Reviewing ‘Raavan, Enemy of Aryavarta’

Work of Author Amish Tripathi

This book is a classic work.

If you are yet to read the book, I wish to keep you informed that this write-up has spoilers.

Don’t you think evilness in human is a cause-effect? Don’t you think external factors contribute to the rise of villains?

In general parlance, it is difficult to view a story from the perspective of a villain. Here, author Amish brought us the intense side of Ramayana from the angle of Raavan. I wonder how he had been able to consistently work on the same plot from three different angles forming up his Ram Chandra Series. He calls it challenging.

Raavan seems to have been an active musician (special mention: Veena and Hatha) and an artist. Book makes us rethink on what we had been acknowledging as wrongdoing. Focusing on the character sketch of Raavan, I had started to rethink if he had been really villainous. The character leaves his resident at the age of nine as he undergoes a lot of trauma being born as a Naga at his very own house. From a very young age, Raavan had been bundled up with responsibilities as he had to protect the life of his brother and mother. Kumbhakarna always came first in Raavan’s priority list before his mother. He makes money in all ways possible.

He gets to meet Vedavati. A personal favourite was the conversation Raavan has with Vedavati before she is been murdered. She makes him realize his potential, mankind and emphasizes on dharma. Following pages portrayed Raavan as a good-man in becoming. Subsequently, the death of Vedavati ignites violent nature in him. Her demise made him groan and turned him as a destroyer. Further, the depth of his villainous character is spoken through various instances covering his trade relations, tightened trade laws, swayamvar of Sita, the war against Mithila and others. I realize his monstrous nature is a cause-effect. The exemplary focus was given to detail on the use of Asuraastra and the impact it had on Kumbhakarna. It led to the defeat of the Lankans. After capturing Sita, his recognition of her identity was well expressed.

We the readers have to wait for the final book of this series to read about the trios, Ram, Sita and Raavan with details on the clash between Vishwamithra and Vasishta on the other hand.

Agatha’s ‘A Murder is Announced’

One of my favorites from Agatha Christie. Her thriller and mysteries are incomparable. This one featuring the fictional character Miss Marple is woven with an interesting plot. Primarily, I fall for the titles of her books. Isn’t “A Murder is Announced” daring?

The novel starts with an advertisement in the local newspaper announcing a murder at Little Paddocks on 29th October. Though the death of Scherz at the gathering is initially believed to be a suicide, the inspector Craddock proved his brilliance by solving the murder case arresting Letitia Blacklock.

The fun in arranging a birthday party for Bunny was engaging. The cake baked by the cook is wittily nicknamed as ‘Delicious Death.’ It is more of an oxymoron. Though it all added to the fun factor, another death hits the house costing the life of Bunny. I would say that the novel had collective emotion.

A thrilling read!

Reviewing Kalki by Kevin Missal

An engaging plot. Flair story telling. However, the language was not error-free.  The sequences are well structured by showing us a tribe after tribe.

The emotion Arjan had towards the family was well covered. Of all the characters portrayed, Lakshmi's charming and daring nature is close to the heart. Kalki's talk persuading the villagers to fight the Asuras was heroic. Lakshmi's courageous death did choke the throat.

The way Kalki was rescued by Arjan, Kripa, Bala and Padma was fantasy filled. Personally, I felt the defeat of Matranja was not that hard-fought. Perhaps he tasted Soma, and yet he didn't seem tough, battling Kalki, equalising his gigantic physique.

Padma's revenge mission was captivating. Fatefully, it brought Arjan towards death, the character that preached the importance of forgiveness. The murder of Ratri and Bala were sorrowful.

This comes to my mind when I think of Kali, "As a brother, he should be protective. Not jealous." Speaking of Kali, though being a powerful king, he had no trustworthy people around him. The mankind in him was vanishing as he began to seek pleasure causing bodily suffering to the people like Arjan, Ratri, prisoners and also his own sister.

Kalki's journey to master the art to fight Adharma is welcoming though it had cost many lives.

It had been worth reading. And personal favourite were the characters of Arjan and Lakshmi for they rose for themselves and also fought for their dear people, all at once until death invited them.