The Ramayana: A New Retelling of Valmiki's Ancient Epic

The Ramayana: A New Retelling of Valmiki’s Ancient Epic by Linda Egenes


This review is for the modern reader who expects good characters, good stories, and existing stakes in their books. I stopped reading after about 100 pages and I’m sad this book is so underwhelming, because I was really excited to read this at the start. Now it’s just another book on my did-not-finish shelf.

Nothing really matters

Lots of things happened in those 100 pages, but there wasn’t anything that mattered. Rama is Vishnu reincarnated and he is acting like it in the whole story. We are following the most perfect human being in his journey through life, so don’t expect any challenge.

Instead of challenges and interesting stories, we read about massaging feet of holy men and giving gems and gold to wandering priests. I wonder if Valmiki had some personal interests in writing this story. Or did God tell him this?

The Portrayal of Women

Then you have the classic storyline of women being obedient cute humans without any personality, except now they can’t leave their home. All the queens of King Dasharatha and even Sita stay 100% of their free time in their palaces and never come out. They stay home while the king spends 100% of his time by the people of his kingdom.

The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was that Sita could have been the one woman in this story who showed that she’s as able as any man. Instead, her trip to the forest is pictured as “cute lady goes on a biology trip into the forest”. Before leaving for the forest she put on coarse clothing, and I hoped this would be a turning point in the story. When the king saw this however, he ordered to give her highest quality clothing and also some jewelry so she looks good in the forest.

Everyone loves Rama

Only one personality trait exists in this book - the love for Rama, of course. Other than that, there isn’t much personality to be seen anywhere.

There is so many characters… Like 50 characters in 100 pages were introduced and I’m supposed to remember and care? The author obviously did, because he almost never reintroduces the characters or gives hints about who the guy doing the thing is.

Summary

In my opinion, it’s not a good book. I’ve read Greek myths and stories about Norse gods and I’ve hoped that this book would be a great story to show the mythos and gods of Indian culture. Maybe sometime later in life I’ll be able to see some new wisdom in this story, but right now all I see is massaging feet and degrading women.

If you’re here to read a good book, go elsewhere.

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