Peacocks danced on the morning stones of Sikri and in the distance the great lake shimmered like a ghost. The emperor's gaze traveled past the peacocks and the lake, past the court of Herat and the lands of the fierce Turk, and rested on the spires and domes of an Italian city far away. "Imagine a pair of women's lips," Mogor whispered, "puckering for a kiss. That city of Florence, narrow at the edges, swelling at the center, with the Arno flowing through between, parting the two lips, the upper and the lower. The city is an enchantress. When it kisses you, you are lost, whether you be commoner or king."
Rushdie has concocted a convoluted fantasy with wild stories and exotic characters. East meets west in this book based in part on historical research. It is both engaging and confusing--an intriguing fairy tale which leaves the reader guessing about what really happening. At times I was in love with this book and at other times I found it tedious. The author can write dazzling lines and create imaginative situations that are a joy to read. For that reason, I did enjoy reading this Booker Award winning novel. I wish Rushdie didn't meander so much in some details and side adventures. Yes, he can write beautifully, sometimes it felt like he was doing so just to prove it. All in all, worth reading if you can commit to a challenging read and want to savor some excellent writing and inventive storytelling.
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