10. Read five books.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Salman Rushdie’s novels (see No. 4 over here), but it’s been a good long while since I have read anything of his.  Seeing The Enchantress of Florence listed as one of the top books of the decade was all the motivation I needed to add it to my reading list.

Somewhere along the way I heard that it takes some time to get into this book, and I can definitely vouch for that.  I’d forgotten quite how much one needs to suspend disbelief in order follow (and enjoy) Rushdie’s “magical realism” at its best, and The Enchantress of Florence is no different.

The tale moves back and forth between the Mughal Empire (which covered most of central and northern India) and Renaissance Florence, and many of the key characters are based in history (Niccolò Machiavelli and Akbar the Great, for example). In fact, Rushdie is quoted as saying that the background research for this book required “years and years of reading“.   For the most part, I enjoyed being immersed in the 16th century versions of Italy and India, but at times I felt lost in the long lists of names and battle and places.

Still, at its core, this is a love story that slowly unwinds across continents, decades and storytellers.  Without giving away too many details, let me say that it’s definitely a luxurious read, as long as you’re willing to devote the time needed.

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This post completes no. 10 of my 33 Things list!