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Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002 Audiobook
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(3.05) - 719 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Best-selling, Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie offers incisive, often humorous takes on literature, culture and world events in this New York Times Notable Book. In these stimulating pieces, Rushdie addresses a variety of subjects, including the death of the novel, India, soccer and the Rolling Stones. "Sometimes pensive, sometimes marvelously funny, always lucid essays ... by the renowned Anglo-Indian novelist."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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"I read only half of Rushdie's "Fury", because the novel felt more like an editorial with plot. "Fury" was the last novel I tried to read, switching this year to nonfiction alone. "Step Across This Line" is a collection of Rushdie's many essays, journal entries and op-ed pieces, and if you enjoy Rushdie's novels, you will likely appreciate his refreshing political perspective. Rushdie is very reasonable, very down-to-earth, very humanitarian. His analysis is vivifying; his knowledge of world affairs is impressive. He is, as ever, the angry atheist, but the section titled "The Plague Years" certainly explains his rage. Even if the Ayatollah HAD read "The Satanic Verses" (he didn't) and even if he HAD understood the dream sequences (not an easy task) and even if he DIDN'T find them fairly inoffensive (as I did), did Rushdie deserve to be hunted like a stag in the global desert? For me, Rushdie is a kind of secular saint -- his preachings are essays, his deity is peace and justice, and his miracle is survival. Rushdie is oft accused of egotism, but what qualities, coupled with a great sense of humor and appreciation for rock music, could be less pretentious?"
— Robertisenberg (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[Rushdie’s] turns and words are frequently exhilarating. There is…lilting pleasure in the collection.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“This book is full of so much that is ‘relevant’ that the very word seems inadequate.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Every reader will find at least one essay in this collection that will bring anger and one that will cause audible laughter—and that is what makes Rushdie such an intelligent critic and thought-provoking writer.”
— Rocky Mountain News -
“The essays crackle with [Rushdie’s] enthusiasm, humor, and intelligence.”
— Miami Herald -
“Sometimes pensive, sometimes marvelously funny, always lucid essays, reviews, and occasional pieces by the renowned Anglo-Indian novelist.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Awards
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A New York Times Notable Book
Step Across This Line Listener Reviews
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" My introduction to Rushdie. I heard him read from this book on Book TV (CSPAN 2), and was intrigued. I had dismissed him before this, and I was frankly blown away by his insight and wry humor. He wonderfully describes those frontiers in which we interact and struggle to live along the borders of our lives. I will read everything this man writes. He is gifted and amazing, and expect that one day the world will recognize him as he deserves: as a Nobel laureate for literature. "
— Louie, 2/10/2014 -
" It's fun to read Step Across This Line, because you get a glimpse of where Rushdie's ideas come from. If you've read The Ground Beneath Her Feet, you'll recognize entire chapters, fictionalized more or less directly from episodes in his life. "
— Phil, 1/31/2014 -
" While this collection of essays and op-ed pieces is nowhere near as entrancing as his fiction, Rushdie talks a lot of sense. I am very excited to learn he is working on his memoirs! "
— Nathan, 1/19/2014 -
" The essay about 'The Wizard of Oz' in this book makes me so happy. Overall it's a good sampling of Rushdie's nonfiction work, which gives some insight to the man behind the more fantasy driven fiction he produces. "
— Kate, 1/15/2014 -
" I've been meaning to read Rushdie for a while and thought a non-fiction anthology would be a good primer to get a feel for the author. I do thing thing whereupon reading a book that has been hyped too much to me or overexposed, I can't help having the book reviewers, magazine articles, and people's comments in my head while reading. Instead of diving straight into Rushdie's most-known works, I thought I'd take a little side trip. This book did not disappoint, though I had to look up some of the details of his personal life to which he referred in the book. "
— Maria, 1/15/2014 -
" I found this collection of essays thought provoking and well written. "
— Michelle, 1/10/2014 -
" Rushdie is undoubtedly among the greatest living prose. The issues of transgression and boundaries are called upon in his collection of essays,speeches,and columns.As a virgin to Rushdie's work,his words perforated my core and left me thirsting for more. "
— Kate, 1/1/2014 -
" Rushdie is one of the world's most brilliant minds and this is a breathtaking collection of his essays, some of the most interesting works I have ever read. "
— Fred, 12/23/2013 -
" Rushdie's writing is great be it fiction or essays... "
— Vojtech, 12/10/2013 -
" Collection of essays, long one on Wizard of Oz, some post 9/11, a surprising one Turner's frontier thesis. "
— Peter, 10/30/2013 -
" Really great stuff that ties in pop culture (rap, Disney, current authors & film directors) and applies it to the big issues (terrorism, cultural and national boundaries, fear). "
— Melanie, 10/4/2013 -
" Fabulous. Best thing I'd read then in a while. "
— Cynthia, 7/20/2013 -
" alternated between being really good and kinda 'eh'. "
— RK, 9/30/2012 -
" The greatest book to give a new graduate. "
— Serena, 3/12/2012 -
" A wonderful books of essays by the great writer, touching on a wide range of topics from fatwas (he's an expert) to the Wizard of Oz. "
— Kevin, 1/26/2012 -
" A wonderful collection of essays. Of course I have not finished everything, but this is not a kind of book to finish in one reading anyway. "
— Goldmund, 1/14/2012 -
" An enlightening, hilarious, and somewhat self-indulgent collection of essays that allows us to peer inside Salman Rushdie's brilliance. Inspired me to reach beyond 'Midnight's Children' and 'Satanic Verses'. "
— Kieh, 1/4/2012 -
" refreshing direction for a true iconoclast. though nonfiction, typical rushdieisms find their way into the structure. allegories of borders, man made and otherwise. both current and timeless. "
— Travis, 9/16/2011 -
" A brilliant mind and an excellent writer "
— Andrew, 7/20/2011 -
" I have fallen in love with Rushdie.The more i read his books the more I get addicted to him "
— Salwa, 7/9/2011 -
" Personally, I enjoyed his nonfiction much more than his fiction. I enjoyed his essay on being a soccer fan the most. :o) "
— Adrianne, 3/8/2011 -
" Collection of essays that reflect on the events of our world. "
— Tara, 11/11/2010 -
" Personally, I enjoyed his nonfiction much more than his fiction. I enjoyed his essay on being a soccer fan the most. :o) "
— Adrianne, 3/18/2010 -
" Collection of essays, long one on Wizard of Oz, some post 9/11, a surprising one Turner's frontier thesis. "
— Peter, 10/2/2009 -
" A wonderful books of essays by the great writer, touching on a wide range of topics from fatwas (he's an expert) to the Wizard of Oz. "
— Kevin, 6/18/2009 -
" interesting interpretation/explanation on Wizard of Oz, his writing style is unconventional compared to most middle eastern authors that i have read. this book are of his essays and other things. his essay "Imagine, There is no Heaven" is by far my favorite. "
— Fatima, 5/27/2009 -
" This is a collection of essays by Salman Rushdie that span many years and topics. I listened to the book on tape, and it made for a very interesting and often entertaining listen. "
— Shawn, 3/26/2009 -
" Best is the analysis of Wizard of Oz from postcolonial perspective--amazing and still so relevant in our redefining of America. He is a man's man, though, and the best a woman reader can hope for is abstracted sympathy. "
— Amiri, 2/18/2009 -
" I have fallen in love with Rushdie.The more i read his books the more I get addicted to him "
— Salwa, 9/1/2008 -
" Love the Auction of the Ruby Slippers story... that's the reason I picked up this one. "
— Laura, 8/22/2008 -
" This collection opens with an interminable, overreaching, boring essay on the Wizard of Oz and closes with a smart, insightful, wide-ranging essay on the idea frontier. The filler in between is mediocre and mostly about what it's like to be Salman Rushdie. <br/> <br/>Snap. "
— David, 8/5/2008 -
" Fabulous. Best thing I'd read then in a while. "
— Cynthia, 6/20/2008
About Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie is the author of a collection of short stories, a collection of essays, and fourteen novels, including Midnight's Children, which won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker. He has also published four works of nonfiction and coedited two anthologies. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a distinguished writer in residence at New York University. A former president of PEN American Center, he was knighted in 2007 for services to literature.
About Firdous Bamji
Firdous Bamji has appeared in numerous plays in New York and across the country and played the title role in William Shakespeare’s Othello. He has played leading parts in world and American premiere productions of plays by noted playwrights, including Tom Stoppard, Tony Kushner, Eric Bogosian, and Rebecca Gilman. He has also had guest starring parts on Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, and he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film The War Within.