MFA Program Coordinator Julie Azzam Reviews Salman Rushie’s New Book in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Posted on October 15, 2017

In the Sunday, October 15 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Julie Azzam reviewed Salman Rushdie’s 13th novel, “The Golden House.”

She writes: “‘The Golden House’ is, not surprisingly, a tragedy. A snake can’t shed his skin and become something else. Identity is not mutable, a capricious thing you can just change as you like. The novel’s solution: Just love people for who they are.

“This sentiment, however warm and fuzzy, feels naïve. Despite its moments of insight and Trumpian allusions, “The Golden House” never coheres enough to make a statement beyond this: The Left, with its reactionary identity politics and simplistic solutions to complex problems, is screwed.”

Full review