Book Review: Into the Great Heart by Kamla K. Kapur

Book: Into the Great Heart

Author: Kamla K. Kapur

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Blurb:

Legends and Adventures of Guru Angad the second Sikh Guru.

From the bestselling author of Classic Tales from Mystic India, The Singing Guru and Rumi: Tales to Live By, comes the second book in the Sikh saga series about Bhai Lehna’s journey from being Guru Nanak’s constant disciple to becoming Guru Angad (1504 – 1552), his successor and the second Sikh Guru.

Into the Great Heart carries forward and concludes the stories of Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana, his favourite minstrel, from the first volume of the Sikh saga, The Singing Guru. History, legend and fiction merge to populate this book with fascinating personalities from Sikh history. Pivotal to this narrative are forgotten female luminaries such as Guru Nanak’s wife, Mata Sulakhni, his sister, Bebe Nanaki, Bhai Lehna’s wife, Khivi and daughter Amro. Brought to the foreground, their wisdom and insights as they overcome obstacles to spiritual growth embody the basic tenets of Sikhism in everyday living. They enhance Guru Nanak and Bhai Lehna’s tale with their diverse approach to life.

Filled with captivating characters that enrich the tapestry of this compelling narrative, Into the Great Heart is a must-read for anyone who loves a rich story about human nature in its search for spiritual awareness.

Review:

It isn’t easy to write religion drawn books, they can create chaos and lack of clarity but this book succeeded in making the whole reading experience a beautiful one. The book not only tells about all the aspects of Sikh History, it also connects lots of dots in order to clear the bigger picture.

I thoroughly enjoyed the complete book. Being a little different from what we read generally the book take its time to get on your nerves, making you habitual of a different world, of a different reality.

The whole book had some points which being a Sikh child even I haven’t heard. I should give credit to the author for going deep in the subject and researching every nook and corner in order to present a book which can be really helpful to understand the culture and aura of that time.

The narration and language of the book helps a big time in getting to the core of the book.

This is a must read for all people who wants to go deep in the subject. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series now after reading this one.

The author has done a great job in doing what is not common and standing on top of the ladder.

About the author:

Kamla K Kapur’s previous books include Classic Tales from Mystic India and Pilgrimage to Paradise. She is also a poet (As a Fountain in a Garden, Radha Speaks), a short story writer and an award winning playwright. She and her husband, Payson R. Stevens, live half the year in the Kullu Valley in the Himalayas and the other half in Southern California, USA.

Buy the book here Amazon.in

Book Review : Rakshasas: The Shadow Warriors by Rajiv G. Menon

Book: Rakshasas: The Shadow Warriors

Author: Rajiv G. Menon

Publisher: Westland

Genre: FIction(Mythology)

Blurb:

Rise, o mighty Rakshasas! The time has come for us to give these warriors of Light a reason to fear the Dark.’

The world is in turmoil. Naraka and his formidable Asura war machine march unhindered across it bringing once great nations to their knees. They have now set their eyes on the ultimate prize — Bharata, the land of the seven rivers. Indra and his Devas struggle to contain this threat, even as they battle their own differences and the temptations of Swarga.

In Bharata, Jayanta, the son of Indra, is the new ruler. Even as he prepares for the Asura invasion, a potent threat is rising in the vast forests of Dandaka. Vidyutkesa — the only survivor of a genocide perpetrated by Jayanta — has journeyed into its heart and made contact with the Order of the Sarpa. An ancient and powerful secret society headed by Queen Manasa. With the blessings of Raksha, the Earth Spirit, the Sarpas transform Vidyutkesa and his companions into supernatural beings called Rakshasas. Their mission: to protect their land, forests, and way of life.

In this second installment of his Vedic Trilogy, Rajiv G. Menon weaves a rich and vibrant tapestry of the epic struggle between earth-worshipping feminine cultures that live in harmony with nature, and the patriarchal forces that seek to tame her.

Review:

Mythology interests me all the times, because it creates a deeper and more profound impact than any other cliché love story. This book held me captive for so long I couldn’t believe. Some books transport you into a different world in a mere few hundred pages.

I couldn’t click with the book easily to be honest because this is a second instalment of a series but I could connect with the words. The pace of the novel is fantastic and also the narration. The book seems to be both entertaining and giving you an edge on this journey.

I love novels where the anti-hero schema works, it gives you a break from all the usual things you hear or read about the particular time period or dynasty. A lot of different characters is always a treat.

The realistic approach and ground level topics that the author tried to touch really worked well in the bigger picture. There were no sugar coated things there was reality, there was violence, there was blood, there were schemes and everything came out beautifully.

There were many twists and turns some unexpected ones too that always keeps you on the edge of your seat and this made my reading experience even more ecstatic. There are also inside stories and explanations that work in between the whole fiasco. A lot is happening and it was not easy to grasp erverything at once.

This book is not easy to read, it needs time and patience because a lot is going on. It is not easy to digest all the battles and hidden aspects of things but at the end it seems totally worth it. It was definitely a one-time read for me.

I won’t recommend this book to people who reads to pass time, I won’t recommend this book to people who can’t handle wars and I also won’t recommend this book to those who can’t stand fantasy.

Buy the book here Amazon.in