."The Satanic Verses" Faith and doubt, good and evil, love and hate, reality and dreams, sanity and insanity, it's all in there, the same elements that appeared in his much acclaimed novel Midnights Children.

It is a good point of argument that the Ayatollah Khomeni made "The Satanic Verses" a best seller by declaring a fatwa against Salman Rushdie in 1989. One of the most hyped books of all time is another claim and yet other, (mainly Guardian readers,) will tell you he is one of the finest writers of all times. Whatever the arguments this book sold in droves. How many were actually read is unclear because my own personal view is that more were actually burned than read. Imagine the irony of that, all those Muslims propelling Rushdie to millionaire status. By the way, I look at pictures of his gorgeous young wife and long to ask her the question 'what first attracted you to the millionaire Salmon Rushdie?"

So to the book."The Satanic Verses" Faith and doubt, good and evil, love and hate, reality and dreams, sanity and insanity, it's all in there, the same elements that appeared in his much acclaimed novel Midnights Children. Again, like Midnights Children I read it wishing I had a reference book by my side. A reference book to enlighten me into the myths and cultures of Indian traditions and language, Islam, Christianity, and non-western mythology. I felt I was missing something as I turned the page to each new chapter and the book failed to flow like a good John Grisham or Ian Rankin.

I like a book that makes me think but the last thing I want to do is study at the same time. Yes it opens ones mind and yes the book is a challenging read, some may say worthwhile.

Now to the controversy... shock horror... what did he really say to incite the Muslim world so much so that one Iranian businessman offered a 3 million dollar reward to his successful assassin. Well here it is. Are you sure you want to continue? I mean think of the consequences? Still here? Okay let's go.

Well, apparently through his research at Cambridge University he came across a story where the Prophet Muhammad declares certain recited passages as "satanic" in origin. They get struck from the record. In the novel, Gibreel, acting as a confused and bumbling archangel, tells Mahound to accept the idols of Jahilia as a compromise. Mahound at first accepts but later renounces the recitation. The story remains controversial as it suggests that Shaitan himself once spoke through the Prophet. Rushdies' crime (Errr..I think,) is that he 'unearthed' this.

Apparently there are other digs in the book at certain beliefs and religious practices but then again Rushdie seems to have a go at most places and religions, Britain and Christianity included. But then again I can't be specific, as I didn't finish the book. Oh by the way I didn't finish The Moors Last Sigh or Midnights Children either but then again a book is all about opinion.

And the sales statistics of the book are even more interesting. 17 Million sales worldwide. But broken down they read 11.5 million burned or purposely destroyed with a further 2 million bought but never read. Apparently the book was a must on every Guardian readers coffee table. Of the remaining books it has been suggested that 75% of readers who started the book never finished it. Statistics are amazing aren't they? But remember 99% are made up on the spot!