Book Review – Narasimha by Kevin Missal

Mythological fiction is a hugely popular genre in India. Some names are big, and some are making their mark even with their first steps into it. Kevin Missal belongs to the later category. And so, when he came out with his next book, Narasimha, I definitely had to read it.

Narasimha is an avatar of Vishnu. Half lion, half man, Narasimha possess all the characteristics of both species. But, Kevin Missal‘s Narasimha has portrayed the titular character as one caught between the ferociousness of its animal self, and its human consciousness. Somewhere between the two exists a worn and tired soul.

The avatars of Vishnu are well heard off in Hindu households and the fourth avatar of Narasimha is a controversial one. Narasimha is not as endearing as the butter thieving Krishna, nor as solemn as Rama. This avatar of Vishnu has one purpose, and the myth is all gore. By taking a tale that we grew up with and making it his own Kevin Missal has got a winner on his hands.

Being the angriest of all of Vishnu’s avatars, Narasimha has always been a vicious being for me. However, in Kevin Missal‘s book, Nara is a being who tries to leave the violence, but he is compelled to resort to it when there is no other way. The basic storyline is the same, with Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap and Narasimha. But this book has given us an in-depth plot with reasons for war and the quest for justice.

The writing is good and very contemporary. Narasimha is a fictional account, a product of Kevin Missal‘s imagination and understanding. Therefore if you are looking to reading about the whys and whatfors of the Narasimha avatar of Vishnu, then this is not the book for you. Narasimha is enjoyable in its own vein. The characters, well written and excellently crafted, are life-like. Kevin Missal has also dealt with certain topics interestingly. I am not getting into it, but if you read the book, you will be pleasantly surprised. The other great thing I loved about this book was the fact that female characters were given due justice. They were independent and self-sufficient, in thought and action. Again, given the genre, this came as a pleasant surprise.

Narasimha is the first book of a trilogy. I would say this book, at times, felt a bit lengthy. Of course, there were those portions of the book I thought went flying in pace. It felt a little tiresome to read the slower pages after the fast ones. I must note that this is an effect when one has to read a sequence of action and then read about some political going-ons.

Having read Narasimha, I shall be looking forward to reading the second instalment in the trilogy. And then perhaps write a better review of both books together. For now, this is the best without giving away too much.

Narasimha is a definite recommendation for lovers of contemporary myhtological fiction. You will not be disappointed.

You can find a copy of Narasimha here – Amazon.

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Narasimha by Kevin Missal

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Book Review – Sitayana by Amit Majmudar

Discussing any version of Ramayana (or any other such book) these days, online, is asking for much varied, and at times unwelcome, opinions. However, people do it despite everything. Hate, love, snobbery, half-baked fanaticism and, rarely with fond appreciation are the reactions.

Amit Majmudar‘s version of the Ramayana is fascinating. It is vastly different from, yet, remains the same as every other version I’ve read. Let’s talk about the similarities. Every version of the Ramayana has made me cry, be it Kilipaattu or R K Narayan. I’ve cried and wanted to fling the book away. I despair for Sita and I rave at her plight. I felt the same with Sitayana as well. As always I felt love, in all its forms – Bhakti, Moha, Kama, Lobha… All of it. Then I felt beginnings of despair as Sita faces her agnipariksha. And a full-blown state of sorrow as she is discarded in the forest.

Sitayana does what few other tellings of Ramayana have done so far. It shows the plot unfold from the perspective of most characters involved. As Hanuman tells us his short tales, they are coloured with Bhakti, his devotion to Rama. Lakshmana’s has his fraternal love and loyalty. Even the little squirrel feels like it has a played a part in something beyond the realm of mortal understanding. It is fascinating how Amit Majmudar has managed to convey such emotions. When Sugriva wakes in Rama’s arms and the disappointment he goes through knowing he is still alive as a vanara or Ravana’s final words to Rama are particularly moving instances. It is amazing how Ravana confesses that it is due to his doing that every avatar of Vishnu’s henceforth will be more compassionate towards the human plight. These tiny bits are often missing in most versions, but it was wonderful to read it in Sitayana.

And through it all we have Sita, held captive in a garden, waiting for her prince. Waiting for justice. Even as a child I wondered how one could go on knowing the hurt and grief that was inflicted by one on someone else. Yet such epics have shown us people do carry on. Whether it be man or woman, peasant or king, rakshasa or god. They go on with life. Sitayana shows us this. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that Sita finally does what she needed to do, moving on. She goes to a realm where she does not have wait for justice or justify an injustice done to her. No one is worth that. Sitayana, succinctly and subtly, shows us that as well.

If you are a connoisseur of the Indian epics, you will find another book to love in the Sitayana. Even if not, Sitayana is a book well written and steadfast in its telling that its words transform into life-like magnificence while you read.

Definitely recommend!

You can get a copy of Sitayana here – Amazon, Flipkart

Goodreads

Sitayana by Amit Majmudar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Book Review – Ramayana Versus Mahabharata by Devvutt Pattanaik

Devdutt Pattanaik does not need an introduction. He is one of those authors whom the modern readers of mythology absolutely adore. And his latest work Ramayana versus Mahabharata will definitely find a place in most of his fan’s TBR list.

Ramayana versus Mahabharata is clearly divided into sections and each section has a few chapters. Pattanaik makes the reading very easy and as is usual with his books, there are his trademark doodles interspersed amidst the text. What is missing are the footnotes that the author includes in most of his books. Also included in Ramayana versus Mahabharata is a further reading section which is always interesting for a fan of Indian mythology.

Coming to the book itself, it is a well-done book that highlights the myriad similarities between the two great epics that we have known. Between sons and property disputes, of vanavasa and the presence of Vishnu in one of his avatars. Many of these would have been already inferred by the average reader of mythology. A few were quite insightful and this made the book interesting.

Personally, though, I would have to say Ramayana versus Mahabharata cannot be compared to any of his books. Anyone who has read Jaya or Mithya cannot be as charmed by Ramayana versus Mahabharata as they were of those books. Readers who enjoy Pattanaik‘s books would have an interest in Indian mythology and given that Ramayana versus Mahabharata are tales that we have heard since we were babies, they are all too familiar. The book cover does say it is a playful comparison. Though to call it a comparison is to take it too far. What Ramayana versus Mahabharata does is, in fact, point out similarities between the two epics. I would have liked for the author to actually make a comparison, point out the similarities and the differences. And though the blurb says so, Ramayana versus Mahabharata fails on that account. I can say I did not love this book as I have his other works.

On the whole, give it a read if you are a fan of Devdutt Pattanaik.

You can find a copy of Ramayana versus Mahabharata here – Amazon, Flipkart

Goodreads

Ramayana Versus Mahabharata: My Playful Comparison by Devdutt Pattanaik

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Book Review – Shyam by Devdutt Pattanaik

If anyone were to ever ask me to list all the books that I love, that list would definitely include The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. Fact is, that list would include different versions of both epics. And it is definitely not because I am a Hindu. The Ramayana and The Mahabharata are beyond a story. They become a template, a prototype. Over centuries people have taken this simple yet complex tale and made it their own. Be it Kambha Ramayanam in the 1200’s or Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik in the 2000’s, there is one version for everyone.

Pattanaik has carved a niche for himself in the literary world for his retellings and observations of Hindu mythology. I have read most of his books. And the most recent offering is Shyam. Growing up in a Hindu household we are told stories of baby Krishna. Even Amar Chitra Katha has versions of Krishna’s tales, so it is inevitable that we know of the dark-skinned god. Shyam is Devdutt Pattanaik’s version of the Bhagavatha. The Bhagavatha is a text which, simply put, is an ode to Krishna Bhakti. (I really like this website, in case you want to read more) Shyam is a very simple and concise version of the same. It is said that the Bhagavatha is twelve texts (some say eighteen) of 18000 verses, and Shyam puts most of that in some 300 odd pages.

Shyam takes us through the life of Krishna, from before his birth to his death and thereafter. It is interspersed with Krishna’s observations and teachings. As with any Devdutt Pattanaik book, there are plenty of notes made in the book where the author gives a reference to a place or a text or simply folklore. This is what makes his books a great read for me. You learn something from his books. As with any tale of Krishna, there is plenty of mischief and love. As baby Krishna, as the lover, as the student, as the husband, as the mentor, no matter what role he portrayed there was always the same approach. Krishna made sure to teach those around that love was unconditional. To treat each other with love and respect. There are a few threads that run through the book. Primarily how when mankind lets go of humanity, Dharma is compromised and second, the concept of Karma. Devdutt Pattanaik does not get preachy with these concepts but has made sure to give enough anecdotes about Krishna depicting his conundrum of maintaining Dharma and doing what is right. He also subtly shows that Krishna, despite being a reincarnation of Vishnu, has to reap the rewards of his Karma, past and present. There is definitely a lesson in there for all of us.

I would recommend Shyam to everyone. Especially if this genre is your cup of tea as it is a great introduction to the Bhagavatha. Shyam has a lot to tell us, tidbits here and there. But, it does reinforce the primary concept of God and prayer – God is love and the only way you can let him into your life and heart is to love all of his creations.

You can find a copy of Shyam here – Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo

Goodreads

Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata by Devdutt Pattanaik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Book Review – Circe by Madeline Miller

Before picking up the book, Circe was very similar to a BuzzFeed article for me. It showed up everywhere. It was on all of my feeds. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads… Circe was everywhere! Eventually, I gave in and began reading Circe.

Circe is a goddess. Born to Helios, the sun god and his wife Perse. As the eldest of the children, she is left to her own devices while her sister, Pasiphaë and brother, Perses, torment her. Her youngest brother, Aeetes, is her companion and she finds solace in him. Yet Circe is devastated when he moves on. A chance meeting with a mortal, Glaucos, Circe falls in love and using magic turns him into a demigod. Heartbreak follows when he chooses another over Circe. She retaliates by turning his intended into a six-headed monster. Eventually, all the guilt bubbles out and she confesses to her father, in front of everyone. It is only then that Helios realises that all his children from Perse are capable of magic and witchcraft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3UlAUBx4Q/

Zeus made aware of this situation by Helios exiles Circe while letting her brothers and sister get away, even though they possess similar powers. Circe is left alone on the island of Aeaea and there she spends her time. As centuries pass, Circe lives on the island and learns to harness the power within herself. Learning about all things living, mixing up potions that turn men into pigs and make the island look hostile to seafarers. The book, Circe, tells us her fascinating tale of magic, heartbreak, moving on and finally standing up for herself.

There are many tales of mythology that perhaps have already dealt with Circe in some capacity, Homers Odyssey being one. We’ve seen Circe depicted in different shades as well. But Madeline Miller‘s Circe is different. She is not just a goddess or a witch. She is not even simply a nymph. She is one of us. A daughter, a woman having to go through life bearing the consequences of someone else’s whimsy, cleaning up someone else’s mess. Circe, the nymph in Miller‘s book becomes a real living character, going through situations in her life and still striving to survive.

While the book may be one of the better tellings, for the general reader, it also becomes a journal giving insight into the workings of mortals and immortals alike. Where Helios could not see anything beyond his own brilliance, Circe sees it all. The shallowness, the penchant for rabble-rousing and the constant messing around in the lives of mortals. She also sees the frailty of human life, a sort of delightful difference from the mortality that binds her. Circe also sees the darkness clouding the beauty. Circe sees a lot and through her, we are given an insight into the workings of the mortal and immortal realm. And they are not very different from each other.

While the tidbits about the Minotaur and Icarus, Hermes and Odysseus etc were delightful, I loved best that Madeline Miller could make a goddess a mere mortal woman and show us that we, mortal women, go through the same situations in life. Maybe we do not have lions prancing about us and are incapable of mixing up a portion to turn men into pigs, but let’s confess there are times when we have thought about the latter.

All in all, a great book! Definitely, recommend.

You can find a copy of Circe here – Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo, Google Books, iBooks

PS – I know I haven’t aligned the featured image properly, the text is a bit off. 😐 I blame the summer!

Goodreads

Circe by Madeline Miller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Book Review – Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I began reading Norse Mythology almost a month back. It is definitely not a long read. Nor is it boring. On the contrary Norse Mythology is an engrossing and easy read. But since I had an eBook of it, I was at the mercy of a battery and processor, thus the delay.

The delay between chapters meant I could actually enjoy every bit of Norse Mythology I read. The tales were spun well, and I spent a while dreaming about it. Neil Gaiman has created a sort of magical experience with this book. Normally, mythology is not a genre that everyone reads. Perhaps it is because it is a dry and very scholarly (re)telling of a tale. Very few authors have actually broken that mould and given us gripping tales of Mythological fiction. (Or is it fictional mythology?)

Norse Mythology is perhaps one such book that everyone would enjoy, even if you do not read mythology. If you are someone who reads comics and know of Thor, or you watched movies, or mythology is something that you are interested in, you will definitely like Norse Mythology.

Neil Gaiman introduces the characters, some of whom we already have read about or seen, in the beginning. And once you begin reading, it is an absorbing book. (Provided, the device doesn’t die on you.) I really enjoyed reading about Loki, Thor and their world.

Norse Mythology is a good read and I would recommend it to everyone.