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A review by sb_037
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
fast-paced
5.0
I was skeptical when I heard the comparisons between this book and Madeline Miller's Circe (another 5-star read for me), but the likening was absolutely deserved. This book is p h e n o m e n a l. As a woman of South Asian descent and growing up culturally Hindu, I had heard the story of the Ramayana casually and knew the general gist. Kaikeyi is a prequel to the Ramayana, as it should be; it depicts Kaikeyi's life from childhood until her middle age, when her story becomes less pivotal and her influence on the events of the Ramayana diminish.
What is excellent about Patel's prose is how skillfully and convincingly she twists and turns the narrative to Kaikeyi's advantage, and in the process, makes one question everything one knows about the Ramayana. She depicts Ram as the true obstacle and Ram's influence on those around him as almost parasitic. Patel's disdain for the male characters in the Ramayana is not limited to the central players, her inquisition extends to the gods themselves; their goals are singular, and they are fundamentally cruel, uncaring to mortal strife and loss. Patel is able to make the fact that the Ramayana is written by men, for men painfully obvious. It makes you think: if practicing Hindus read this, if this was also part of the real story, would Ram be as exalted as he is?And even after what may be construed as a heretical fantasy, Patel remains respectful and reverent to the culture and the story she tells: that of the women. She is able to write truly fallible characters with whom you can disagree but still care for. She is consistent with the traits of all her characters and does not lose sight of Kaikeyi's true nature. Even the conclusion, and the reconciliations that Kaikeyi makes, are reasonable and in line with the book's development.
Kaikeyi is truly a masterpiece and I'm so glad I could read it.
What is excellent about Patel's prose is how skillfully and convincingly she twists and turns the narrative to Kaikeyi's advantage, and in the process, makes one question everything one knows about the Ramayana. She depicts Ram as the true obstacle and Ram's influence on those around him as almost parasitic. Patel's disdain for the male characters in the Ramayana is not limited to the central players, her inquisition extends to the gods themselves; their goals are singular, and they are fundamentally cruel, uncaring to mortal strife and loss. Patel is able to make the fact that the Ramayana is written by men, for men painfully obvious. It makes you think: if practicing Hindus read this, if this was also part of the real story, would Ram be as exalted as he is?And even after what may be construed as a heretical fantasy, Patel remains respectful and reverent to the culture and the story she tells: that of the women. She is able to write truly fallible characters with whom you can disagree but still care for. She is consistent with the traits of all her characters and does not lose sight of Kaikeyi's true nature. Even the conclusion, and the reconciliations that Kaikeyi makes, are reasonable and in line with the book's development.
Kaikeyi is truly a masterpiece and I'm so glad I could read it.