If, like me, you are completely ignorant of the history of Islam (including the Old Testament stories of Abraham, Hagar, Ishmael, etc.) you may want to find a primer online. I used a bit of help I found online when I got too lost. You may find yourself, like me, compelled to give it another listen, and dive deeper into the historical and cultural themes that I found quite slippery the first time through. If you find it challenging, I encourage you to enjoy it for whatever you can take out of it the first time. If you can be content with enjoying the work for its simpler pleasures the first time through, you may find yourself enjoying it a second time, too. It's the only audiobook I've listened to more than once, and I always find new things to appreciate with each listen. Although it is very challenging, the book can be enjoyed on many different levels. The language and ideas are quite playful while being earnest at the same time. Motifs weave their way in and out of the narrative effortlessly, and plays on words sometimes raise eyebrows, sometimes induce a guilty snicker. Not for the feint of heart, but immensely rewarding, it's everything I love in a novel. If you were once put off by this very important book, by all means download the audiobook and prepare yourself for a good time

However, as Satanic Verses progresses and characters transmogrify into angels and goats, and a goddess with her butterlies guide a devoted village to a very wet redemption, you'll also see how this novel offended every fundamentalist Muslim on the planet and remains banned in every Muslim country except the secular Turkey. Yes, you may need to check the plot outline on wiki, or even consider a study guide (not needed but probably would add a lot). Actor Sam Dastor is probably the world's expert on Indian accents and from the first minutes of the audiobook (definitely listen to the sample!) you know you'll be in for a treat. To try to read these without an accent takes away much of the joy of this book. Each of the very memorable characters has a unique accent, coming as they do from different parts of India, the U.K., and even (for one brief moment) the U.S. Unfortunately, quite a few people abandon Satanic Verses in book form as being 'incomprehensible' and strangely 'flat.' The problem is that although 'Verses' is a difficult book, rightly compared with the complexity of Joyce's 'Ulysses,' it's not 'impossible' by any means. Use an audiobook to really enjoy Satanic Verses