Skip to main content

Ramayana - The Game of Life - Stolen Hope - Book 3 - Review

The much anticipated,  3rd book from the Ramayana - The Game of Life series by Shubha Vilas
titled Stolen Hope is now out.

You would have read the review of the first book at
http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2014/08/reviewing-book-1-of-ramayana-game-of.html

and almost a year ago I penned down the review for the second instalment of the series

http://tusharmangl.blogspot.in/2015/02/book-review-ramayana-game-of-life-2.html

Now I am fortunate enough to receive the third book in the series which continues the story of Ramayana. In the first two books we read about the growing up years of Ram and his marriage to Sita. Shortly after announcing his intent to coronate Ram as king, Dashratha is asked by his wife to exile him. This so that her son becomes the ruler of Ayodhya. Ram renounces the Kingdom to follow his step mother's wishes.
 The story continues and this book chiefly focuses on the time Ram Sita and Lakshman spend in the Dandkarnya forest as part of their exile of 14 years. Here they meet sages and listen to the folklore of the sages and rishis who dwell on this land. Also about the demons and the curses bestowed on various people.  What captivates you is the story of these rishis like Agstya, his life and his adventures. The trio are amazed and awed by such stories and feel blessed to meet such holy men. They travel from one place to another, visiting hermitages of sages, ultimately settling down in Panchvati to complete the last years of their exile. It is here they encounter Ravana's sister and the story unfolds.

Shubha Vilas carries on with his impeccable storytelling skills, hooking readers to a fresh and interesting interpretation of Ramayana. He is honest to his characters, bringing them up with a frank and larger than life approach. He ends it with a grand style, setting the reader awaiting for the next part. ( A teaser for next book is also included towards the end.)

Publisher: Jaico
Pages: 312


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Also read

Lal Kitab remedies for daily energy clean-up: Simple habits for a vibrant life!

Feeling drained or stuck lately? 🌪️ Lal Kitab offers timeless, easy-to-do remedies for daily energy clean-up that can supercharge your life force! From feeding ants to tidying your shoes, these simple habits can make you feel like you have hit the refresh button on life. Let us explore practical, magical, and energy-boosting hacks for everyday life! What is the importance of daily energy clean-up according to Lal Kitab? Have you ever stepped into a room and felt... heavy? Like invisible weights hung in the air? That is stale energy—something Lal Kitab warns us about. 🧹 According to Lal Kitab, just like brushing your teeth prevents cavities, daily spiritual hygiene prevents ‘energy cavities’ in our lives. Studies from the HeartMath Institute suggest that human hearts emit measurable energy fields. If physical clutter makes you uneasy, you should understand the science behind energy healing and spiritual growth. When your home is energetically messy, your life feels stagnant. You ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Press 9 for a Crime by Shailendra Jha— Can a family fight a scam empire?

I read Shailendra Jha’s Press 9 for a Crime with my late-night lamp on; it’s a razor-sharp, humane thriller set between East Delhi and scam hubs in Southeast Asia . Fast, funny, and disturbingly real, it follows Aseem’s risky rescue of his missing brother. This review analyses theme, craft, character work and why the book both alarms and entertains and lingers. Why did this book grab me at once? Have you ever opened a book at midnight because the world outside felt suddenly less interesting than the danger on the page? That was me with Press 9 for a Crime . As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, believable stakes, and characters I care about. Jha gives me both within the first ten pages. The opening scenes place you in a cramped East Delhi neighbourhood and you instantly feel the hum of small-town hopes: the son who promises escape through a “job in Bangkok”, the ledger of family debts, the refrigerator light in a kitchen where dreams are rationed. Jha’s background in journa...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Price of Genius by Binit Priyaranjan Book Review: What Does India's Chess Revolution Truly Cost?

 India's rise from producing an occasional chess genius to becoming a global powerhouse is one of modern sport's most compelling stories. The Price of Genius by Binit Priyaranjan looks beyond trophies and headlines to reveal the families, coaches, failures, philosophy, and relentless pursuit that shape champions. This review examines where the book shines, where it stumbles, and why it deserves attention beyond the chess community. Have you ever Wondered What It Costs to Raise a Genius? Every generation inherits a comforting myth about greatness. We tell ourselves that prodigies are born with something the rest of us simply do not possess. A Mozart sits at a piano before he can properly write his own name. A Tendulkar seems destined to hold a cricket bat. A Viswanathan Anand appears to calculate combinations with supernatural ease. These stories reassure us because they reduce excellence to destiny. If genius is a gift bestowed upon a fortunate few, then the rest of us are sp...
Post a Comment
Read more