Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The adventure continues, February 27, 2006
The essential story of the Ramayana could have been completed in one short novel like many others have done, but the author has taken a more difficult route - researched the stories and substories (there are so many of them and so many different versions of each) within the Ramayana and presented them coherently in his own inimitable fashion, making it a fun unputdownable read.
For people like myself, an indian who is more comfortable reading English, I'm very thankful to Mr Banker for having made this effort.
Among the highlights of the current book
- Intrigue and attempted assasination of King Dasharatha in the palace.
- Queen Sumitra does some sleuthing.
- The massive Asura army advancing swiftly to destroy the arya nations and the desparate race to stop the hordes.
- Sage Gautama's wife Ahilya is rescued from her curse.
- Sita makes her entry and does she shatter some of my perception about her.
- Jay makes an entry (with hints that more will be revealed in the future books about how Ravana came to be)
- initial indications of rama's future alliance with the rksa's(bears)
- and the Bramhastra is revealed and used for the first time, and we understand there is a huge cost to using the weapon.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It gets better and better ....., February 2, 2006
Seige Of Mithila is the second book in Ashok Banker's Ramayana Series. Many worthy points about the book have already been made by other reviewers, and I would not want to reiterate them. However, I would like to add a few bits-and-pieces that I found absolutely fascinating about this book, and the entire series in general:
While Ashok surely deserves praise for the strength of his main characters, it is the "side actors" like Bejoo and Bheriya (of the Vajra kshatriya clan) which are absolutely original in their approach and development. Ashok's books provide us with more than just entertainment or advice -- they also serve as a portal to "peep into" the complex socio-historical relationships without the heavy baggage of philosophy and verbose meandering. The side-actors carry out this responsibility quite ably. Their stories weave through the main storyline, though never allowing the reader to lose his focus. Ultimately, all characters, all perspectives, all events led to Rama, and Rama alone.
Ashok's Ramayana is quite unique in its development -- turning a well established tale on its tail, and yet engage the reader on every page, at every turn -- is no mean task. The depth and scope of his imagination can barely be perceived in the first two books of the series (for that matter, even after reading all the books, the reader would definitely hunger for more :) ).
Hugely recommended. Mr Banker, you score again !!!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An epic romance..., February 15, 2006
The Ramaayana of Valmiki is considered the Adikavya or the first poem. Poetry stems from swirling emotions and in that, the Ramayaana is a tale of courage, endurance, righteousness and most of all love... this is beautifully portrayed in Ashok's books especially the Siege of Mithila.
Having set the stage to unfurl the tapestry that is Ramaayana in his first book, the Prince of Ayodhya, Ashok unremittingly follows the pace of the first book to give us fantastic account post the Bayank-vana episodes. Usually in most versions of the epic, this is a much slower paced part which clearly does not let the audience appreciate the workings of fate - but the narrative outdoes the previous book in weaving a compelling tale.
The book also introduces the other most important protagonist of this epic - Seetha. Readers will be surprised and charmed by the Seetha of this book, admiring her and falling in love... just as Rama does. More than anything else, the core of this book is about love, pure and blissful, untouched by anything at all... We not only see the union of Rama and Seetha, the lovers - united to become one, but also the two minds who achieve a higher union.
Surprising, delectable and unpredictable - this series is a shockingly good read and gives you the essence of the eternal epic and transports you to another realm.
When I first read this book a couple of years ago, it was excruciating to have to wait for the next one of the series to come along - however, with 5 of 6 books available - it will be an uninterrupted read for new readers.
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