18 - Wednesday, March 1, 1989 - North Shore News books Rushdie takes reader on a fantastic voyage OE SATANIC VERSES THE WRITER peers timidly around the sturdy door. Cinger- ly, he enters the room, testing the carpeted floor for tell-tale lumps and trip-wires. Having safely negotiated the 12 or so feet to the pine desk he peeks suspiciously beneath the swivel-seat of his chair. So far, so good. Now the true test of courage ar- rives: is the word-processor booby-tra; or not? His scal prickles aS Peeicticntehy slides Fis trembling fingers around the keyboard. Nothing. But under the lid? With his right sleeve he wipes the sweat from his forehead, his eyes. Notices his left eyelid has developed a fluttering tic. He hesi- tates, licking dry lips. Runs clam- my palms over jean-clad thighs. Fights to breathe normally. Ever so slowly, he lightly grasps the cover — pauses — then raises it, instinc- tively averting his face, narrowing eyes protectively. Then, relieved exhalation. Zip, nada, rien. Allah is indeed merciful, Allah be praised. Ayatollah — zero; book reviewer -.- one. Surviving the week following my last column announcing this article on The Satanic Verses has, as you might well imagine, been the sort of thing in which | have (not unreasonably, ¢ think) taken a great personal interest. After all, with author Salman Rushdie transformed into the six-million-doltar man of the ‘80s there is always the possibility that some paradise-enrapitured whacko just might decide to earn a few minor bonus points by knocking off a reviewer foolhardy enough to broadcast his intentiens. “Anyway, | did survive to press fingers to keys although the false nose itches like crazy and it’s mighty hard to see what I’m doing with these damned sunglasses on. Next time Ill settle for a simple balaclava like normal people. Now back to the point of these manoeuvres: The Satanic Verses (Viking; 547 pp.; $24.95 in hard- caver). Works on display at seniors centre A VISUAL feast will be offered to focal residents at an upcoming show of the West Vancouver Sketch Club. -On March 4 and 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., approximately 200 works will be on display at the Seniors Activity Centre. Publicist Jennifer Stone says most of the sketch club exhibitions are juried, but this one will be dif- ferent. As a non-juried show, “it’s going to have a lot more fes- tivity,” she says. ‘We're calling it a show for alll.’’ All of the paintings, which en- compass a variety of subjects, will be for sale. Stone says the sketch club cur- rently boasts about 200 members of “all shapes and sizes,’’ who come from North and West Van- couver in about equal measure. “We're starting to get quite a few younger members now,” she ad- ded. For more information about the sketch club or show, call Stone at 980-0358. The Seniors Activity Centre is located at 695 21st St. | must confess that I've had a copy of this book on my shelves for months. Initially | had not the time to read it; later, as the con- troversy began to push the mercu- ry upward and Viking executives nervously circled the wagons, | became convinced (irrationally) that the book had to be a Kennel Club contender, its trumpeted lit- MIKE . STEELE book reviewer erary value more probably the product of hype and headlines than artistic merit. Well, | was totally wrong. The Satanic Verses is a marvel- ous adult fable, an unqualified delight. Rushdie has woven an in- credibly rich tapestry of religion, bigotry, assimilation, human agony and triumph, political commen- tary, passion, betrayal and so much more that the pages seem incapable of containing it all. Throughout is humor: rich, self-deprecating — and more often than not as dark in hue as the ma- jority of principal characters. Im- ages, allusions, allegory and myth are threaded skilfully throughout the fabric of The Satanic Verses, compelling and entraacing the reader. By now most literate adults are aware of the novel’s basics: that two men, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, have apparently survived a 29,002-foot freefall cver — the English Channel after a hijack- ed passenger plane is blown out of the night sky. Their salvation is not, however, unconditional. Both men have been transformed, one taking on the appearance of an angel, the other a devil. The question is, which is good and which is evil? Or, in this book of seeming absolutes, are the two truly separable polarities at all? Telling more of the story would hardly be fair to either author or reader. There is a beautifully designed development at play in The Satanic Verses, a route which must be travelled by the reader as Rushdie intended. But what a voyage it is that lies in front of you. Rushdie’s world (which is, in large part, nothing less than our world) is peopled by a cast of characters whose descriptions are wondrously real and identifiable. Their dreams, their hates, loves, disappointments, rivalries and all of the other frustrating and endearing occupations of humankind swell and subside with the breath of life. The only warning note is this: the first few pages describing Gibreel and Saladin’s fall (from grace or into it?) may strike the reader as too chaotic or nonsen- sical to warrant further interest but stick with it; as The Satanic Verses unfolds, it will reveal itself to be a magic carpet ride of fable, fantasy and luscious irony. ses Last week | invited BOOKS NOW readers to send me their views on book censorship. Here’s an added incentive. The best reply to the invitation will be printed in this column and the ‘winner’ given my review copy of The Satanic Verses. l look forward to hearing from you. We at CHAMPAGNE TASTE would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends for their loyal support during our recent battle. There are too many names to mention personally but you know who you are. Many Thanks Marilyn, Pam, Joan, Liz, Pat, Anne & Linda NORTH VANCOUVER young ar- tists are invited to sub.nit work for adjudication and possibie inclu- sion in B.C.’s best known travel- ling exhibition of young people's art. Emily Carr College of Art and Design (ECCAD), seeks local work to tour the province September 1989 through 1996 in the sixth biennial British Columbia Young Artists Exhibition (BCYA 89). The exhibition will showcase up to &0 works including paintings, _ limited to one per pele @ ge’ co Vancouve’’s Choice Yi? iy NAKORN THAI” cae LICENSED 1157 DAVIE S™.. TAKE OUT AVAILABLE WEST VAN’S NEWEST BOOK STORE Featuring all the best sellers and books for ail occasions. IM “Specializing in Mystery” 926-7323 restauran ‘ Finest Thai Cuisine NOW FEATURING VANCOUVER’S FIRST AND CNLY AUTHENTIC THAI BUFFET : (Buffet Lunch avery Thursday thru Sunday) plus Lunch Specia! & Combinations *4.°5 s, up Dinners — choose from over 70 Dishes OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Ming cout tort —-« GB 3-G6SA It’s time to go to The Metro! THIS WEEK — BAD BOYS —: . Feb. 27 - Mar. 4 Bowntown Vancouver 1136 W. Georgia 687-5566/684-2944 Young artists invited to submit work drawings, prints, phutographs and two-dimensional collages created by persons aged 18 and under. Submission of art reflecting ail ages and stages of growth and visual expression is encouraged. Official BCYA 89 entry forms are available from district school su- perintendents, public azt gaile-ies and ECCAD, 1399 pra A St., Vancouver, V6H 3R4 seat Entries will be ac: ‘ CAD March 1 te 15, Gis "hone 11:30 - 14:20 FREE PARKING AT REZ NC