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amzy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
warreng's review against another edition
4.0
A truly epic masterpiece, ranking in terms of literature with western classics such as The Lord of the Rings, yet with a very strong moral centre and a host of admirable and godlike individuals. Even the villain Ravana is described in noble and praiseworthy ways, and the reader has to be reminded how evil he is, when it is easy to sympathise with his Fate to love Sita, leading him and many of his subjects to their doom.
Ramesh Menon's retelling was extremely approachable despite hundreds of unfamiliar Indian words (a glossary is provided in the back of the book, but the reader soon becomes in tune with the words and accepts their approximate meaning so as not to disrupt the story too much). Menon uses a great many small chapters within the original seven book structure, and it took me a long time to read the almost 700 pages.
I particularly enjoyed Ravana's gigantic brother Kumbhakarna who must sleep all but two days per year as his massive appetite would devour the world, and must be woken carefully with great piles of food and drink, and willing women, to satisfy all his hungers at once, was a wonderful villain, and his ravenous attack on the monkey army was chilling to read. The marvellous and wise vanara Hanuman, who flew to the Himalayas not once but twice to carry a mountain of medicinal herbs to the battle at Ravana's citadel in Lanka (Sri Lanka), and his other magical tricks, was also a favourite.
It was also interesting to speculate on the flying machine, the Pushpaka vimana, which Menon describes as a flying disc, bigger on the inside (able to carry the thousands of monkey-like vanaras at one time back to Rama's coronation), and transparent from the inside.
This was book #14 in my journey to read all the classics of world literature. You can join me at my blog : chronolit.com
Ramesh Menon's retelling was extremely approachable despite hundreds of unfamiliar Indian words (a glossary is provided in the back of the book, but the reader soon becomes in tune with the words and accepts their approximate meaning so as not to disrupt the story too much). Menon uses a great many small chapters within the original seven book structure, and it took me a long time to read the almost 700 pages.
I particularly enjoyed Ravana's gigantic brother Kumbhakarna who must sleep all but two days per year as his massive appetite would devour the world, and must be woken carefully with great piles of food and drink, and willing women, to satisfy all his hungers at once, was a wonderful villain, and his ravenous attack on the monkey army was chilling to read. The marvellous and wise vanara Hanuman, who flew to the Himalayas not once but twice to carry a mountain of medicinal herbs to the battle at Ravana's citadel in Lanka (Sri Lanka), and his other magical tricks, was also a favourite.
It was also interesting to speculate on the flying machine, the Pushpaka vimana, which Menon describes as a flying disc, bigger on the inside (able to carry the thousands of monkey-like vanaras at one time back to Rama's coronation), and transparent from the inside.
This was book #14 in my journey to read all the classics of world literature. You can join me at my blog : chronolit.com
mythilisk's review against another edition
5.0
Even if you don't 'believe' in it, this tale is a great one full of adventure and thought-provoking scenes. Besides, I was named after one of the princesses, so I better give it 5 stars.
adtsipras1's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
bloodyfool0's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. Got confused with all the names and relationships.
It does have a glossary but not genealogy. Books like this need one.
I was also a bit confused at the end with the side stories and didn't understand fully the relationship to the main story.
I have now completed my readings of this and Mahabharata and preferred the latter due to the complexities.
It does have a glossary but not genealogy. Books like this need one.
I was also a bit confused at the end with the side stories and didn't understand fully the relationship to the main story.
I have now completed my readings of this and Mahabharata and preferred the latter due to the complexities.
instahgrump's review against another edition
4.0
Took forever but worth it. Great translation that makes it more readable. My own rant, if Sita lived in the forest for 10 years with two of the best warriors in the land, you are telling me that she never learned to fight or defend herself? I do not believe it. Time for a reboot with badass Sita!
motifenjoyer's review against another edition
this is a genuinely compelling narrative even aside from its religious significance although the last section uhh rly makes u think
grete_rachel_howland's review against another edition
5.0
I wanted to read the Ramayana to educate myself, and hopefully imbibe some wisdom along the way, but I never expected to get totally wrapped up in the story, too. In my experience, ancient epics haven't moved me the way modern literature does. Well, this book changed all that. What a gift.
I've never read any other translation or re-telling of the Ramayana, so I can't compare it to those. And, I wouldn't presume to review the story itself. Rather, I want to highly recommend Menon's version. Each and every sentence was remarkably vivid--a miraculous feat to maintain for nearly 700 pages. In fact, if there was any fault I found in this re-telling, it's that I could've used a break from the ceaselessly heightened emotion.
Nevertheless, this version feels genuinely inspired. It is the work of a real wordsmith. I'm so glad I chose to pick up this version from the library, and plan to buy my own copy of it someday.
I've never read any other translation or re-telling of the Ramayana, so I can't compare it to those. And, I wouldn't presume to review the story itself. Rather, I want to highly recommend Menon's version. Each and every sentence was remarkably vivid--a miraculous feat to maintain for nearly 700 pages. In fact, if there was any fault I found in this re-telling, it's that I could've used a break from the ceaselessly heightened emotion.
Nevertheless, this version feels genuinely inspired. It is the work of a real wordsmith. I'm so glad I chose to pick up this version from the library, and plan to buy my own copy of it someday.
lubinka's review
4.0
Ramesh Menon truly deserves high praise for managing to write a retelling of this lengthy classic which is not only readable (not always a given), but actually quite compelling. Although it's quite verbose for my taste, and could tire the reader (especially with these endless descriptions of the battle between Rama's and Ravana's armies), I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. Indian mythology never fails to mesmerize me, and same goes for Ramesh Menon whose rendering of The Mahabharata got me hooked to these stories many years ago.
Last, but not least, the talented narrator contributed immensely to the pleasure this book offers.
Last, but not least, the talented narrator contributed immensely to the pleasure this book offers.
tapsandtomes's review
3.0
An interesting legend/religious story. I did lose the thread after Hanuman, so I need to go back and reread at some point.
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