After a long hiatus I’m writing about a book. It’s not that
I’m not reading any book lately. On the contrary my book reading spree is on an
all-time high. It’s just that I’ve built up such a great momentum that most of
the books are finished from start to end in a single go. And I don’t feel like
writing a review well after the book is finished.
And there is another observation on my part. Most of the
book I’ve been reading of late are in form of e-book only (I got comfortable
with it at last). I found out that my reading speed is much faster for it.
I could have ordered this book in e-pub format too but for
the fact that in this case the hard bound version was economical than e book
(Strange!!!)
Now to my take on it.
Once this author (Amish Tripathi) is not a new author for
me. In fact I’ve read all his previous three books. (The famous Shiva trilogy)
I had mixed feelings towards this book mainly for two reasons.
One, his previous trilogy started with a bang but ended like
a damp squid.
Second, Shiva as deity has an aura of mystique built around
it (The destroyer good, creator of dance, an ascetic yogi). Enough grey shades
to build a fascinating story around it)
Rama, on the other end seems too simplistic and morally
upright to create a good story.
Also the full story of Rama is by heart for every Indian. It
can prove to be real challenge for the author as there will be no novelty or
suspense here. Readers can always predict the things to come.
I only hope this time the author is able to accomplish what
he could do last time (ending the series on the high note)
The positive factor this time is that the end is already
confirmed (Everyone knows the climax of Ramayana). He can think about all the
time that how all the sequences should lead to that end (My observation is that
last time he could not link all the sequences in a linear manner)
The challenge on the other hand is that Ramayana does not
have a happy ending at all if you go till the very end (Killing Ravana is a
happy part but story goes on after that, And agnipariksha of Sita and other
incidents are not so happy at all)
All said and done, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.
PS : I’m currently watching Siya Ke Raam on Star plus Sometimes it gets really confusing as I’m
reading, watching two different versions of Ramayana.
