Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant, lyrical, creative
Review: An incredibly original and creative novel.Many readers have been drawn to this novel by the provocative controversy which surrounds it. If you're reading Satanic Verses looking for a shocking denouncement you will likely be disappointed. Unless you're a scholar of the Islamic faith you likely won't understand what all the fuss is about. I read this novel over ten years ago and have re-read it in bits and pieces many times since. Aside from the imaginative interwoven plot the most compelling feature of Verses is Rushdie's amazing lyrical writing style. Love him or hate him Rushdie is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant authors writing in the English language, and practically every section of prose could be enjoyed on it's own independent of the story. There is more word-play and double meanings is Verses than you could find in a dozen readings; every time you read a chapter you'll find something new. Aside from a general interest in the various religions of the world I profess no great knowledge of the Koran, therefore undoubtedly there is symbolism in Verses that I missed/didn't understand. Some elements of this book that won't be accessible for the lay reader. But based purely on its creativity and masterful prose this book is a worthwhile, entertaining, and challenging read. (A background note: Satanic Verses was the first Rushdie novel I read, and I promptly fell in love with his work. I subsequently read The Moor's Last Sigh and East West, and promptly feel right back out of love. Satanic Verses was the novel that Rushdie was born to write; in his lyrical prose, humor, and surrealistic mix of realism with the fantastic he creates an amazing work of art. Nothing he has written comes close. Unless you're a die-hard Rushdie fan, a scholar of Indian society and the interrelation between East and West simply read this novel and skip the rest.)
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, but knowledge of Islam and India is crucial
Review: Being a Moslem, and having recently returned from an extended stay in India, I read The Satanic Verses with keen interest and found that both of these experiences contributed immensely to my enjoyment of this complex work. It was a clever showcase of Rushdie's typically brilliant prose, and a thoroughly compelling read. But be warned: many of the jokes and references probably would escape the average Western reader (by average, I mean one not familiar with Islam or Indian culture). That being said, I noticed that many reviewers here say they do not find the book offensive to Moslems, while simultaneously admitting their own lack of knowledge regarding Islam. As a fairly well-versed Moslem, I can impartially state that Rushdie repeatedly criticizes, and even ridicules, the Islamic faith, in ways both subtle and overt, throughout this entire book. Did Rushie's criticism bother me? Not at all. Did it justify a Fatwa by the Ayatollah? Of course not. But can the book be reasonably interpreted as being offensive to some Moslems? Those who know the Islamic faith would be hard-pressed to argue otherwise. Nevertheless, realizing that this is just a work of fiction by a gifted novelist, I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it to all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: A challenge worth taking
Review: I doubt that I ever would have chosen this work outside of my college literature class, but I am much more enlightened for having read it. Salman Rushdie has weaved a novel that is a complicated web of good vs. evil, identity politics, and complex characters.
Not to scare off the borderline reader, but to read this book is a commitment. The use of hindi language and other alien references is a bit intimidating, but why read something if you aren't going to learn anything new? It is thought provoking at every turn and requires the reader to pay attention to the multiple plots and to keep the characters who share the same name differentiated. This book is an absolute must for anyone who is curious about Islam, Muslim life, even the effects of colonialism. Be aware, this isn't a work you can stick on the nightstand and forget about for weeks.
Even if the book isn't your cup of tea, you have to at least give credit to Rushdie for having the conviction to write such a tale. Kudos to him for taking his beliefs, doubts, and issues with a religion, a society, and cultivating them into a piece of art to be enjoyed for all time.
Rating: 
Summary: Sympathy for Rushdie
Review: I feel sorry for Salman Rushdie who will be remembered for this heap of junk. His word usage is unique but a more boring tirade I have never read. It is a shame the author has been so long tortured by a gang of religious fanatics who took this thing seriously. It took me years to get around to it after hearing all the fuss and I still do not know the source of the commotion. My sense of art has never been mainstream, but,Allah,please return the hours I have just wasted on this tripe. I can not even pretend to be on the band wagon.
Rating:
Summary: ????
Review: I have no clue what I have just read in "The Satanic Verses." Admittedly, I am probably not a member of whatever the target market was, having a very limited knowledge of Islam, Hinduism, or India. On the other hand, I am relatively well-educated, well-read, and well-traveled. Rarely do I encounter a work of fiction that I cannot at least follow along with to a certain extent.
Here I've met my match. I feel like there should be an Annotated Version of "The Satanic Verses" or that I should have had some kind of study group to get me through it--not that I would have gone to the trouble.
Although it is evident by Rushdie's writing style that he is incredibly talented, I finished the book merely for the sake of finishing it. Was it a fable? A series of short stories with recurring characters throughout? Was it merely an anachronistic observation of the contemporarly struggles of modernization among Muslims and throughout India? An expose of the plight of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangledishi immigrating to London? Why all the controversy? You won't get these answers from within this book, unless you have a working knowledge of its subject matter--which still remains a mystery to me.
"The Satanic Verses" is probably not intended for the casual reader, regardless of his background or education.
Rating: 
Summary: Controverial, definitely. Brilliant, hardly.
Review: I read this book, remembering the acclaim surrounding it, expecting great things. I'll be the first to admit that the book definitely had its moments. As a part-time philosopher I found the author's ideas on death and dying particularly interesting, but the book itself was far from brilliant. The author uses the book as a format to vent his frustration with London, India, Islam, Hinduism, Mohammed, conventional wisdom . . . in all, every gripe that he has (an believe me, he has plenty) comes out in this book. If we have any doubt that he is on his soapbox, he dispels this by using himself as a character in the novel (can't say he doesn't have guts, at least). In my opinion, all of this is perfectly fine. In one way or another, every author does that. My gripe with the book is that, in all, it's an incoherent collection of stories whose sole purpose are to allow the author to vent.
Overall, I think it's an okay read. If you are like me, however, you won't be moved. You won't be astounded by the author's brilliance. You'll appreciate the candor and the controversy. But, at the end of the book, you'll simply find a place for it on the shelf and move on.
Rating:
Summary: Bewildering
Review: In my opinion, this was a supremely difficult novel to read. Although I appreciate the novel's central themes--loss of religion, loss of natioanl identity--I have little patience for the convoluted metaphors and imagery. It just took the pleasure out of reading and reminded me of the headache I got trying to read 'Foucault's Pendulum' (Umberto Eco). The first part of the novel was the most interesting, introducing the characters, but their visions after the fall to earth are just too bizarre and bewildering, lacking a story line or point of focus. Maybe I'm just a stupid American, but I think reading should be enjoyable, and this novel simply wasn't.
Rating:
Summary: More Than Just A Story
Review: In the Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie, goes far beyond the bounds of mere storytelling, and brings poetry back to the art form of writing.
While it is hard to describe the style in which Rushdie tells this seemingly all-emcompasing story, a read of the first few pages will hook any serious literary student.
Not many people have mastered the english language (James Joyce and Leonard Cohen to name two) well enough to truly write a poetic novel.
Being my first rushdie book I will immeadiately begin to read another. As a writer I cannot express how inspiring this book was.
Rating:
Summary: Ellowen Deeowen....
Review: My favorite two words from this book are ellowen deeowen, which actually took me a bit to decipher to mean L-O-N-D-O-N....due to Rushdie's wonderful economy with wordplay.
The Satanic Verses is another of those 'someday' books that I have finally read...and thoroughly enjoyed. While it's true that an understanding of Islam would have made this book a far more satirical gem, the humor is not completely lost on one who does not have that foundation.
Two men, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha; both survive the explosion and crash of the airline flight 'Bostan'...and each goes through significant changes, both inside and out.
What follows, along with threads of Indian history and lore, are two divergent tales of men affected by the same tragedy. One takes on an angelic persona and appearance, the other is marked with a 'beastly' facade, and treated as such. But appearances can be deceiving...and all that they, and we, know about the nature of good and evil, are put to the test.
While reading this, I couldn't help making a comparison to the uproar when Rushdie released this novel and the current climate in America. Rushdie was branded blasphemous by the Ayatolla Khomeni and a fatwah (an order of death) was placed upon his head for simply 're-inventing' religion and inserting a satire thereof into his fictional tale.
The comparison that stuck with me while reading this was to those who have spoken out against G.W. Bush about the Iraqi war being branded 'unpatriotic' for such vocal objection, and specifically those in the entertainment industry have had an image 'fatwah' placed upon them (the Dixie Chicks, Whoopi Goldberg) for simply speaking their minds, as did Rushdie when he wrote this tale. In this case, Rushdie's life was threatened by one seeking to censor his speach...while in the other case, the people's livelihoods were threatened with the same intent.
Regardless of your religious beliefs, or strength of conviction in them, this is a wonderful tapestry woven by a master storyteller. While I would not recommend it as a starting point for enjoying Rushdie, it is a story to be savored and enjoyed after a few initial 'tastes' of his capable imagination.
Rating:
Summary: The true face of my religion
Review: Satanic verses gives us an overview on the real face of islam .. no political lies .. and no fear of what a terrorist can do , Salman Rushdie must be an our golden sample that demonstartes the power of both a great writer and a great saver.
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