A Book A Week

 "I’ll just say that we would not be who we are today without the calamities of our yesterdays."

The news of Salman Rushdie's brutal stabbing at a Chautauqua Institution literary event in August 2022 was both shocking and, in a sense, expected. Given the tumultuous history surrounding Rushdie's provocative 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, and the subsequent fatwa issued against him by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, it seemed almost inevitable that such an attack would occur. Rushdie had spent years living under constant police surveillance, largely withdrawing from public life until relatively recently, when the threat against him appeared to have diminished.

The vicious assault in 2022 served as a stark reminder that sentiments against Rushdie and his written words remained as violent as ever. Despite the mental and physical toll of the attack, Rushdie's response was characteristically defiant. Ironically, the event where the attack took place was a speaking engagement on the importance of safeguarding writers—a cruel twist of fate that underscored the ongoing threat against him. Rushdie confronted this violent attempt to silence him by doing what he does best: writing about it.

In Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, Rushdie offers a candid reflection on the events leading up to the attack, his arduous path to recovery, and his perspective on the future. He recounts the 27 seconds of frenzied violence that forever altered his life, leaving him with catastrophic physical injuries and deep psychological scars. Buoyed by the support of his family and loved ones, Rushdie's resilience and unwavering spirit shine through. 

Knife transcends the narrative of mere survival; it delves into the complex emotions and philosophical reflections that arose from Rushdie's brush with death. Despite his staunch atheism, Rushdie grapples with the inexplicable miracle of his survival. It questions the very nature of existence and mortality. His imagined dialogue with his would-be assassin, whom he refers to as "A," offers a poignant exploration of human nature and the motivations behind such senseless acts of violence.

Ultimately, Knife is a testament to Rushdie's resilience and intellectual depth, offering readers a profound meditation on life, death, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Through wit, humor, and candid introspection, Rushdie navigates the complexities of his experience with grace and insight, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is compelling.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 38)