authoritarians fear him.
I was struck by the fact that the book is, at its core, a love story. Nearly the entire book is set against the backdrop of the story of his relationship with his wife. I like that he takes the story of something that could have been angry, or hateful, or vengeful, and made it about Love instead.
There is also the overarching theme of liberalism and enlightenment thought. While the book was written before the 2024 Election, it’s recent enough that the outcome was anticipated. It was rather emotional listening to the words of someone who has spent the last thirty-five years of his life being persecuted by religious extremists, at a time when similar religious extremists have captured the government of my country.
Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are both under siege in the world today. But the book serves as a reminder that none of us are alone in this fight, and that Love will eventually overcome hate, even if we individually don’t live to see that day.