You wrote:

"The other two comments here are quite cruel and hateful criticism of an author who has brought much delight to many, except of course the mullahs and Imams of Iran."

You completely misinterpreted my feelings about Mr. Rushdie, his literary work, and his lovely (former) wife. I made a silly, lighthearted comment. Actually, my own admiration of Padma was at the heart of it. Hypothetically, if I were an author and married to someone like her, she would be a great source of inspiration to me. Unlike you apparently, I do not think there is anything negative about having personal fantasies, putting oneself in the shoes of a literary character, or drawing upon personal experience when creating a work of fiction, nor do I think there is anything pejorative about making a little joke like the one I made. Mr. Rushdie has a wonderful imagination and a beautiful way with words.

Unlike other commentators, I have no axe to grind. It's a shame that there has been so much controversy (unnecessary, in my opinion) surrounding Mr. Rushdie's work and his life. I honestly don't know where you're coming from, and I do not presume to know your thoughts and intentions. As for me, I read this article and commented on it because I enjoy Mr. Rushdie's work, not because I want to criticize it or to make any comments about his readers or his enemies.

Your reference is flawed in that Prince Charming, as he is called in the English version was known as Prince Eldumud in the German version, which is closer to the original by the brothers Grimm, and he had already met Snow White before her demise at her father's palace and gave her a gift of a beautiful necklace. He also vowed to be her champion in times of trouble and when told of her persecution by the evil queen, her stepmother, he hastened to search for her in the forest whereupon he found her in a glass coffin still beautifully preserved and awaiting her champion. I imagine your reference is from the Disney version and illustartes the way Americans misappropriate other culture's stories and trivialise them by deleting important aspects. This is a big problem with American "culture" in that it has misappropriated many other cultures goods and converted them into a sanitised, often meaningless pulp. Other than that I am sure Rushdie's story would have been better reviewed in the light of the cultural baggage he carries around in his own head and the obvious need he expresses to have it viewed by his audience.Needless to say I enjoy most of his books and look forward to reading this one. He is a master at linguisitc gymnastics. The other two comments here are quite cruel and hateful criticism of an author who has brought much delight to many, except of course the mullahs and Imams of Iran. Which makes me wonder. If he is banned in that country how does anyone get to know of his writings? And what businessis it of anyones how he chooses to spend his personal life. How many other cultures permit and encourage the marrying of many wives? The difference being that they allow it to happen simoultaneously rather than one at a time.

After 5-Divorces, being rejected 5-times, this worthless pulp fiction diatribe inker still activates his brain from inside his pyjamas' trousers.

The court orders for all the imposed maintenances somehow must be met!!

Sounds like a fantasy involving himself and Padma Lakshmi.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.