Reviews

•You learn more from life than from books.•

We feel sad every time we hear Shanta’s story (Ram’s sister story) and we feel angry every time we hear Manthara’s name. Was she really the reason for Ram’s exile? What was her story? Such questions always made me curious. When I came across this book, I knew I had to read this one!!!

My day was sorted with this amazing read. Valmiki’s Women by @itsanandneel published by @westland_books is the story of five tales from The Rayamana. The tales we were unaware of, Especially the story of Manthara.

Anand Neelakanthan shares the stories of Shanta, Bhoomija, Manthara, Tataka and Meenakshi. We have heard a lot of Shanta, Bhoomija and Meenakshi but reading about Manthara and Tataka was a different experience.

How beautifully the author described the bond of Kaikeyi and Manthara, the bond between Shanta and kaikeyi, the Conversation between Sita and Meenakshi.

As the story proceeds, the author surprises the readers with amazing unheard stories. Shanta’s journey, her perspective, Meenakshi’s perspective, Manthara’s point of view, will make you curious, will make think.

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As my tea gets cold, Manthara’s story made me feel sad for her, made me feel proud of Shanta. The exciting and intriguing writing style with descriptive narration will amaze the readers.

The unheard story of Manthara is a must-read story from this book. Her bond with Ram and Sita, her influence in Kaikeyi’s life and the way her life changed, everything is beautifully expressed by the author.

Even though we all know Shanta’s story, but Anand Neelakantan made it too fascinating that I could not stop myself and admire Shanta. Even Meenakshi’s story was amazingly written.

Each of them had a strong point of view, their perspective towards the life they were living and the life they choose for themselves.

Once again, Anand Neelakanthan astounds readers with amazing, unheard stories with his magical writing style.

A book that you are going to enjoy especially if you love reading mythology.

Summary

REMARKABLE STORIES ON FIVE UNFORGETTABLE WOMEN FROM THE RAMAYANA While the righteous Lord Ram is at the heart of Ramayana, his story is incomplete without the women Valmiki created, whose lives are closely tied to his. Would King Dasharatha even have his coveted sons, were it not for the sacrifice of his daughter, Shanta? Who would Queen Kaikeyi be had she not been nurtured by Manthara as a child? Which direction would the epic have taken had the sacrifice of a bird not moved the sage Valmiki to write? Bestselling author Anand Neelakantan invites readers to ask these questions as they delve into these stories of ambition, love, devotion and courage—the stories of the women of Valmiki’s epic.

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