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ritikaaa10_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book was in my course under children's literature, I never had the in depth knowledge of mahabharata, watched few episodes of star plus serial and read palace of illusions (which is reconstructed mahabharata from the eyes of draupadi) so I cant comment about authenticity of this book. But it was really amusing to read this, all those drawings made the reading more interesting and enchanting. The book presents the main stories from this epic. I wish I would have read this when I was child, it is perfect for child readers and even as an adult it was extremely consuming. The stories and characters are presented in simplest way possible. Would suggest this to anyone who want to understand mahabharata from layman's view
khepiari's review against another edition
4.0
A book I have reread multiple times over the years. I have not read Mahabharata in actual Sanskrit, closest I have come to read it in regional tongue was in Hindi years back.
Samhita Arni's book is from the perspective of a child. The book was in making since Arni was a child. At the age of four she read the epic, her mother had asked her to rewrite the epic during vacation because author was finishing her books too fast. At age of four I barely could construct spellings! Author even illustrated the scenes in simple pen and ink.
This book is special, because it just narrates, minus the higher thought process and dictum of morals. In the introduction Arni tells that we should let the children learn the story as it is; with its blood, gore and brutality, instead of censoring it. Where she also speaks about a ten year old boy who spots the pattern of mistakes or character flaws in the story. When Shantanu again falls for another beauty by the river, the kid uttered: that's no good.
Indeed Mahabharata has repetitions, parallels, and mistakes made because of hubris or wows or ill-hearing. Which you start to spot when, you take away the base morality and religiousness from it, and treat it as narrative text. This version makes me nick a quote from D.H. Lawrence: In a sense, Bible is a great confused novel. Mahabharata too is!
It's a smart book that has commonality in language with fairy tales, short crisp narrative, short chapters and funny art. I found the art as fascinating doodles that is to the point and very practical from a child's perspective. The wooden bird on the tree that Arjuna struck, doodle has a tree and big enough bird to spot.
This Mahabharata, with all its origins, detailing, actions and consequences is beautiful. Simplified for a child to read on her own, chaptered well for a parent to drag the story for months.
Samhita Arni's book is from the perspective of a child. The book was in making since Arni was a child. At the age of four she read the epic, her mother had asked her to rewrite the epic during vacation because author was finishing her books too fast. At age of four I barely could construct spellings! Author even illustrated the scenes in simple pen and ink.
This book is special, because it just narrates, minus the higher thought process and dictum of morals. In the introduction Arni tells that we should let the children learn the story as it is; with its blood, gore and brutality, instead of censoring it. Where she also speaks about a ten year old boy who spots the pattern of mistakes or character flaws in the story. When Shantanu again falls for another beauty by the river, the kid uttered: that's no good.
Indeed Mahabharata has repetitions, parallels, and mistakes made because of hubris or wows or ill-hearing. Which you start to spot when, you take away the base morality and religiousness from it, and treat it as narrative text. This version makes me nick a quote from D.H. Lawrence: In a sense, Bible is a great confused novel. Mahabharata too is!
It's a smart book that has commonality in language with fairy tales, short crisp narrative, short chapters and funny art. I found the art as fascinating doodles that is to the point and very practical from a child's perspective. The wooden bird on the tree that Arjuna struck, doodle has a tree and big enough bird to spot.
This Mahabharata, with all its origins, detailing, actions and consequences is beautiful. Simplified for a child to read on her own, chaptered well for a parent to drag the story for months.
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