Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this. It took me far too long to read, but I think that it was such a dense read that I couldn't simply skim through any of it. Tiny side conversations or the occasional political diatribe were central to the narrator's experience if not to the story itself. Rushdie throws so many elements together here- there's politics, gangs, art as art, identity, autism, the quest for knowledge, film as art... in a way the Golden House is a massive structure built of so many disparate things that it's hard to see how the blueprint fits together. Even the narrative arc is constantly blown apart or expanded by interaction between the ostensibly separate pieces of the story. Is this all a fiction of the narrator's mind? What pieces are real and beyond him? Where is the separation between the art and the fantasy, the film-maker and the film (which in the course of the novel goes from a mockumentary to a full-blown fiction). I'm not sure what I'm left thinking, but I was blown away by the casual elegance of the language, and the cohesion that kept most of the parts together. Not my favorite book by the author, but it is so very of this moment that I found it a delight to read.

I never finished this book because I had a really hard time getting into the story. I know he is a well respected author, but I had trouble getting into it. I may try again down the road. If I do, I will do a proper review.

The Golden House is the first book I've read from Salman Rushdie. He is a brilliant man and I am glad that I've come across this book, as it is a brilliant masterpiece. It doesn't have twists and turns, it doesn't have an engaging storyline, but it does have the best quotes. Every line in this book holds a deep meaning and every character makes you think.
When a powerful man moves from his home country and suddenly arrives with his three sons, it is absolutely natural for neighbors to get interested in the backstory. We are introduced to the story through the eyes of a struggling artist named Rene. For a man who is struggling to come up with an interesting story for his movie, the Golden family looks like the best subject. So he starts to familiarize himself with the family but slowly somehow the family becomes more than just a subject to him.
The social commentary is one thing to look for in this book. It is hilarious at places and can push you into deep thoughts in some places. Its a collection of thoughts and ideas. The rise and fall of a powerful man and the emotional pressure he carried around all throughout his life. Each one of the sons are totally different in their own way that lets you realize how hard life can be.
You can never know how much of it is actually true or how much of it is imagined by Rene. So you will be left wondering. The characters are very well developed and the author did a good job in giving them equal importance. We will not only be reading about Rene's thoughts but also about all other's mindset.
The references and quotes in the book are truly intelligent.
Its a literary achievement in contemporary genre.
It doesn't encourage you to turn the page, but you will definitely feel rewarded in the end.

The writer is masterful in his use of words but I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't care for some of the themes of the book. I give it 3 stars for the quality of the writing but otherwise it was 'just ok' for me. I have some liberal friends, however, who will probably love it.

As always, Mr. Rushdie provides another great read. With most of his stories, you just sort of sink into the story ... this one is no different. Not the fastest-paced story, but if that's what you're looking for you aren't reading Rushdie to begin with. A lot of links and symbolism to our current state of affairs in America.

Epic, discursive novel of the tragedies within a rich family in NYC. I enjoyed the commentary on the 2016 election and found the tale Shakespearean.

When the extremely wealthy and mysterious Nero Golden and his three sons move to New York with new and telling names that they themselves have chosen from a country and a city that would not be named throughout most of the novel, The Golden House, it sets off a great deal of curiosity, rumour, and innuendo among their neighbours. Among the curious is Rene, son of two academics, a budding filmmaker and narrator of the story. After entering the inner circle of the Golden household, he is is determined to discover all their secrets so that he can make a documentary or, perhaps even better, a mockumentary about them.

The Golden House by Salman Rushdie is chockfull of wordplay and references to mythology, literature, film and pop culture, most enjoyably (at least if you are politically liberal) the story of a man born with green hair, a villain who calls himself the joker, who will rise to become president. There were times when I found all of these allusions a bit tiring, even smug – I started counting the number of foreign films he could manage to mention on a single page. Overall, though, I quite enjoyed this book. It is a witty, intelligent, and insightful character study about the absurdity of the times we live in, a world where a man born into immense wealth can reinvent himself from real estate developer with multiple bankruptcies, to reality star, to populist president of the United States of America.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Brilliant piece of work that uses a very American narrative, talks about gender fluidity, power dynamics and is set in a world we are all too familiar with. The narrative is terrific and I especially enjoyed the very Gatsbian narrative, and the question of unreliability.

I have been a fan of his books for a long time and he doesn't disappoint.. You will be enthralled with the magically lyrical voice of his storyline. I loved his return to realism and so will you. I honestly believe that he is one of the best authors of our time. You will not be disappointed in picking up this book. Happy reading!

This was the second book I read from Salman Rushdie, being the first the acclaimed Midnight's ChildrenMidnight's Children. I was already expecting a great prose, full of references and very poetic and I was not disappointed.

The story in itself is very straightforward and is in essence the background for the author to make a reflection on American identity and culture during the full course of the Obama presidency until this last election that brought "The Joker" to power.

The story focus on a family of 4 men, a father and his 3 sons, that came from India to escape their mysterious past, and is told from the point of view of an external narrator, René, a neighbor that works as a filmmaker and uses this family's past as the plot for his masterpiece. He cannot, however, maintain his neutrality and finds himself deeply involved with the family and the plot.

I really liked this book, its nuances, the fact that the events were so current and so relatable, and at the same time viewed from an external view point. It was filled with literary references, as well as allusions to films and I believe that I missed more than a few, but that was part of the book's charm and interest.

I would like to thank the publisher for the ARC of this book that enabled me to do this review.

I strongly recommend it to everyone that likes good writing enveloped in current events and an engaging back story.

My first Rushdie! And my expectations were not only met, but exceeded. It's authors who can make truly literary works so compulsively readable that will carry the future of this industry on their shoulders.

It's satirical, and sharply so - not that it's afraid of allowing it's allusions to plainly draw a line back to their inspiration. We don't need to puzzle it out, because the message is important enough that it needs to be clear!

I also really appreciated the portrayal of an Aspergers individual. Rarely are they so well rounded in modern media, and I found it very true to the person in my life who shares that diagnosis.

I was unable to finish this book as I found myself struggling to pick it up. I still hope to return to this novel at another time,but until I properly read this book, I will not offer an opinion.

After finishing this book, I'm a bit torn as to whether I loved or hated it. I really wanted to love it because I've read books by Rushie before and find his style of writing really strong along with all of the positive review from others but I don't think I liked it too much as I hoped. There were some aspects of the storytelling that I found a bit too much, but I must say I did enjoy the storyline and the plot itself was extremely strong and interesting. However, I couldn't find myself connecting too well with the characters themselves.

Salman Rushdie is an amazing storyteller! The Golden House is no exception. His use of language is outstanding, and his writing is witty and timely. The Golden House portrays the popular measure of elite success- power and money. Like many tycoons, where the money comes from isn't an issue. Its presence imparts power and prestige. The Golden family is the perfect example of a wealthy family that is adored and lauded in spite of the fact that they have appeared out of nowhere and their past is a total mystery. One young neighbor finds himself drawn into their mystique and makes it his life work to uncover and make a film of their history. As a moth to a flame, his attraction to the Goldens makes it impossible to not become immured in their fated story.
This is a must-read for any fan of Rushdie! His style is unique and magnetic. It took me a little while to be captivated by this intriguing tale, but once I was hooked, I was all in.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I loved this book and actually picked up the hardcover when it came out. Some parts felt downright prophetic. I'm not a longtime Rushdie reader but it made me want to check out his previous works.

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

Salman Rushdie is one of my favorite authors. The Golden House captures the zeitgeist of 2016, up through and including the election and evil clowns.

In an established neighborhood in New York City, a new family moves into a fabulous mansion. They are the Goldens who are immigrants from abroad, maybe India, maybe the Middle East, the residents are not quite sure. The father, Nero, is an obviously successful and powerful man even if his story is shrouded in mystery. He has moved here with his three sons. Petya is a brilliant man who is crippled by his insecurities and is rarely seen outside the house. Apu is an artist and quickly makes his mark in artistic circles, knowing and loving everyone and anyone. D is the youngest son, a half-brother to Petya and Apu. He is racked by doubts about his identity and what course his life should take.

Rene is a resident of the neighborhood. He is a young would-be filmmaker who has grown up there. He is fascinated by the Golden family and decides to make a movie about them. When his own parents are killed in an accident, he is invited into the Golden house and soon learns many of their secrets. When Nero meets and marries an enigmatic Russian immigrant, Vasilia, Rene is right there and sees the same things about her that worry the sons.

As the years go by, more secrets and tragedies unfold, not only for the family but in the country. Those who live in this Greenwich Village neighborhood are typically liberal and they bemoan the direction the country is taking after the administration of President Obama. Some are blase about the election; others see the conservative candidate as a madman who has evil intentions. The Golden family also starts to unwind as ill events happen to them and their innate inclinations lead them on to tragedy.

Salman Rushdie is one of today's most prominent novelists and any new novel by him is a joy. This parable documents the path America is taking as seen through the eyes of the New York intelligentsia. There are references to Greek mythology and topics such as sexual identity, the autistic spectrum, the film industry, the tragedy of wealth and the ability to reinvent oneself are explored. Some have called this novel a modern Bonfire Of The Vanities and it was an Amazon Best Book of September 2017. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Honestly, I didn't finish this book. It just couldn't hold my attention, but other reviewers have loved it.

I’ve always wanted to read a Rushdie novel, and I'm not sure that his writing style is for me. I know that he is a highly acclaimed writer and he is very educated. I’m sure the lacking is all mine. I think he just overindulges a little too much in his narrative. Some of the time I found myself wondering what I was reading and then I’d read a few lines that just kinda knocked my socks off. Ever been to a party and there is this one person who is super super smart and they suddenly just start ranting? Many times it felt a little like this to me.