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gayathiri_rajendran's review
4.0
I picked this book up mainly due to the attractive cover and it has not disappointed me. This book is about the founding of modern day Singapore which was known as Singapura in ancient times. The author's command over the language is wonderful and I really loved the way the story was narrated through the eyes of the main protagonist,Sang Nila Utama. This book is fascinating and we get to delve into the ancient world of maritime kingdoms,trade routes and politics. The characters of the book are deep but mostly male dominated. The descriptions are vivid along with wonderful story telling and prose. Overall,an enthralling and enjoyable read.
shom's review
4.0
History, add some legends and folk tales, and some unexplored tales from Indian stories. Pour some fiction of Krishna Udayasankar into it. And you would find this novella type novel to be mesmerizing.
Placing itself in the timelines of the early thirteenth century, during Chinese Song Dynasty's rule, this is the legend of the prt city Singapore, with a host of exhilarating characters thronging from the author's pen.
Divided into 3 units and further classified into 26 chapters, the tale gives us the story of a innocent and timid prince/son and his tale of becoming a legend called : Sang Nila Utama.
The number THREE plays a huge role throughout the tale, in almost every ways. Be its structure, or the geographical area it locates itself into, or the stages of life we see of its protagonist, or the tale itself.
Starting from a palace boy, cradled with love from his mother, dotted by his sister, indifferent from his brother, and having a unique attachment to his father, the main character almost looks like a lost but capable character. In the first unit itself, we see his emergence and change in characters. all due to the hands of his fate and his grandfather.
The second unit lets us a peek into his ambitions as well as his limitations and pitfalls he is bound to compromise with. The final one shows us more the historic man, the south east asia know of. How he changed, and what he changed in that part of the world in a lifetime.
Other characters are sketched well, though they get a limited timespace within the pages. I felt the absence of strong female characters in this one, as compared to the earlier works of the author like Aryavarta Chronicles, except for Vani.
The prose is classic Udayasankar as usual. Lyrical and illustrious with a click of poetry in it.
Next on to, Immortals :)
This book is a good one. Recommended Read!
Placing itself in the timelines of the early thirteenth century, during Chinese Song Dynasty's rule, this is the legend of the prt city Singapore, with a host of exhilarating characters thronging from the author's pen.
Divided into 3 units and further classified into 26 chapters, the tale gives us the story of a innocent and timid prince/son and his tale of becoming a legend called : Sang Nila Utama.
The number THREE plays a huge role throughout the tale, in almost every ways. Be its structure, or the geographical area it locates itself into, or the stages of life we see of its protagonist, or the tale itself.
Starting from a palace boy, cradled with love from his mother, dotted by his sister, indifferent from his brother, and having a unique attachment to his father, the main character almost looks like a lost but capable character. In the first unit itself, we see his emergence and change in characters. all due to the hands of his fate and his grandfather.
The second unit lets us a peek into his ambitions as well as his limitations and pitfalls he is bound to compromise with. The final one shows us more the historic man, the south east asia know of. How he changed, and what he changed in that part of the world in a lifetime.
Other characters are sketched well, though they get a limited timespace within the pages. I felt the absence of strong female characters in this one, as compared to the earlier works of the author like Aryavarta Chronicles, except for Vani.
The prose is classic Udayasankar as usual. Lyrical and illustrious with a click of poetry in it.
Next on to, Immortals :)
This book is a good one. Recommended Read!
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