The Moor's Last SighThe Moor's Last Sigh
Score Modern
What it's about
Moraes Zogoiby, called the Moor, ages twice as fast as other people, and he's telling his family's history before he dies. He's descended from a family of spice merchants in Cochin and a Jewish father who became a Bombay crime lord, and his mother was a celebrated painter. The story sweeps through 20th-century India, from independence to the rise of Hindu nationalism, and ends in Spain.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker finalist. It's Rushdie at his most exuberant and political.
You'll love it if you liked
Midnight's Children
The Satanic Verses
The God of Small ThingsGood to know
It's dense, allusive and full of wordplay. It satirizes real Indian politicians.
By the numbers
- Readers32 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #359 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1304 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2382 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Salman Rushdie
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Quick answers
Is The Moor's Last Sigh worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker finalist. It ranks #2,382 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Moor's Last Sigh about?
Moraes Zogoiby, called the Moor, ages twice as fast as other people, and he's telling his family's history before he dies. He's descended from a family of spice merchants in Cochin and a Jewish father who became a Bombay crime lord, and his mother was a celebrated painter. The story sweeps through 20th-century India, from independence to the rise of Hindu nationalism, and ends in Spain.
How long does it take to read The Moor's Last Sigh?
About 11 hours (450 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Moor's Last Sigh?
If you liked it, try Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie or The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.