Book: Prem Purana- Mythological Love Stories
Author: Usha Narayanan
Genre: Fiction (Mythology)
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 286
Blurb:
Stories of love and extraordinary devotion
No one is untouched by love, not even devas (gods) and asuras
(demons), kings and nymphs. And when they face life’s unexpected tribulations,
their love also undergoes trials. Read how Ganesha took myriad forms to please
Riddhi, Siddhi and Buddhi, how Ravana shared an unbreakable bond with his true
love, Mandodari and how Nal and Damayanti’s relationship was tested till
nothing remained.
Tormented by passion, wracked by betrayal, torn by the agony
of separation, love in its many splendored forms is the origin of these
incredibly endearing stories of Prem Purana.
Review:
Prem-purana is one of a kind book which can transport you to a world which is so unusual and divine that you don’t want to step out. The
book has three stories, three magnificent stories which can make you see
different forms and feelings of love and reading it in the month of love made
it extra special and revived the spirit of love in a new way.
From all the three stories there is something to learn,
something to grasp and adapt in your life. Though the book can put you in a
tight spot at times due to varied tales entangled in between the main story
that is going on. This happened with me mainly with the first story which was
not very engrossing and was wavering at times.
The first story is of Ganesh and his love life. The story
was new for me as I have never read anything about Ganesh in any mythological
book till now. So everything was way too much for me. So many names, so many
details, so many things to take in. I liked the atmosphere but I didn’t connect
to it as much as I connected to the rest of the two stories.
If I have to pick any character I would pick Siddhi, she was
amazing, so confident yet so tender. She was perfect.
The second story was so amazing that I read all the way in
just few hours without wanting to stop. It was so engrossing and the characters
so well explained and interesting that it transported me straight to the
world it was set in. I loved the aura of power and knowledge the story carried. It was
enticing and I couldn’t like it any less.
I loved the character of Mandodari and Ravana. They were so
powerful and their love was so pure and radiant that it made me fell in love
with love. They had a different kind of bond and that is why I was attracted to
it.
The final story of Nala and Damayanti expressed immense
sacrifice and an everlasting love. The story was good but short. I wanted to
know more about their hardships and blossoming of love. I think it was wrapped
up a bit too fast then needed. But it was engrossing.
Summing up- The book is very different and unique. It surely
has the power to attract a reader who likes the kind of genre it falls in. It
does justice to its title but taking the reader on a journey of such varied
love stories which are not very famous but are still present and are powerful
enough to take ones breath away.
About the author:
Usha Narayanan had a successful career in advertising, radio
and corporate communications before becoming a full-time author. She has
written several books, including the suspense thriller The Madras Mangler and
the fun office romance Love, Lies and Layoffs. Her books Pradyumna: Son of
Krishna and The Secret of God’s Son have been praised as ‘Indian mythology at
its fiercest and finest’.
When she is not travelling, writing or editing, Usha reads everything from thrillers to the puranas.
When she is not travelling, writing or editing, Usha reads everything from thrillers to the puranas.
Buy the book:
Glad you liked the stories and characters so much! Thank you for the heartfelt review!
ReplyDeleteIt was completely my pleasure :)
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