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26 Comments

  1. Sindhu Vinod Narayan
    September 17, 2019 @ 11:14 am

    This is one of my favourite reads loved the point of view from the author.
    #tmmreads #myfriendalexa

    Reply

  2. Suchita
    September 17, 2019 @ 11:27 am

    Finally a book review on FoE that I can agree with! It left me wanting for more and I did feel the last bit, the bit you don’t normally get to read in Ramayan – the bit where she is banished – a bit rushed. But I did enjoy reading about Ram the husband. Going off topic, it was one of the reasons I had really enjoyed Black Panther. It showcased T’challa the warrior, the king, the lover, the brother and that just added more to the character.

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    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 4:55 pm

      Exactly Suchita. It’s not that I did not enjoy the book. But I wish there was more to the uttar kand and the Luv Kush kand as it is often called. Ditto on Blank Panther.

      Reply

  3. aanchal singh
    September 17, 2019 @ 12:39 pm

    Brilliant review of the book. i think this is the exact problem i also had with the book. but then again it was not the authors fault as she was trying to stick to the script as much as possible at the same time trying to take the artistic liberty of giving in her own interpretations.
    looking forward to reading more and more of your reviews.

    More power to you!

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 4:58 pm

      Thank you for your kind words, Aanchal :). The flaws we consider with the book are mostly subjective.

      Reply

  4. shravmusings
    September 17, 2019 @ 1:09 pm

    Thanks for a good review

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 4:59 pm

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply

  5. trendtofit
    September 17, 2019 @ 1:13 pm

    I would like to read the book. There are many versions of Ramayan and never read the original version which is in Sanskrit. The Ramayan version shown by Ramanand Sagar or by Tulsidas leaves me unsatisfied: why was Ahilya cursed without any mistake and why did mother Sita have to make these sacrifices! You have written a nice review in a very interesting way.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 5:02 pm

      Thank you Srishti 🙂 Do read the book. It presents a more human side to the epic. The Doordarshan version was too goody-two-shoes in my opinion. No wonder people used to watch it with folded hands.

      Reply

  6. soniadogra
    September 17, 2019 @ 1:13 pm

    This is just the kind of review this book needed. Coming to the script, not just Ramayana but a lot of other stories have done much injustice to some essential characters of the story. Let us talk of Rukmini. Her role in the scheme of things and her place in a palace inhabited by a hundred Queens. What was the dynamics between those Queens. Was it even fair to them. Or were they themselves so keen to be married off to Krishna that they didn’t care! Ok…So I’ve really digressed. It was a great review.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 5:13 pm

      Thank you, Sonia, glad you liked it. I feel the epics fail to do justice because they are written by men. A woman’s perspective would have been interesting. There is a valid point raised by Sita towards end of the book. She questions whether Ram’s decision to not remarry (after banishing her) was indeed due to his love for her, or to keep his oath of not taking another wife.

      I agree about Rukmini. Although she is the wife (and the incarnation of Laskhmi), it is Radha who is considered Krishna’s consort. We barely know anything about her other than the fact she was his wife.

      Reply

  7. Geethica
    September 17, 2019 @ 2:07 pm

    I am mesmerised by your true review of the book. At one place, you say that love makes to be quiet as saying loudly may harm the lover. But I feel it makes let go off that ego and give out for someone else. But yes, ego may not be clashed by self respect.
    Great cover of the book though. This is definitely going to be next read.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 5:17 pm

      Thank you for your kind words, Geethica. Do read the book. It has some excellent (and sometimes conflicting) thoughts on love.

      Reply

  8. booksniff
    September 17, 2019 @ 2:57 pm

    Superb.. the last excerpt about Sita’s reasons for not going through the Agnipariksha is powerful and hits the mark.. on my to be read list.. also, if this genre interests you, try and read Karna’s Wife by Kavita Kane.. it is a beautiful story about a woman who got lost in masculine narrative of Mahabharata.. some of the dialogue in the book is gut wrenching…

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 17, 2019 @ 5:18 pm

      Thank your for the recommendation. I will definitely check it out. I was off mythological fictions for a while, but am slowly getting back to them.

      Reply

  9. mommysmagazine
    September 17, 2019 @ 6:39 pm

    I am not much of a mythology lover, but I think i can add this to my reading list.Thanks for the comprehensive review.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 18, 2019 @ 10:58 pm

      The book is more of a woman’s perspective and musings than an out and out mythological fiction. You might like it.

      Reply

  10. urvashinenawati
    September 17, 2019 @ 7:23 pm

    I am not at all an avid reader but I really bug fan of mythology mostly because of unjust actions done to women and casting women in that weak class of the society. It’s so nauseating that I am unable to offer my prayers these days. It’s like more the awareness more hate.
    #damurureads #myfriendalexa damurucreations.com

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 18, 2019 @ 11:01 pm

      I am glad that we have more authors calling it out. I would also recommend The Liberation of Sita by Volga.

      Reply

  11. simi sp
    September 17, 2019 @ 7:59 pm

    the historic books are always great to go with sure will be checking out…

    Reply

  12. Krisha🌸
    September 17, 2019 @ 8:55 pm

    Such a great review! This book is on my TBR too. I hope I get to read it soon 😊💛

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 18, 2019 @ 11:03 pm

      Thank you Krisha. Your blog is one of my favourites 🙂

      Reply

  13. lifewithmypenguin
    September 17, 2019 @ 9:38 pm

    I am yet to read this book. Mythology based books which goes in details of characters and unfold a fresh perception are captivate. A long pending in my TBR

    Reply

    • Ritu
      September 18, 2019 @ 11:05 pm

      There have been a lot many retellings from different perspectives, but I feel this stands out for the sheer quality of writing.

      Reply

  14. bloggingmadeeasierneha
    September 22, 2019 @ 10:08 pm

    I would love to read this book. Thanks for sharing about it. Its a different perspective brought out in the book and I would love to know the story from another perspective

    Reply

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    October 20, 2019 @ 9:37 pm

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