Tom Lynch

After all the accolades and attention he’s received for both his work and his extraordinary life, you’d think Salman Rushdie would slip up and produce a stinker at some point. Hardly the case with "The Enchantress of Florence," Rushdie’s follow-up to 2005’s "Shalimar the Clown," an epic, complex fantasy and fairy tale that moves between centuries and covers an emperor’s court, a beautiful princess and far-traveling storyteller, Rushdie’s book…well, it really isn’t worth getting into its massive plot, as it’s not something that can be pared down to a few sentences. The pure craft of Rushdie’s writing makes "Enchantress" a marvel; its romance, historical wonder and imagination make it a must-read. Apart from that, any chance to see Rushdie speak in person shouldn’t be ignored—as insightful and thought-provoking as the author can be, he’s also one hell of a storyteller, and often very, very funny.

Salman Rushdie discusses "The Enchantress of Florence" July 10 at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State, (312)747-4300, at 6pm.

(2008-07-08)

Also by Tom Lynch

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Turn, Turn, Turn
The Dials’ excellent new record, "Amoeba Amore" (No Fun Records), not only builds on the band’s previous work, but across-the-board boasts the band’s best work, each song a fist, some of them featuring colossal crescendos of multiple vocal parts, thrilling moments that overwhelm with jarring conviction
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