Luka and the Fire of Life

by Salman Rushdie

[nannah]

(4.5)

I don't know how he does it, but Salman Rushdie is able to spin words into the most spellbinding and charming prose (which is perfect for this book and its world, having been created by a master storyteller).

Luka is the younger son of famous storyteller Rashid Khalifa and younger brother of Haroun, the protagonist of the first book, Haroun and the Sea of Stories. He'd been wishing to go on a similar journey as Haroun ever since Haroun's magical visited their father's world. He's getting his wish, but it's a lot more dangerous than he'd ever thought it'd be. Luka's father has fallen into a coma-like state, and is withering away while a creature in the magical world grows stronger. If Luka can't get the Fire of Life back to his father in time, Rashid Khalifa will be no more.

I think I love this book more than the first. There's something about it: the charm, Luka's personality, the stakes, the supporting cast, or maybe that I'm left handed like Luka . . . I can't put my finger on it, but this sequel hit that warm spot in my heart.

The book has many secondary characters, but they all have character arcs. It shows so much care has been put in this little adventure. This is the kind of book that afterward, you feel so inspired, feel like you can write your own novel, and forget how much craft has goes into making a "simple-seeming" adventure like this. Everything is made with such ease that the details seem natural. He gets it all right. Luka makes mistakes, he has flaws, he grows, and he prevails.

I think what makes this such a satisfying read is that it's a good "classic" adventure without any of the new "go darker, go realer, go grittier" fad that's been dominating media lately. Don't get me wrong, the stakes are high and there are dramatic points, but it's not "survival of the fittest" or anything. There's no needless gore or death, and when you finish, it's like you ate your favorite meal. It's just perfectly satisfying.

So after all that vagueness, I just have to say: it's good. Really good.