Before The Golden House, I'm not sure I knew what magical realism was. Maybe I'm still not quite sure, yet after getting into the rhythm of the book, I loved the manner within which Salman Rushdie wrote this tale of our times. As the novel progresses the writing gets looser, possibly more relaxed, as the reader no longer is a stranger to the characters. They are now friends and comfortable with each other's presence, allowing the pace of the story to accelerate and deepen, ultimately changing into a screenplay type of description. This allows the reader to feel the emotion of the scene and visualize the truth and consequences of the characters actions. The tragedy that unfolds in the personal lives of the Golden house are intertwined with the tragedies of life in the world from 1993 to present day. The Joker is the stand in for President Trump and posturing of hope defeated after the Obama Administration is a carried personal theme. A key character is a homeless man referred to as a "tramp", who interjects himself into the story, reminding the readers that personal choice is only part of the formula of life and it's death. Accolades are due to the author for seamlessly rolling into this story current issues and the real truth they represent. Guns, immigration, wealth, gender identity, autism, mental health, procreation, terrorism, even fire. It's all there for the reader to chew on and consider. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite books because of the depth of the material presented. As a reader, I was challenged with all of the movie, literary and fine art references as well as the tight style of writing within which the story starts out. I admit, I had to reread several sections as skimming through is not permitted for full understanding. By the end of the story though, I am not ready to let go of what have become my characters. The closing scene is not lost on the reader and leaves one wondering, is this an ending of hope? Or is it simply a restart of all that began.