Near the end of this book, Rushdie explains why he decided to write it: “To write would be my way of owning what had happened, taking charge of it, making it mine, refusing to be a mere victim. I would answer violence with art.” 

I love that so much. Answer violence with art. 

This book is chock full of great quotes about the meaning of art in this tragic world. For instance, “I believe that art is a waking dream. And that imagination can bridge the gulf between dreams and reality and allow us to understand the real in new ways by seeing it through the lens of the unreal.” 

And also...“Without art, our ability to think, to see freshly, and to renew our world would wither and die. Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity, and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist. It accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence.” 

ART IS NOT A LUXURY. 

This is a book everyone will read for different reasons. It was recommended to me for the reason I loved it: What Rushdie says about art. This actually my first time reading Rushdie, and now I'm itching to go back and actually read some of his novels -- including the big important ones.