Customer Reviews

Ashes for the Elephant God

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In France, Seventeen year old Jean-Francois died of AIDS. His last wish was for his sister, Fabienne Beranger, to take his ashes to India and scatter them over the Narmada River. Once done, Fabienne found she wanted to stay awhile. There, she learned that she had been reincarnated. Back in 1849, she had been known as Lakshmi. She had been a commoner. (Her fiancé had been Mukunda.) Lakshmi had been murdered, trampled under an elephant, by a Kali worshiper. Princess Korana had wanted Mukunda in her bed. When told of Lakshmi's death, Mukunda directed his anger at the princess, knowing she had somehow been responsible. He died, never seeing his beloved again.

Mukunda was reincarnated as an American. He was called "Sahib" by all, but had the honor of being renamed by a swami named Baba. He was renamed, amazingly, Mukunda. He was the chief engineer of the dam project in India. The project had about ten more months of work to be completed. He met Kora, who worked in the beauty shop. She had an Australian accent in today's world. (But you guessed it, she was the Princess Korana from the past!) She, again, wanted Mukunda as her own.

Once again, Mukunda and Fabienne were reunited in love. Yet, once again, Kora would try to tear them apart!

* Author, Vijaya Schartz, succeeded in making Princess Korana the type of villain that everyone loves to hate! That alone shows major talent! The story was slow to start off, but once done (and it did not take too long) I was hooked! The book blended the past and present so well that, while reading, I was not sure which time intrigued me more, 1849 or present date. In fact, I'm still not sure! The characters were well developed. By the ending, I even saw Kora in a different light. An extremely satisfying read! *

To scatter her brother's ashes over the Narmada River, Fabienne leaves France for the fabled India of her childhood dreams. Soon, as she awakens to a newfound spirituality, unexpected visions of a former life during the Raj stir ancient yearnings for a long lost passion. Mukunda, the palace architect Fabienne loved in another life a century and a half earlier, lives again as an American engineer and works on the local dam project. But, in this karmic land of the blue gods, the Kali worshiper who murdered the two lovers in a faraway past also awaits. Ashes For The Elephant God is a striking and highly recommended metaphysical novel about love, reincarnation, spiritual awakenings, suspense -- all set against the twin backdrops of modern and ancient India.

Anyone could pick up this book and understand even its highest concepts because the author so clearly (and entertainingly) explains how it all works.

The basic premise is that in the 1800's, four souls -- beautiful, poor Lakshmi/Fabienne, handsome Mukunda, depraved Shankarananda, and evil princess Korana -- entered into deadly conflict, which is told in highly sensory flashbacks that come to the modern-day characters in dreams or visions. Thrown back together in India from all the corners of the globe, the modern characters learn about their past lives together in tantalizing bits and pieces while they try to understand their destiny in this life.

Although I can tell when reading this book that English is not Schartz's first language (she was born in France and took on her first name while living in India), the language was perfect because the book is told from the perspective of the French main character and is filled with the Indian English of the many people she meets. Truly, reading this story is like voyaging across the world with the characters.

SPOILER ALERT

This book is inherently optimistic, and the final message is that even if it didn't go so well in the last life, this time around, you have a chance to make good, and improve your karma, and even... be happy! It's an important message, even for people who don't believe in reincarnation, because it implies that it's never too late. It's never too late to change your behavior in the world, it's never too late to start again, and it's never too late to be happy and/or help others to find their happiness. Schartz's characters get to live out their happiness in all its glory at the end of the book. It's a dose of bliss in what can be a dreary world.

Schartz pens a fascinating tale of karma and the power of love with "Ashes for the Elephant God." Fabienne journeys to India to honor her brother's dying wishes only to come face-to-face with her destiny.

The novel opens with Fabienne making the decision to go to India and spread her dead brother's ashes in the town of Ganeshpur. Her brother believed in karma and reincarnation, but Fabienne isn't so sure. Still, she keeps an open mind. Fabienne travels from France to India and stays at the Ganeshpur monastery.
While there Fabienne meets Kora. Kora is also staying at the monastery. Kora has a bad attitude and is full of negative energy. Despite that, Fabienne comes to enjoy monastery life and resolves to help Kora overcome her negativity.

Nearby, an American engineer, Alex Springfield, who the head swami renames Mukunda, is working on a dam. He has a one night stand with Kora who quickly manipulates the event to her advantage. Claiming she's pregnant, Mukunda reluctantly agrees to marry her.

Stuck in a commitment he doesn't want, when Mukunda meets Fabienne, he knows she's his soulmate. Still, he reluctantly stands by Kora. After the dam fails to hold during a flood, Fabienne is trapped in a mudslide. Mukunda realizes he must follow his heart, but is it too late?

Schartz uses a fine touch in dealing with such concepts as karma and reincarnation, never preaching, but showing the reader through the characters the power of karma and how reincarnation allows the soul to grow. The plot is interesting, referring back to Mukunda and Fabienne's past life. The pacing is a bit slow in the beginning, but reflective of Fabienne's journey and acceptance.

There are a lot of foreign terms used in the text, but there is a glossary in the back to help the reader along.

The cast of characters is rich and deliciously complex as they have karma to work through. Kora has issues she needs to reconcile. Amit is a good and loyal friend. Fabienne is an honest soul and trusting, almost too trusting. Kora attempts to take advantage of this. Ultimately, Fabienne must come to see who Kora really is and she must stand up to her.

Mukunda has a good heart, but a momentarily lapse of judgment puts him in an impossible situation. He must find the strength and will to overcome.
Schartz's love scenes are tasteful and sensual. The novel inspires the reader to take a deeper look at their own spirituality. "Ashes for the Elephant God" is an intriguing story about the power of karma and love.

Vijaya Schartz paints a vivid picture. Reading her book truly transports you to India. It's both descriptive and emotive. The reason I rank it as 3 stars is that it is not a complex story or a challenging "read." It is fun and offers an armchair vacation. I enjoyed it, I just wasn't challenged and didn't read/ learn anything new. Don't let that stop you from getting it. This is the perfect book to read on the beach, while commuting or on a rainy day.

It is rare to find an author so dedicated to her craft as Vijaya Schartz. The setting is beautiful, characters believable. The book is carefully plotted to keep the reader wanting more. I highly reccommend this book.

The book is great and the author Vijiaya explore the middle east and tell you how the family and then how a young women who
is the only relative left for her brother. Fabienne and her brother live together, Fabienne is in the theater and then what
happen that trows a loop in to fabienne life for ever.Jean-Francois dies form the deadly aids virus he tell his sister that
he seen the light and now he live another life and want to be cremated and taken to India and then scatter across the ocean.

Well fabienne go and cremate her younger 17 year old brother and then his friends and one friend came to the service she is
desolate .She is alone for the first time in her live since her parent were killed in a car accident. fabienne go in to the
room her brother used and she seen a pic of him and thinks of happy time and he come back and tell her go and get my will and then
it will tell you and he tell her he will be all way with her.

So what in fabienne mine she want to do what her brother wish but how she had no money and then she had the theater
and then the apt and the cat to take care of.Well she receive a call form the theater and the play been canceled and her
boss said she will get paid for the show cancelled wow now what about the apt and the cat well her friend call and said she
had enough of her parent can she move in with her wow now fabienne said yes and then she is off to her adventure to India

The story take you through the up and down of India and what people believe in reincarnation and all,i will not say any more but i think you will love the way the book ends and then you see the great story.

It is a definite must to read this book especially for those who are fascinated about the cultures & religion of India......It is also of course romantic and really heartfelt.

"...rich, sensual... multilayered... a thriller... magical, mystical book..." Writer's Digest

"... a broad-stroked, magnificent picture of a lavish India of the past and the present... a vivid tale of suspense... a gripping account of a woman coming to terms with heightened awareness... a destiny that yields true fulfillment." The Book Reader

"... entertaining, fast-paces yet deeply spiritual... Here is a superior metaphysical novel!" Richard Fuller - Metaphysical Reviews

"... passionate... love, lust, faith and deception... a magnificent offering to the world of fiction..." Charlotte Austin Review

Vijaya has given us a fascinating look into the culture of India, immersed in a fast-paced love story. I so appreciate her glossary of terms. If you're looking to learn more about this country and enjoy a tale that will stimulate your imagination, read this book.